deadCenter Film Festival Committee

The deadCenter Film Festival Committee is a dedicated, year-round, volunteer-led team that supports volunteer recruitment, operations, and communication. We are incredibly grateful for these returning individuals who go above and beyond each year to help ensure our festival runs smoothly and successfully.

Kendall Bleakley

Registration Co-Chair

Kendall (she/her) is a dedicated community volunteer who has supported deadCenter since 2012 and currently serves as Registration Co-Chair for the third year. She’s also involved with the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, and Paseo Arts Association. Professionally, she brings her passion for service to her role as Fiscal Sponsorship Coordinator at Communities Foundation of Oklahoma. Kendall is also a committed blood donor.

Zoe Gfeller

Box Office Co-Chair

Zoe began working with deadCenter in 2024 as an Operations Intern. She recently graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Strategic Communications and minors in Documentary and Visual Media. In addition to being a lover of independent film, Zoe is a visual artist and musician.

Allison Bigbie

Events Co-Chair

Allison is a film editor and producer with a BA in Film and Media Studies from the University of Oklahoma. A dedicated deadCenter volunteer since 2018, she currently co-chairs the Events Committee. She loves the vibrant community and diverse films the festival offers. Allison works at the OKC Civic Center, freelances as an editor, and spends her free time playing endless games of fetch with her dog—her favorite pastime.

Amy Lesher

Amy began volunteering with deadCenter in 2018. Since that time, she became co-chair of registration and in 2025 become a screener. With her love of foreign and independent films volunteering for deadCenter allows her to connect with other film lovers and makers.

Joshua Wayne Porter

I’m a US Navy veteran and proud Oklahoma native with a passion for storytelling. This is my first year on the deadCenter committee and second year volunteering. I co-founded the Nitty Gritty Film Festival, am a member of the Oklahoma Motion Picture Alliance, and work on independent films and short-form series. I’m dedicated to supporting veterans in film and growing Oklahoma’s local film scene.

Stefani Heller

Stefani is a passionate arts advocate with degrees in music and leadership. She’s spent over a decade building community through festivals, showcases, and mentorship, and now serves as Director of Brand and Experience at Not Your Average Joe. A dedicated volunteer, she mentors with Big Brothers Big Sisters and supports local rescues, having logged hundreds of service hours.

Kaleb Brown

I volunteer to give back to a community that’s supported me for years! Recently, I’ve helped at deadCenter and Oklahoma Pridefest, and this is my first year on the deadCenter Registration Committee.

I love all kinds of movies—especially action. My Letterboxd top four are Battleship, Pokémon: The First Movie (first film to make me cry), The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Jurassic Park III.

Jordan Briggs

Jordan Briggs is a filmmaker and production designer who graduated in May 2025 from the University of Oklahoma Film and Media Studies Program. She has worked on several film sets and is currently employed at the Sooner Theatre in Norman, OK where she is a stage manager and assistant set designer. This is her 3rd year working with deadcenter.

Rue Manley

Media Co-Chair

Rue started his career in music as an audio engineer. In 2024 started taking acting classes at OFA studios and was signed to MAG later that year, in early 2025 he found a new passion for photography and cinematography. As a casual film goer he volunteered for Deadcenter multiple years as registration day chair.

Norma Beiberdorf

Registration Co-Chair

"Norma Luz B is an Oklahoma-raised, award-winning filmmaker/visual artist based in OKC.

Starting as a festival intern in 2023, her involvement with deadCenter runs deep. She served as a member of the screening committee, doc shorts jurist, registration day-chair, to now where she serves as a co-chair on the registration committee.

When she’s not working with deadCenter, you can find her making films here in the state. Her directorial ventures span various documentary and narrative projects highlighting authenticity, Southern counterculture, identity exploration, and the empowerment of others through community. 

“I make films for Queer people, Oklahomies, and weird girls. That’s it–period.” 

Sam Rider

"Passionate about community engagement and the arts, I’m thrilled to serve as a Co-Chair for this year’s deadCenter Film Festival. After volunteering at the box office last summer, I was inspired by the way the festival brings the OKC community together through film. With a background in creative media production and a love for storytelling through digital platforms, I’m excited to help create an unforgettable experience and celebrate the incredible stories being shared this year."