Meet The Team
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Mitesh Patel
Founder & President
Mitesh Patel graduated from S.P University (India) with a Bachelor in Fine Arts (Applied Arts) in 1997, with the highest distinction of earning the Best Design Award. In 2008, Patel made his first low budget feature film "The man in the maze" which received 12 awards from various film festivals and theatrical distribution. It wasn’t long before Patel started acquiring film rights for theatrical re-release in North America. One of these films, "Delhi Safari", was shortlisted in the Oscar race of 2012. Patel has directed two feature films and has produced/distributed over 20 feature films in the past 15 years, balancing his time between Hollywood and Bollywood. Patel is also a part of PGA, the Producers Guild of America. Today, he plans to keep creating art by producing one film every year.
Betty Ramirez
Vice President
Betty Ramirez, originally from Veracruz, Mexico, has been a Chandler, Arizona resident since 2004. Betty is the vice president of the CIFF and directed the documentary "COVID-19 vs. Arizona: Our Stories" in 2020. In the same year, she founded Fortis Femina LLC, a for-profit venture uniting local women to address community challenges. In 2022, Betty collaborated with CIFF President Mitesh Patel on a feature film based on Fortis Femina members' true stories, set to release in Spring 2023. Betty is actively involved in the City of Chandler, serving on the U.S. Census committee, partnering with the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Division, and contributing to civic programs like the Citizens Police Academy and CIVIC.
Vanessa Ramirez
Festival Director
Vanessa Ramirez is a respected arts and cultural leader with a strong commitment to celebrating culture, creativity, and community. She serves as the Executive & Artistic Director of Ballet Folklórico Quetzalli-AZ, President of C.A.L.L.E. de Arizona, and Artistic Director of the Annual Mariachi & Folklórico Festival in Chandler. An active member of several arts and cultural organizations, Vanessa has dedicated her work to bringing people together through dance, music, education, and the arts. Her contributions to the local community earned her recognition as a 2021 Woman of Chandler.
With her experience in arts leadership, event programming, cultural engagement, and community building, Vanessa brings a valuable perspective and energy to the Chandler International Film Festival as it enters its next chapter.
Dave Waltzer
Board Member
Dave Waltzer was born in Wakefield, MA(Near Boston) in 1974 to Roman Catholic parents. He comes from a hard working family whose Dad was Mailman and Mom was a homemaker. They divorced when he was 14 and that's when he started working and helping to raise his younger brother and sister along with attending High School. He was accepted and started attending Babson College in Wellesley, MA after High School. He wanted to be an International Business & Marketing major but was not disciplined enough at that point to complete college. In 1994 he decided to join the United States Air Force. He served 4 1/2 years and was stationed in such exotic places as Misssissppi, Texas, & South Korea where he scheduled and dispatched flights as well as maintained flight records. He was Honorably discharged in 1998.
Christopher Caliendo
Board Member
Christopher Caliendo is an award-winning film composer whose musical experiences bridge the illustrious age of Hollywood into the contemporary scene. Lauded for his “excellent orchestra scores…”. Caliendo embraces diverse styles from classical to world pop whose music signals the next generation of Hollywood music. He brings a literate, distinctive voice to each project, whether an epic period drama or an intimate indie film. He has earned acclaim from Henry Mancini for his transportive melodies and emotional precision. With one ear to the past and an eye to the future, Caliendo’s rich musicality makes him a compelling choice to elevate any director’s vision. His ability to traverse genres and eras speaks to a timeless quality that resonates with audiences worldwide.
Mark Stewart
Board Member
Councilmember Mark Stewart has been a resident of Chandler since 2001 and began his first term on the City Council in January 2017. He has spent more than 20 years with Fortune50 organizations and now owns a marketing and brand company, Concept2Completion. As a serial entrepreneur, he is involved with two additional startup companies as a founding partner. He works to foster a community that embraces inclusion, innovation and spirit on entrepreneurial development. Councilmember Stewart has a Bachelor of Science degree from Missouri State University. Within the community, he volunteers and supports local non-profits and maintains an active faith.
Christine Wenger
Board Member
Christine Wenger is an Arizona Native born in Flagstaff. She has a love and passion for helping people and animals alike. Has a Bachelor of Science majoring in Animal Science from CSU with a concentration in large animals. Was a judge with Block and Bridal and judged many state fairs in the South West. Now, the Sales Manager for Nations Lending in which she helps people get into their dream home. She has been in the mortgage industry for 20 years and truly enjoys what she does. Everyone matters. She is also very active Ambassador for the Chandler Chamber of Commerce and Director of the Ahwatukee Chapter of Power Networking Team.
Martha Llamas
Board Member
Martha purchased a Jani-King, commercial cleaning franchise in 2002. Today, her company is recognized as one of the most successful in Jani-King’s history, performing in the top 5% for annual revenue, in a field of over 9500 Jani-King franchises in the United States. She has earned the esteemed, “Presidents Club Award” for generating over 1 million dollars in business, every year since 2003, as well as a host of accolades for her contributions to the community. She currently employs over 70 people and her story has been featured on international television shows, in newspapers and magazines, on radio shows and podcasts. In 2021 Martha was presented with the NRSC Champion for Freedom Award. This award is presented to conservative leaders who have worked tirelessly to create good jobs and protect the values that make our country great.
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Kristine Bartolome
Board Member
Kristine Bartolome began her journey with the Chandler International Film Festival two years ago as a volunteer. Since then, her passion for film, culture, and community has continued to grow, leading her to now serve as a member of the CIFF Board. A Chandler resident, community leader, and healthcare professional, Kristine brings experience in education, compliance, stakeholder engagement, and organizational leadership. She currently serves as Vice President for Membership of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Arizona and Board Director of Finance for Las Damas de Rizal – Arizona Chapter. Kristine believes in the power of film and storytelling to celebrate diversity, create understanding, and bring people together. We are excited to welcome her to the CIFF Board and look forward to the experience, leadership, and passion she brings to our growing festival community.
Kelly Schwab
Board Member
Kelly Schwab served as City Attorney and Risk Manager for the City of Chandler from 2016 to 2025, overseeing the City’s Law Department and advising the Mayor and Council. Her distinguished legal career spans municipal law, civil litigation, prosecution, and risk management, and she has held numerous leadership positions within Arizona’s legal community. A graduate of Arizona State University and the University of Arizona College of Law, Kelly has received several honors, including the 2026 Career Achievement Award from the Arizona City Attorneys Association. An Arizona native and active community member, she has also presented awards at the Chandler International Film Festival for the past three years.
Noah Frimer
Festival Coordinator
Noah Frimer is a Arizona–based producer and creative entrepreneur with over six years of experience and 30+ film credits across reality series, shorts, pilots, and independent productions. A Film and Media Production graduate of Arizona State University, he currently serves as Legal & Administrative Manager at Applied Art Productions and Festival Coordinator for the Chandler International Film Festival. Noah is known for connecting creative vision with practical execution, bringing strong production, organizational, and problem-solving skills to every project.
Anni Bhakta
Festival Coordinator
Anni Bhakta is an actress whose love for storytelling began in theatre at the age of eight. Since then, she has continued to grow her craft through stage performances and several short films. She is currently studying acting at Arizona State University while also training at Arizona Actors Academy, where she focuses on refining her technique and expanding her range as a performer. In addition to acting, Anni has contributed behind the scenes as a Festival Coordinator for the Chandler International Film Festival. Passionate and dedicated, she continues to pursue opportunities that challenge and inspire her artistic growth.
