We’re thrilled to welcome a brand new role to the Wild & Scenic Film Festival team, our Senior Development Manager, Ana Becerra.
This position will spearhead the execution of Wild & Scenic Film Festival’s fundraising strategy, ensuring alignment with both programming objectives and the current Strategic Plan. The Senior Development Manager will focus on expanding and diversifying funding sources, maintaining existing support, and identifying new opportunities and acquisitions with foundations, corporations, government agencies, major gift donors, and event-driven initiatives.
We asked Ana some questions so the community could get to know her better. Enjoy!
Tell us a little bit about who Ana Becerra is and what you did before WSFF.
I spent twenty years in Los Angeles working at the intersection of philanthropy, impact, and community, often alongside friends and change makers who used storytelling to inspire change. My career began after earning a MS in Health Psychology, working at UCLA and later at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, before shifting toward global sustainability and humanitarian work with Global Green USA and Shine On Sierra Leone. My passion has always been about building community and bringing people together around shared purpose.
I was born in Colombia, and spent part of my childhood in Chile and Massachusetts before settling in Key Biscayne, where most of my days were spent in the ocean. Growing up as a “Key Rat” on the water shaped much of who I am, but I’ll never forget the first time I saw snow, it felt like pure magic. Maybe that’s what eventually led me to Tahoe, where I now call the Sierras home.
What was your introduction to Wild & Scenic Film Festival?
I first learned about Wild & Scenic after moving to Tahoe. I began hearing from friends and neighbors about how the festival inspired them. Spending two decades in Los Angeles, surrounded by friends in the film industry, I’ve seen firsthand how storytelling can bring people together. It immediately felt like something I wanted to be part of.
Why were you interested in this role with Wild & Scenic? What are you looking forward to?
This role brings together the things I value; storytelling, nature, adventure, community, impact, and the power to protect what we love. I’ve spent my career helping organizations grow while staying true to their mission, and Wild & Scenic represents that balance beautifully. I’m looking forward to deepening community ties and helping the festival reach new audiences without losing the intimacy that makes it so special. The idea that a small mountain town can be a global voice for environmental storytelling is something I find incredibly inspiring.
How do you expect your prior experience to impact your new work with Wild & Scenic?
I bring practical experience in major gifts, partnerships, and year-round community engagement that can strengthen Wild & Scenic Film Festival. I’m excited to connect filmmakers, supporters, and our community through film, art, and a genuine respect for one another.
What has been your favorite film experience? What are some of your favorite films?
Some of my favorite film experiences are backyard screenings and attending action sports premiers where everyone feels a part of something bigger. I’m also drawn to documentaries that open hearts and shift perspective. Some of t
hese are The Cove, My Octopus Teacher, Free Solo, Exit Through the Giftshop. And I also love music biopics, Walk the Line, Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody, and of course, Almost Famous. I could go on 🙂
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love spending time in the mountains with my kids and my doggie, Super. Also, gathering with friends around the dinner table with plenty of time for sobremesa: the unhurried time you linger at the table long after the meal talking, laughing, and connecting until you lose track of time.
What are you most excited for in your new role at Wild & Scenic?
I get to keep learning, film by film, from the documentaries we screen all year, and then turn that into real community impact. It’s super exciting to collaborate with partners that share that passion and take these films nationwide.
