About TAFF
Mission
The Attic Film Fest’s mission is to support and empower Independent filmmakers to spread Christ’s message through film. It is our sincere prayer that the films screened will honor Christ and His message of forgiveness and love for all and bless those watching them.
Film Themes
TAFF is looking for quality films that explores, explains, or exemplifies the Gospel of Christ or whose film examines redemptive themes of the Bible (such as self sacrifice, forgiveness, etc.).
This can be done in a variety of ways. The film does not have to be openly evangelical but should have the Gospel at its core. The kinds of redemptive films we are looking for are ones that have themes of forgiveness, unconditional love, sacrifice, self sacrifice, honor, loving your neighbor, selflessness, etc.- themes of how Christ lived and how Christians are to live their lives.
Who is eligible to compete at TAFF?
TAFF welcomes any filmmaker to compete who has a film that explores, explains, or exemplifies the Gospel of Christ or
whose film examines redemptive themes of the Bible (such as self sacrifice, forgiveness, etc.) and whose film has not had a national theatrical release.
TAFF Statement of Belief
At TAFF, we believe in the one true living God, that Jesus was God’s only son, born to be the savior and redeemer of all. Jesus ministered, performed miracles, sacrificed Himself, suffered and died on a cross, to pay for all of human kind’s sin. We believe on the third day after His death He was resurrected. We believe He is alive and wishes relationship with every person of this Earth. He is real, He is here, and He loves each and every one of us. It is our mission to find films that tell His story and the story of redemption for all.
Meet TAFF’s talented and dedicated board of directors.
Loretta Mach
Loretta’s interest in theater began in middle school in an effort to overcome extreme shyness. After graduating from Nederland High School, she worked in a song and dance revue at AstroWorld in Houston, Texas.
She started her studies in theater at Southern Methodist University and completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from Florida International University in Miami. Loretta dedicated her life to Christ in 1985 and started studying the Spanish language. She took several mission trips to Mexico where she sang, played guitar, and performed puppets for summer VBS.
She met her husband, Rick, on a Mexico City mission trip planning meeting. Having acquired an Elementary Texas Teacher Certificate, she went on to obtain a bi-lingual endorsement.
Loretta participated in the choir and worship team of Grace Covenant Church. She wrote and performed a monologue on Esther and has been in various drama venues at the church. Loretta loves people and sharing the Good News through friendship evangelism. She thanks God for the opportunity to be part of His plan in the Austin community through TAFF.
Laurinda Rohrer
Laurinda became a TAFF board member in the summer of 2009. She earned a Broadcast Journalism degree from the University of Texas in 1986 and has stayed in Austin ever since. She has been a member of Reel Women and is a current member in good standing of the Austin Film Society.
Laurinda has eagerly participated in the GAP acting workshops and the GAP Actor’s Alliance Group. She has written several scripts used in Grace’s Covenants Women’s ministries and retreats. And she was thrilled to appear in many Church related sketches and as the main character in a grief counseling music video for Christian counselor and artist Deb Sewell entitled A Picture of Hope. The film was a selected entry in 2009 at The ATTIC FILM FEST.
In addition to her drama work, Laurinda has led many women’s small groups, couples studies, and has worked in the children’s ministry teaching at Grace for the better part of 17 years. For the past several years she has been working with the Children’s Drama and Grace Covenant drama ministries.
She is married and has two wonderful kids. Laurinda feels blessed to be used by God to reach others through acting, drama, and plays.
Jennifer Rousseau Cumberbatch
For over twenty years Jennifer Rousseau Cumberbatch has ministered in the Central Texas region and beyond. An anointed teacher, preacher, counselor, vocalist, lyricist, author, playwright and actor, she uses her multiple gifts and assorted modalities to express the depth and breadth of God’s unconditional love in various venues. Inspired by her family, Cumberbatch exudes a passion to serve the hurting, brokenhearted, voiceless and underrepresented peoples of the world, and is motivated by her faith to creatively transform culture. And whether she is preaching to hundreds in Uganda, Africa or counseling a troubled mother in Austin, Texas, Cumberbatch’s ministry demonstrates God’s love, intellect, thoroughness, perspective and creativity. Audiences, congregants and counselees alike have marveled at the unique combination, power and relevance of her experience and skills.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a graduate of Brown University, since 1979 Cumberbatch has resided in Austin, Texas where she is an associate pastor at Agape Christian Ministries and owner of Cumberbatch’s Sweet Tater Torts and JR Cumberbatch Productions. She began her ministry as an assistant to her parents at their mission congregation Vacation Bible School in the Laurel Homes Projects in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has also worked as a life-skills/ job training coach for inner city youth in Los Angeles, California, a System Engineer for IBM in Austin, Texas, and the Business Calendar Editor for the Austin American Statesman.
Her volunteer work has included tenures as president and member of parent-teacher associations at three Austin schools; the board of directors for Foundation for the Homeless and River City Youth Foundation; African American Arts Company, Pro Arts Collective; and the African American Girls and Women Conferences. And currently she serves on the board of directors for Caritas, as newly appoint head of the resource committee. Cumberbatch is so grateful to have produced and co-starred in JR Cumberbatch Productions’ first stage presentation; Playwright Emily Mann’s, “Having Our Say, The Delany Sister’s First One Hundred Years, directed by friend,colleague, and the Attic Film Festival’s (TAFF) founder, Jamee Kennedy. And, she is currently writing a book, titled “The Mantle Fell On Me: Lessons From the Heart of a Pastor.” The release date for her CD is scheduled for Summer 2013.
Cumberbatch and her husband of thirty-34 years, Ashton, are blessed with four children: a son who is a graphic designer, writer and editorial copy stylist in Austin, Texas, a daughter, a account representative for a PR firm in Austin, Texas, a son who is a car detail specialist in Austin and a daughter who is a freshman and soccer player at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Jamee Kennedy (Exec Director)
Originally from southern Connecticut, Jamee graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BFA in Theatre. She has since gone on to complete a Masters Degree and a doctorate also in Drama. She feels blessed to have continually worked in the theatre world in Austin for over seventeen years. She has enjoyed directing such shows as Brighton Beach Memoirs, Wings, Shadow Box, Godspell, Grease, The Crucible as well as many other classics and original productions. She was a long time Theatre instructor for both AISD and Austin Community College and is the author of a text on beginning acting titled, The Process of Acting: The Beginning Steps.
Jamee is also an active participant in the Austin film industry producing and directing a documentary called Swimmer Girls, a short called The Story of Grace, and serving on the board of Reel Women, a local non-profit organization for women in the film and video industry. Jamee was excited to debut Swimmer Girls at the Reel Women showcase at SXSW.
In her off time, she tries to keep up with her active family in the pool, at the beach, on the slopes, and supporting the San Antonio Spurs. Jamee would like to thank God for the opportunity to serve on TAFF.