SANTA BARBARA FILM FESTIVAL - FEB 12 6PM AND FEB 13 12PM - Narrative Shorts 7-Festival Circuit Favorites - SBIFF's Film Center (LINK ABOVE)

Mark is an award-winning writer for film, television, and theater. Originally from Philadelphia, PA,

Mark’s character-driven, socially relevant scripts and plays have placed in numerous competitions and festivals all across the U.S. He is currently touring the film festival circuit with his short film, Watching Walter, which he wrote and e

Mark is an award-winning writer for film, television, and theater. Originally from Philadelphia, PA,

Mark’s character-driven, socially relevant scripts and plays have placed in numerous competitions and festivals all across the U.S. He is currently touring the film festival circuit with his short film, Watching Walter, which he wrote and executive-produced. The film has been screened at 35 festivals and has won numerous awards. Mark wrote the feature screenplay for Watching Walter and is actively seeking production companies or executive producers to help get the feature film into production. Mark attended

UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & Television and is a proud member of the VS. Theater Company, Station House, and D Street Films, located in Los Angeles, California.

Roberto "Itchy" Ioannucci and writer Mark Brown have been best friends since their youth. Roberto played a significant role in introducing Walter, the watchmaker, to Mark. Walter shared his haunting, dehumanizing memories of the Stutthof concentration camp with Roberto, but Roberto also witnessed Walter's triumphs. After Walter passed awa

Roberto "Itchy" Ioannucci and writer Mark Brown have been best friends since their youth. Roberto played a significant role in introducing Walter, the watchmaker, to Mark. Walter shared his haunting, dehumanizing memories of the Stutthof concentration camp with Roberto, but Roberto also witnessed Walter's triumphs. After Walter passed away, Roberto inherited his collection of watch repair tools and bench. He sought out a watch museum in Upstate NY to preserve Walter's prized possessions in a permanent exhibition as a tribute to his dear friend. Before Walter passed away, he asked Roberto to share his story, and Roberto turned to Mark to write it. It's a privilege to share Walter's extraordinary life and to honor his courage and accomplishments.

Mitch Yapko is a multi-award-winning director, known for his unique character work, focusing often on real characters in surreal situations. He looks for the heart of the story, and strives to make all of his films relatable. He loves taking ideas from concept through to completion, and loves to pull people out of their day-to-day lives a

Mitch Yapko is a multi-award-winning director, known for his unique character work, focusing often on real characters in surreal situations. He looks for the heart of the story, and strives to make all of his films relatable. He loves taking ideas from concept through to completion, and loves to pull people out of their day-to-day lives and into his imagined worlds. His films have shown in over 200 film festivals over the years, including Sundance Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Dances with Films, and many others.

Mitch spent the majority of his formative years drawn to all things entertainment - first playing trumpet (flashy and loud, an appropriate instrument for an 8 year old), then performing in musical theater and choirs, and then moving on to stage plays and finally film.

Mitch has spent nearly 20 years directing shorts and pilots, sketch comedies and web series. With a background in theater acting, he has the unique ability to connect with his actors to bring out the best performances every time.

CYNTHIA GRAVINESE-BROWN

After attending the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, Cynthia made her way to New York City, where she studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and upon graduation, she began working in Off-Broadway and regional theatres.

As a writer, executive producer, and actress, her love for dance inspired her to

CYNTHIA GRAVINESE-BROWN

After attending the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, Cynthia made her way to New York City, where she studied at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and upon graduation, she began working in Off-Broadway and regional theatres.

As a writer, executive producer, and actress, her love for dance inspired her to develop “Meet Me at the Barre”, an award-winning streaming web series. The series earned the Best Web Series award from the Glendale International Film Festival, NYC International Film Festival, and the LA International Film Festival and appeared in the Film Collective Best of Series and the Phoenix Film Festival. 

She partnered with her husband, writer Mark Dylan Brown, to produce Watching Walter. A true story about Holocaust survivor Walter Wojnas. The short film is currently on the festival circuit and has won 21 awards and five nominations at Film Festivals across the country. She recently produced Baby Blues, a horror comedy about dentistry gone bad. Currently playing at festivals across the country. Next up is an action thriller and an intense war drama. 

Cynthia also co-stars in the recently released Something’s More Than One Thing, produced by the Russo Brothers and directed by Jay Alvarez, and in the psychological thriller Protos currently streaming on Amazon.

Mark wrote his first script in 2007 and since then has written over twenty – off all genres for both television and features. His short film, BREATHE (2018) was directed by Mitch Yapko and went to twenty-five film festivals, winning many awards. Mark read Mark Dylan Brown's script WATCHING WALTER, and was immediately taken not only by the

Mark wrote his first script in 2007 and since then has written over twenty – off all genres for both television and features. His short film, BREATHE (2018) was directed by Mitch Yapko and went to twenty-five film festivals, winning many awards. Mark read Mark Dylan Brown's script WATCHING WALTER, and was immediately taken not only by the importance of the story, but also of the humanity of its main character. Since it is based on a real person and true events, Mark B. wanted to see this film made. Mark A. had such a great experience with Mitch, so it made perfect sense for this collaboration to happen, and this film to be made with this team.