SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 23, 2026
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Community Orange Carpet
The Old Towne Film Festival begins with the people who make it possible.
Join filmmakers, storytellers, neighbors, local businesses and friends of the festival on our Community Orange Carpetas we kick off the 2026 Old Towne Film Festival.
Come early, get your photo on the carpet, meet this year's filmmakers and storytellers, and celebrate the community behind the stories.
Everyone's invited. Come as you are.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Storytelling Night
Before there’s a film, there’s a story.
Storytelling Night brings together six voices from our community to share real stories of change, challenge, creativity, loss, opportunity, and starting over — each inspired by this year’s festival theme:
PERMISSION TO BEGIN AGAIN.
Films begin with stories. So do businesses, relationships, creative pursuits and new chapters in our lives. Friday night is about going back to that beginning — hearing directly from people who chose to take another step, change direction, or start something new.
These aren’t actors. These aren’t scripts.
They’re real people telling real stories.
Come listen. Leave inspired to begin something of your own.
STORYTELLERS
Brandy Romero is a local business owner, community volunteer, and the creator of There’s No Place Like Orange, a social media page celebrating the people, businesses, and history of Orange.
She owns a shop “The Squeeze” in the Circle, serves as Chair of the City’s Parks Recreation and Special Events Commission, and has helped organize and bring back several beloved community events.
She’s also a mom of two, a longtime businesswoman, and is currently running for Orange City Council in District 1.
STEVE KIM is the Co-Founder of Project Kinship, where he works with individuals impacted by gangs and incarceration to successfully reintegrate into the workforce, schools, and community.
His work is rooted in more than 15 years of serving traumatized and abandoned youth throughout Orange County and addressing the root causes of violence. Steve has also contributed to forensic social work on high-profile death penalty cases and provided criminal justice training at the state and federal levels.
He currently serves as an adjunct professor at USC’s School of Social Work.
JEANIE VIVEROS is the co-owner of Tiddlywinks Toys & Games, a beloved Old Towne Orange business she founded with her husband, Gil, in 2012. After nearly 20 years in the apparel industry, Jeanie traded a successful career filled with international travel for a new chapter focused on family and community.
Together, they created a toy store celebrating imagination, childhood nostalgia, and human connection. An active member of Orange Plaza Rotary, Jeanie continues to give back to the community she loves. Her story reminds us that sometimes beginning again means choosing what matters most.
JORGE “J.C.” CORTEZ is a dedicated community leader and former Exalted Ruler of Orange Elks Lodge #1475, where he has championed volunteerism, veterans, and local charitable initiatives. Crowned the inaugural Duke of Orange in 2023, J.C. has become a familiar face in Old Towne Orange.
His personal journey includes moving to a new country as a child, navigating loss, and embracing life's unexpected restarts. Through community service and a commitment to spreading positivity, J.C. reminds us that life's challenges can make us stronger, wiser, and more resilient.
AJ RICCI is an Orange native, real estate broker, and community leader who works alongside his family at Ricci Realty. His work in Orange has focused on supporting local businesses, neighborhoods, and the community he grew up in.
He has served as President of the Orange Downtown Merchants Association and Vice Chair of the City of Orange Traffic Commission, bringing his business experience into local civic involvement.
AJ is also a Chapman University graduate, a longtime member of the Orange community, and is currently running for Orange City Council in District 1.
MICAH STREETER is a filmmaker based between Los Angeles and Wichita whose work explores recovery, connection, and the emotional cost of creating art. After reaching a personal and creative turning point following the premiere of his film UNMADE, Micah returned home and began writing 5TH, starring Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts.
Inspired by filmmaker David Lynch’s belief that artists don’t need to suffer to create meaningful work, Micah began rethinking his own creative process—learning to make films from a healthier, more self-loving place.
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Local Short Films!
Directed by Isla Finamore
Runtime: 08:07
(Drama)
Stacy and Scott are childhood best friends. When they were younger, they were very fond of each other. Stacy and her family moved to Europe abruptly and unexpectedly. 6 years later, Stacy returns. Can they pick up right where they left off?
Directed by Emily Volk
Runtime: 07:03
(Documentary)
In the historic town of Old Towne Orange, we talk to Brandy Romero- owner of a more recent store called There's No Place Like Orange. We talk about how she got started with her shop and her decision to run for City Council in fall 2026.
Directed by Andrew Beal
Runtime: 14:57
(Sci-Fi)
A futuristic encounter forces a young scientist to re-examine his work and the world-threatening moral quandary it creates. Tempest is Andrew Beall's second narrative short film as a writer, director, editor, and lead actor.
Winner Best Sci-Fi Film — Simi Film Fest 2026
4x Nominee — Simi Film Fest 2026
Best Sci-Fi • Best Ensemble Cast • Best Stunts • Best Visual FX
Starring Andrew Beall, Kang Kim (Beef, For All Mankind), Ian Oh (Beef), Rodney Douglas, Htet Waiyan, Moon Pyinyar, and Tyler Phan.
Directed by Katherine Wise
Runtime: 09:33
(Comedy)
When Lucy learns her sister plans to elope, she fights to save her from heartbreak—and her family’s forced notions of a fairytale romance. Wedding Belles is a heartfelt comedy about a family business, a runaway bride, and three generations of women with conflicting notions of true love.
Directed by Micah Streeter
Runtime: 15:45
(Drama)
Two men meet at a restaurant for the first time in five years and have an honest talk about shame, stability, and the nature of recovery.
Retribution
Directed by Sultan Rahman
Runtime: 09:47
(Action)
A tale of betrayal, revenge, and all the bloody details in between.
The Notes We Share
Directed by India Anne Mitchell
Runtime: 04:27
(Documentary)
A beloved neighborhood street pianist inspires a child with music and wisdom before he must say goodbye, leaving behind a decade of shared notes on a sidewalk.