
Moonless International Film Festival
Welcome to the First Annual
Moonless International Film Festival
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 2025 SUMTER IRIS FESTIVAL
May 16th to May 17th
Locations to be announced soon.
May 18th - Screening, Meet & Greet, & Autographs. Tickets on sale soon.
Sumter Opera House, Sumter, South Carolina
The Moonless International Film Festival is a prestigious global event celebrating excellence in film, music videos, screenwriting, and songwriting. Known for showcasing diverse voices and innovative storytelling, the festival honors creative talent from around the world, providing a platform for both emerging and established artists to gain recognition and connect with audiences.
PRESENTED BY

Moonless International Film Festival
Visionary Award Recipients
Chelsea Gilson
ACTRESS, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, CASTING DIRECTOR
Spencer Folmar
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, WRITER, TALENT MANAGER
RICHARD MOFE-DAMIJO
ACTOR, PRODUCER, WRITER
Karen Waldrup
SINGER & SONGWRITER
ERIN CAHILL
ACTRESS & PRODUCER
2025 Special VIP Guest
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ERIN CAHILL
ACTRESS & PRODUCER
Erin Jessica Cahill is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Jen Scotts in Power Rangers Time Force, as Ted Mosby's sister, Heather, in How I Met Your Mother, and as Kendra Burke in Saving Grace. She had a recurring role as Felicity in the ABC series Red Widow. She is also noted to be the first lead female character for the Call of Duty franchise, as Chloe "Karma" Lynch in Call of Duty: Black Ops II.
Cahill was born in Stafford, Virginia. She began acting in her mother's local high school productions at age four, and started singing and dancing lessons at age eight. She was Miss Pre-Teen Virginia in 1991 and the first runner-up for Miss Junior America. She continued to act into her high school years at Brooke Point High School, where she served as the president of many clubs, including the Honor Thespians group. As a junior, Cahill was the only one of her year to garner perfect scores in all phases of her audition to the Governor's School for the Arts in drama.
At age 16, she also won Overall Actor in the Actors, Models, Talent for Christ competition. She was further selected into the Barton and Williams Dance Company, winning both company and individual awards. Following high school graduation in 1998, she attended Marymount Manhattan College in New York on an academic and performing arts scholarship. She left college at age 19 to pursue a full-time acting career in Los Angeles.
Cahill was cast as Jen Scotts in Power Rangers Time Force. She began making guest appearances in 2003 in Crossing Jordan and General Hospital. In 2006, she starred in the short-lived Fox series Free Ride. Her first big guest starring role came in 2007 as a 20th-century suffragette in the Cold Case episode Torn. Since then, she has worked in numerous films and television shows such as Supernatural, CSI: Miami, The Mentalist, Castle,Ghost Whisperer, Grey's Anatomy, and House.
Cahill co-founded Charitable Living, which services the local community throughout the year with various fundraisers and days of volunteering. In May 2015, she joined non-profit group BuildOn and traveled to Malawi to promote education and build schools. -
CHELSEA GILSON
ACTRESS, PRODUCER, & DIRECTOR
Chelsea Gilson is an American actress and television host from Massachusetts. She has appeared in various television series and films, including "DollFace," "Hawaii Five-0," "Lucifer," "Dolemite Is My Name," and Hallmark's "Sister of the Bride."
Chelsea is also an extremely talented Director & Writer as well as Casting Director. Her short film Special Will is one of our featured films at the festival.
In addition to her acting career, Chelsea maintains a travel blog called Traveling Fig, teaches yoga, and works in real estate.
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KAREN WALDRUP
SINGER & SONGWRITER
Waldrup is a BMI songwriter, a member of NARAS/The Recording Academy (the “Grammy” organization), the CMA’s, and has partnered with Mission of Hope: Haiti.
Waldrup was a Top 5 Finalist on Season 25 of NBC's The Voice and has been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, People Magazine, Netflix, The Hallmark Channel, Bravo TV, Facebook Artist of the Day, NASCAR ESPN Live, the NFL Experience Superbowl XLVII, CMT, Fox, Military.com and hundreds of other outlets world-wide. She has scored 12 Nashville Industry Music Awards and won the 2019 Torch Award from the Keith Whitley Fingerprint on Country Music Awards. Waldrup was named 2023 Top 5 Artist to Watch by Country Evolution. She just released her newest song "Louisiana Hurricane" and is preparing to release her new singles "Fix It" March 2025 and "Blue Cowboy Boots" May 2025. She has recorded 7 studio albums and released over 50 songs internationally.
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ANDREW ROBERTS
ACTOR, WRITER, & PRODUCER
Andrew Philip Rogers is a French-American actor known for his work in film and television. Born in La Rochelle, France, to a French-English father and a French-Italian mother, he spent his formative years between France and the United States, living in cities such as Bordeaux, New York, Paris, and San Francisco. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy of Industrial Societies.
Films include, “A Merry Single Christmas”, “Christmas Matchmakers”, “How I Met Your Father”, and “Stream”.
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WESLH WOLF
SINGER & SONGWRITER
Electric and dynamic, Welsh Wolf has emerged as a must-see Artist in the Los Angeles scene. The current single “When You Cry” is an alternative smash that doesn’t shy away from its catchy, melodic songwriting. “When You Cry” signals the coming of Welsh Wolf's debut EP, due out in early 2025.
Helmed by singer/songwriter Paul Freeman, Welsh Wolf is a departure from Freeman’s roots as a wildly successful songwriter and performer. Freeman, who is no stranger to big moments, has toured the world and performed with a veritable “who’s who” of pop and rock music: James Blunt, The Who, Chris Cornell, and Brandi Carlisle just to name a few.
He’s played guitar on Blunt’s iconic recording of “You’re Beautiful,” written a Top-40 Billboard hit for Sleeping with Sirens, and has written songs covered by Robbie Williams, Meat Loaf, and Mark Owen of Take That. He has landed incredible syncs over the years in films including "The Break-Up”, as well as, hit TV shows "Jessica Jones” and “Insatiable”.
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LAURA MITCHELL
ACTRESS, DIRECTOR, & WRITER
Laura Mitchell is a versatile actress, director, and writer known for her dynamic performances across film and television. Born in Singapore, she spent her early years in Jakarta before relocating to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she cultivated her passion for the arts. Surrounded by nature and the ocean, Laura's upbringing fueled her imagination and creative pursuits.
Laura has portrayed a diverse range of characters, earning acclaim for her role as Kate Middleton in Lifetime's trilogy: "Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance," "Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal," and "Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace." Her filmography includes leading roles in romantic comedies such as "Blueprint to the Heart," "Love at the Ranch," "A Great North Christmas," and "Just Add Love." In 2022, she expanded her creative repertoire by writing and directing "Meeting Mr. Christmas," in which she also played a supporting role. Produced by Screen Media and Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, the film aired during the 2022 holiday season.
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SPENCER FOLMAR
DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, WRITER, & TALENT MANAGER
Director & Producer Spencer T. Folmar's theatrical debut, "Generational Sins," has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. The New York Post, The Los Angeles Times, FOX, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Washington Times, CBN, Christian Post, and more have all joined the conversation in about the film's release. In response, Folmar coined the term "Hard Faith" to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories.
Folmar's career began at the ambitious age of 17 when he directed and produced his first feature film. He then continued to his undergraduate and post-graduate academic career. Folmar attended NYU for his MFA in film and received his Master's in Theology from Reformed Theological Seminary. His desire to combine these two passions is a driving force in his current slate of films. Folmar's goal is to "Shine light in the darkness by telling stories of hope."
In 2018, Folmar formed the non-profit Veritas Arts INC and started on another new endeavor of owning a historic theatre. Veritas Arts acquired the historic Guthrie Theatre in Grove City, Pennsylvania. Under the Veritas Arts name, Folmar also started a film festival in western PA. Veritas Arts mission is "Tell Stories That Liberate" and do so with education, distribution, financing, and developing feature films.
While planning another film, Folmar felt compelled to bring light to the overwhelming opioid epidemic ravaging America. When he visited his home in central Pennsylvania, and after hearing so many heartbreaking stories he felt the best way to bring attention in the media was through film. "Shooting Heroin" was then brought to life. A film about a small town taking justice into their own hands to stop the spread of drugs by whatever means possible. This movie began its theatrical tour in 2019 and is planning a wide release in the first quarter of 2020. -
GARY WALES
ACTOR, PRODUCER, & DIRECTOR
Gary Wales is a talented Scottish actor and filmmaker known for his captivating performances in both film and television. Born in Falkirk, Scotland, Gary discovered his passion for acting at a young age, leading him to roles in a variety of genres, from drama to thriller. He gained recognition for his portrayal in the popular series Game of Thrones, where he showcased his versatility and commitment to his craft. Beyond acting,
Gary is a passionate storyteller, often taking on projects that push boundaries and deliver compelling narratives. His dedication to his art, combined with his Scottish roots and commitment to authentic storytelling, make him a dynamic presence in the entertainment industry.
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SIRILAK COLON
ACTRESS, PRODUCER, & CASTING DIRECTOR
Sirilak Colon is a very talented actress, producer, & casting director. Her love for acting began when she was offered a role as a police officer in the Indie film "Keys: The Biggest Bank Heist." This sparked her love for film and production.
Along with acting and production, Sirilak has a talent for martial arts (such as Muay Thai) and can handle heavy artillery from prior weapons training. She later starred in "Walker Texas Ranger" and a "John Wick 4" promo for ESPN. She received an award with the RCCI for "Best Documentary" for her story as a survivor of domestic violence. She acts as an advocate awareness to stop domestic violence and support women.
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ROCKDIESAL SANTIAGO COLON
ACTOR, STUNTS, & STUNT COORDINATOR
Raul colon was born in Bronx, Ny 1970 to Puerto Rican parents . At the age of 6, Raul became a foster child and moved to Watertown Connecticut where he was raised by his foster parents Mel and Virginia Lee Gabey. Raul was one of the few children they kept in their care long term. Eventually, Raul and his new found family move to Florida where he still lives today. He found his love of acting in the shows he watched with his mother and always wanted to be a Cowboy. Raul's journey in life first began as a boxer at the age of 14 which lead him to become a body builder and a cagefighter. In 2012, After a cage match he was asked to do some stunt work on an indiefilm which finally lead him down the path to pursue his dream of acting.
Since then, Raul colon has been in many films both in the indie market and the main stream market, as a stunt fighter, stunt coordinator and actor. Some of his films include Pain and Gain, Aztec warrior, Graceland (stunts), he as well; stunt doubled for Marcus Taylor in the movie called Paying Mr. Mcgetty, worked along side Dwayne Johnson in an episode of Ballers and served as stunt coordinator in quite a few indie films. Raul has taken the industry by storm and has proven to be quite a formidable up and coming actor and stuntman.
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STEVE "THE REAPER" LIVENGOOD
ACTOR, MUSIC ARTIST, & PODCAST HOST
Steve "Reaper" Livengood is an Indie Horror Actor of 2 plus years playing multiple creature roles and expanded into speaking roles in different subcategories within the horror genre but open to all genres of film. Published Alternative Model for 3 years and on the cover of 3 magazines.
He is also the host of a podcast Network that he started 3 years ago called Reaper's Underground and has an international fan base which blends horror, Heavy metal, comedy and an interview show for those in the industry.
Reaper is a character that was created by Steve that blends the occult with a seductive and sadistic allure with clown and demon elements in its construction for the past 10 years.
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JERROD WILLIAMS
ACTOR & MODEL
Jerrod Williams is a dedicated and humble actor and model whose passion for storytelling is evident in every project he undertakes. He began his professional journey with Bellah Modeling Agency in 2022 and quickly distinguished himself within the entertainment industry through his diverse performances in television and film. Raised in a supportive and nurturing environment, Jerrod credits his success to his unwavering faith, strong work ethic, and perseverance. Despite his growing recognition, he remains deeply family-oriented and consistently expresses gratitude for the opportunities he has received.
Jerrod's television credits include appearances on Max’s "The Righteous Gemstones" and the second season of "Secrets in Plain Sight." His film accomplishments feature notable roles such as the lead character William in "Diaries of the Miller Family: Part 2," which premiered in theaters in August 2024, and the lead role of Curtis in "Asking For A Friend," streaming on Tubi TV. Additionally, he portrayed Pastor in "Against All Odds," appeared in a background role for Pure Flix’s "God’s Not Dead," and took on the character of Mr. Brown in the independent film "Cream of the Crop."
Jerrod's dedication to his craft has earned him a prestigious scholarship from BET, highlighting his commitment to continuous growth and excellence in the entertainment field. With ongoing projects like "Reflection of the Inner Me," where he leads as Benjamin, Jerrod Williams continues to inspire audiences through his genuine performances and humble demeanor. His promising career trajectory ensures he will remain a captivating presence in entertainment for years to come.