About Us
OUR MISSION is to inspire, educate, and support a flourishing community of filmmakers, screenwriters, digital storytelling artists, and lovers of cinema across the Driftless Region.
OUR Values
The La Crosse Film Academy’s Values Statement serves as a guide for both our institutional practices and interpersonal relationships. If our Mission Statement articulates why we exist, this Values Statement articulates how we exist. This is a living statement to be consistently reviewed in the ongoing evaluation of our organizational culture and practices.
The La Crosse Film Academy is committed to creating anti-racist and anti-discriminatory spaces that actively combat bigotry and violence, even when the art intentionally discomforts and interrogates these themes.
We are committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming environment that will foster artistic freedom in any and all who seek it, regardless of race, sex, or gender.
That being said, we do not and will not support works in any way, shape or form where the artist’s intention is to reinforce institutionalized racism, anti-Blackness, colorism, anti-Indigeneity, xenophobia, sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, ableism, ageism, body shaming, and other forms of hatred, oppression, and inequity.
Should such instances arise that require examination of an artist’s intent, Academy leadership will engage in a process of compassionate discourse to determine intent and the proper course of action or response.
We communicate respectfully, recognize conflict as an opportunity for growth, and address issues directly and with compassion. We harness the power of digital storytelling to deepen human connections, embrace historically marginalized communities in our work, and commit ourselves to make our work accessible to many communities.
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is a multi award winning writer and filmmaker who has worked in video games, comics, TV, and film. His first film as a writer and director, The Bleeding House, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2011. He went on to write the 2013 sci-fi film, Europa Report and adapt cult author Laird Barron’s novella, -30- into the 2017 film, They Remain. In games Gelatt won a WGA award in 2016 for his work on Square Enix’s Rise of the Tomb Raider. In television, Gelatt was writer on the first three seasons of the award winning Netflix animated series Love Death + Robots. His latest film, the rotoscope-animated fantasy epic, The Spine of Night, premiered at SXSW in 2021. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island but is frequently back in the area and is involved in an advisory capacity on the Rivoli Theater and Rivoli Arts Building. Favorite films: A - Akira, Alien, & Apocalypse Now
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is excited to be a founding member of the La Crosse Film Academy. Mara holds a degree in Political Science from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and carries a diverse background in from work in small business, corporate, and non-profit startup. Most recently, Mara joined the City of La Crosse Planning Department as the Community Development Manager. Mara also serves on the YWCA and La Crosse Promise Board of Directors. In her free time, Mara enjoys curling with the La Crosse Curling Club and being outdoors in the warmer weather. Mara's favorite film is Erin Brockovich.
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is pleased to serve as Secretary of the Board of Directors for the La Crosse Film Academy. Leigh is the Founder and Owner of Humilitas, a startup committed to fostering greater connection and compassion in organizational and community-based spaces. She holds a certificate in Applied Compassion from Stanford University and is a Strategist for the Center for Empathy and Social Justice in Human Health at the University of California San Diego. Having graduated with a BFA in Music Theatre Performance from the Hartt School, Leigh worked successfully as a film and commercial actor out of NYC before transitioning into a career in non-profit arts management, creative arts production, and educational programming. Her favorite films are Waiting for Guffman, Aliens, and True Romance.
To contact please email leck@lacrossefilmacademy.org
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is an Assistant Professor of Theatre and Music Theatre at Viterbo University. Previously he was Department Chair of the Theatre and Film Department at Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, CA. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from The New School in NYC, where he also has a degree in Film Production and Screenwriting. In addition, he has an MFA in Directing from University of Memphis and a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy. He has been a member of AEA and SAG AFTRA for almost 20 years. His professional credits include numerous stage productions including working at The Public Theatre and Irish Repertory Theater in NYC. He also has many on-screen credits in TV, Film, Commercials, and industrial work including; A guest star role on Law & Order SVU Ep.“Gone”, One Life to Live, The Notorious Bettie Page, Lincoln directed by Steven Spielberg and many others. Favorite Films: Hot Fuzz, 8 ½ , Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
To contact please email teck@lacrossefilmacademy.org
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Ella LeDocq is a local filmmaker born and raised in La Crosse, WI. After graduating in May 2024 with a BFA in Film Production from Minnesota State University Moorhead, Ella moved back to La Crosse to work on passion projects, visit family and friends, and connect with other local artists. Ella is now working with the La Crosse Film Academy to grow the film scene in the area! She is currently working on two short films. One is a La Crosse-based film about climate action and the community’s commitment to environmental education and activism. The other is a rom com based in Fargo, ND that will begin production in Spring 2025. Ella is excited to encourage youths in the La Crosse area to learn about filmmaking and help them along the way!
Board of Directors and Staff
