Board of Directors & Staff
Rick owns Crow Ridge Productions with his wife Chris. The company provides crew and equipment to movie and television companies filming in South Dakota. The company also produces short films and TV commercials. Rick has experience in managing large productions such as Location Manager for National Treasure II, and also has many contacts in the film industry. Rick also joined the board of the Black Hills Museum of Natural History Foundation to help develop a museum on 20 acres in Hill City. Rick’s expertise in the technical realm greatly benefits the Film Festival’s ability to create a high-quality, efficient program. He is a founder of the Black Hills Film Festival.
Ryan Hall is an actor, writer and producer for films and television commercials. He has a passion for production and recently completed Dust of War, a feature film shot entirely in South Dakota. He is currently developing two feature-length scripts and is Social Media Strategist for Hot Pink, Inc. in Rapid City. Ryan portrays the face of the Black Hills Film Festival on Festival commercials and specializes in marketing and social media for the Festival.
Barry LeBeau, Secretary
A South Dakota actor, Barry has worked in theatre since the 1980’s and provides voice talent to documentaries and commercials, including for the award winning short film Ghost Dance and the films America’s Great Indian Leaders and America’s Great Indian Nations. He is a consultant and narrator for the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra’s Lakota Music Project. Barry is a consultant for United Sioux Tribes and works in Pierre. Barry has been the lead master of ceremonies for the Festival, reviews the film submissions and has been involved in implementing the Festival’s educational sessions.
Kim Krull, Treasurer 
Kim and her husband have owned and operated Krull’s Market since their move to the Hill City area in 1992. She was an active EMT with Hill City’s Volunteer Ambulance Association and a member of the Volunteer Fire Department. Kim is an active volunteer in the community and is involved with the local Boys and Girls club. Kim enjoys being involved with organizations that bring new opportunity or areas of interest to a community that is growing more diverse. She has been a key link to other organizations and people in Hill City for the Festival’s fundraising efforts and need for volunteers and in-kind support.
Sean Covel, Director
From Edgemont, SD, Sean pursued his passion for filmmaking with the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC. He teamed with Chris Wyatt, to produce Napoleon Dynamite in 2004 which went on to score $46 million at the box office and $120 million on DVD, making it one of the most profitable independent films in history. The duo has since produced six films, most recently finishing production on Broken Hill and Café. Sean and his actress wife, Alexa Vega of Spy Kids fame, have been key to the top-quality educational sessions offered by the Festival.
Janna Emmel, Past President and Director
Janna began her career as a social worker in Sioux Falls, where she grew up. After moving to southern California she began working for an IMAX film production company. In addition to working in film development, she helped organize the non-profit MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation and most recently the One World One Ocean Foundation. Back in South Dakota in Hill City since 1994, in addition to continuing to work in film, she owns an art gallery with her husband and has served as Director and President on several arts-related Boards. She is one of the founders of BHFF.
Beta Brown, Director
An alumni of Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts and native Californian, Beta has lived in the Pringle, South Dakota area for almost 20 years. She has worked as an actress, in casting, film production, and was a wardrobe stylist who also specialized in fantasy makeup for television and motion pictures. She also built costumes for television and touring music and stage productions. She has worked on many of the major motion pictures shot in South Dakota including Hidalgo and Crazy Horse. Beta’s connections to Hollywood have been key to bringing top film industry personnel to the Festival, including from Warner Bros. Studios, Industrial Light & Magic and contributing film artists for 2012.
Staff
There is one (1) year round part time paid position of Festival Coordinator for the BHFF.
Chris VanNess, Staff – Festival Coordinator 
Chris VanNess conceived and organized the Hill City Western Heritage Festival and ran it for 3 years each September beginning in 2006. After its second year, the festival was rated as one of the “Top 100 Events of 2008 in North America” by the American Bus Association and was also the winner of the South Dakota Dept. of Travel & Tourism’s 2008 Great Event. Chris brought her experience in event planning and management from Minnesota where she planned and managed the St. Paul Winter Carnival Sled Dog Races for several years. She owns Crow Ridge Productions, with her husband Rick VanNess. The company has won multiple National Telly awards and local ADDY awards for television commercials. Chris is one of the original founders of the Black Hills Film Festival and now does the coordination and marketing for the growing event.
