We’ve got two new employees this summer to welcome to the Washington Filmworks office! Both Amber Cortes and Sheena Ross started working here over the summer and we thought you’d like to get to know them and the special skills and interests they bring to the table here at Washington Filmworks. Read more about them below!

From left to right: Sheena Ross, Amber Cortes. Photo Credit: Krys Karns

Amber Cortes

Amber Cortes is the new Communications Coordinator for Washington Filmworks. Originally from New Jersey, Amber moved out to Seattle to attend graduate school in the Communications Leadership program at the University of Washington. She’s worked in radio, print journalism and film, and most recently was the Communications Manager at Artist Trust. She’s also a filmmaker herself – her short documentary Luchadora premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival in 2015.

Amber is passionate about supporting art and non-profits through communications work. “The art and film community here in Seattle and Washington is so vibrant and supportive,” she says, “And I am dedicated to helping make it stronger by connecting people, ideas and places in new, creative ways.”

When she’s not writing blog posts and updating social media with the latest film news, she is teaching youth media-making as a teaching artist for Reel Grrls and enjoying a show, film screening or gallery opening somewhere in Seattle.

Sheena Ross

Sheena Ross is the contract Accounting Associate here until March 2017. She reviews completion packages to ensure the costs qualify for the Washington Filmworks incentive program before they go to the Director of Operations and Finance for final approval and payment. Before Washington Filmworks, Sheena worked in film and television for a few decades as a Production Coordinator and Assistant Accountant in Europe, Canada and America. She was born in Scotland and spent her formative years in England before moving to Canada in 1994.

Sheena is an avid fan of art, film and storytelling. “Stories,” she says, “link us to the past, show us our present and lead us into the future. They offer us escape, education and a way to record important events.” Sheena is excited to be working in Seattle and living in Washington State, which she says “offers both the pulse of a big city and the peace and beauty of nature.” On her spare time, Sheena likes painting and photography, knitting, camping and traveling.

We’re thrilled to have them aboard!