Meet the NIFF Team

Follow us on social media to meet the passionate individuals bringing NIFF to life.

Join Us

  • Founder

    Craig is a serial entrepreneur who moved to Nosara, Costa from New York in August 2019.   He is a CPA that has been servicing clients for 37 years.  His extensive experience has allowed him to aid his clients both in the start-up phase as well as those that have been operational for many years.  His critical thinking and creativeness in truly looking at the business and its particular set of needs gave him the confidence to not only help his clients but to commence various other businesses that range from the food and beverage industry to having a private equity fund.

    Since moving to Nosara Craig has continued to work with his US based clientele as well as invest and work in varying capacities a real estate finance company, a custom concrete company, a mechanic shop as well as partake on three non-profit board of directors.

    After getting a taste of the creativity of the film industry via his son, Tristan, it was no surprise that he is the driving force behind bringing some additional culture to a growing community of both local Costa Ricans and expatriates.  That being the Nosara International Film Festival.  Of course he knows that without amazing  people surrounding him with their expertise none of this would be possible.  This is a passion project that he envisions growing each year that will be compared to larger film festivals around world.  

  • Founder

    Tristan is a 22 year old filmmaker and videographer currently based out of Brooklyn, New York. He grew up on Long Island an hour and a half away from New York City, and spent parts of the winters driving to and from the mountains of Vermont. At 16, he and his family moved to Nosara, Costa Rica until he was 21 and moved back to New York.

    Moving from the high-paced regime of New York down to the jungles and beaches of Costa Rica, Tristan discovered his passion for filmmaking. Ever since he can remember, Tristan has always felt the most alive when grounded in nature. Over the past 22 years, he has consistently questioned himself and the human condition, leading him to eventually fall in love with filmmaking as his main outlet for expression. In Tristan’s eyes, the Nosara International Film Festival stands as a major opportunity to cultivate surges of connection between individuals, and foster the weaving of minds, hopefully opening doors for artists and filmmakers around the world.

    In all of Tristan's work, he strives to portray reality in the rawest form, constantly exploring the intricacies of the human experience, finding the links between harmony and nature, all while dissecting the painful, more intricate realms of the mind. Mental health is at the forefront of Tristan's work, and he hopes that NIFF can generate pockets of healing and love for those in need.

  • Advisory and Selection Committee

    Veronica is the CEO, founder and “heart and soul” of CaicedoProductions Corp. the parent company of The ONE Festival and the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival a Non-profit 501c3 Organization. Ms. Caicedois an innovative, director and producer who has overseen more than 50 successful theatrical and film productions. 

    Drawing upon her urban cultural experiences and extensive creativity, Ms. Caicedohas used her unique vision to produce and/or directsuch projects and plays as Red Flags the play by Susan Gordon-Clark, They Call Me LA LUPE by James Manos and Luis Caballero (Starring LunaLauren Velez), SUNSHINE by Lawrence Dukore, Patrick Marber’s Closer and Faded by Robert Dominguez, among others. 

    Ms. Caicedo has served as Theater Director for Project Reach Youth, Teatro El Puente and The Loisaida Players at Loisaida Inc., where she was a safe-sex educator. For over a decade, she was Managing Theater Director for Teatro LATEA and most recently Operations Director for the CSV Cultural and Educational Center. Caicedo Productions will continue its growth and development incorporating professional theater/film productions and festivals in local communities such as the annual The ONE Festival in April and the International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival in November.

    Ms. Caicedo was filmmaker selected official for the 2008 SOL Dance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah, 2008 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Hostos Community College and LaGuardia Community College featured Ms. Caicedo short films “Little Courage” and “Loss Of Innocence In Loisaida”, honored in 2007 by the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Inc. for Puerto Rican Heritage Month, 2003 by the Latino College Expo for her work with youth in theater/film education, and in 2002 she was honored by the Department Of Justice-Federal Bureau of Investigation for Hispanic Heritage Month. 

    Caicedo was awarded 2013 Producer of the year in film & Theater by Premio Cacique of Gold International – New York-Venezuela Chapter, 2014 the BorimixAward, in 2015 Caicedo was honored for Women's History Month from organizations such as NY League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) & Senator Jose Peralta (LAIA) Latin American Intercultural Alliance, March, 2017 for women's history month the NYC Mother's FLO Award (Women in Film & Media Edition) and 2017 Latin Alternative Theater Awards for creating The ONE Festival, 2017 a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition fromCongresswoman Nydia Velasquez and Certificate of Appreciation from Senator Gustavo Rivera. In 2018 Ms. Caicedo received a proclamation of Appreciation from the Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer making December 21 a Veronica Caicedo Appreciation Day, and a Certificate of Recognition from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Most recently in 2019, The SOMOS Conference in Albany-Entre Nosotras Inc. honored Ms. Caicedo for the work in education through the arts and The National Puerto Rican Association honored Veronica for her work in Film Industry, by presenting her with the Eugenio Maria De HostosAward in 2019 and making her the Godmother/Madrina Internacional for the Hispanic Day Parade in NYC. Most recently, Awarded in 2025 with the Premio Talia (Medios De Comunicacion for IPRHFF

    She has served as a guest panelist for such organizations as HBO, Latinos for Positive Images, Urban Magazine, Boys Club of New York, Association of Hispanic Arts (AHA), Teatro Stage Fest 07 (Latinas at the Helm) and most recently 2019 PitchNY listener presented by NBCuni and co-sponsored by Governor Cuomo’s Office of Motion Picture.

    Though theatre has been the mainstay of her career, Ms. Caicedo also has extensive film experience. In addition to producing, writing and directing her first independent feature, Circle of Time, Ms. Caicedo also produced and directed an independent feature, Shut Up and Do It; an educational film, “Loss Of Innocence In Loisaida,” short films; “Diary of a Teenage Reporter”, “Little Courage”, “9/12” and “El Tumbe", "Helen of T-Roy"  In music videos and TV, Ms. Caicedodirected Episode 2 in “The Colors of Love”, “En la Oscuridad”, “My Weakness” and most recently, In 2022 Produced “Switch & Bait”and in 2024 Produced and Directed “The Correction, Currently, summer of 2025 as Creative Producer for the feature film “I’m Not Her”

    A graduate of SUNY College at Purchase, Ms. Caicedo is a member of NYWIFT New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT),  League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Worldwide Women's Association

    Veronica Caicedo is presently, a board member for the Sports Foundation, Inc.

  • Advisory and Selection Committee

    Luna Velez recently reprised her role as ‘Rio Morales’ in the critcally acclaimed sequel, SPIDER MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDERVERSE, which is considered Sony Pictures Animaton’s highest grossing release. She can be seen starring in the seventh film of the TRANSFORMERS franchise, TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS opposite Anthony Ramos. She starred as ‘Evelyn Castillo’ in the Starz show based on 50 Cent’s childhood, POWERBOOK II: GHOST and heavily recurred on CBS’ EAST NEW YORK. She has joined the cast of the series AMERICAN RUST opposite Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierney. Recent films include the Academy Award-Winning Animated Film SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER VERSE, the sequel to SHAFT, opposite Samuel L. Jackson with a script penned by Kenya Barris, SWALLOW alongside Haley Bennet, and ANA opposite Andy Garcia and Dafne Keen.

    Other features she has starred in include WINDOWS ON THE WORLD alongside Edward James Olmos, THE FIRST PURGE for Universal Pictures and AMERICA ADRIFT on Amazon for which she also served as executive producer. Luna’s breakout performance in I LIKE IT LIKE THAT earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination and provided her with a platform that very few Afro -Latina’s have ever had before.

    On Television, Luna appeared in Season 3 and 4 of Shonda Rhimes’ smash hit drama, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER in a major supporting role opposite Viola Davis. For seven seasons Velez starred as the sexy, ambitious, tough-as-nails Captain Maria Laguerta on Showtime’s Emmy award-winning series, DEXTER. She earned several awards and nominations for her work on the hit series, including four Alma Award nominations and one win for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, and along with her DEXTER cast mates, she's been nominated for four consecutive Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

    Prior to joining the cast of DEXTER, Velez was also recognized for her gut-wrenching performance as Dr. Gloria Nathan on HBO’s critically acclaimed show, Oz, as well as for her portrayal of Det. Nina Moreno in the classic television series, NEW YORK UNDERCOVER.

    A renowned theater actor as well, Luna’s last stage appearance was in WATER BY THE SPOONFUL at Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles and Steve Martin’s play PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE at The Old Globe. New York appearances include CATCH THE BUTCHER at the Cherry Lane Theatre, THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST at Second Stage, and INTIMATE APPAREL at the Roundabout with Viola Davis and Corey Still.

  • Advisory and Selection Committee

    German is an active organizer of the Nosara International Film Festival. With a professional background in architecture, retail, and trade show design, he brings over a decade of experience managing complex creative projects from concept to implementation. His strengths lie in project coordination, spatial design, and team leadership.

    German’s involvement in community initiatives and volunteer work reflects his commitment to collaborative and inclusive cultural experiences—values that align closely with the mission of NIFF. At the festival, he plays a key role in planning logistics, shaping event environments, and supporting the overall execution of the program.

    With a passion for design, storytelling, and meaningful connection, German helps ensure that NIFF is not only well-organized but also vibrant, welcoming, and impactful for filmmakers and audiences alike.