Cassandra Ariztegui
Austin,TX
Summary
Film industry specialist with a dual background in high-volume festival administration (SXSW, AFF) and cinematic curation. Expert in tracking national repertory trends across institutions like the Metrograph and Aero Theatre, with specialized subject matter expertise ranging from Pre-Code cinema and Screwball comedy to the Japanese transgressive aesthetics of the 1960s and 70s. Combines a "guest-first" curatorial eye with the technical and legal rigor cultivated at the Texas Film Commission to manage complex rights research, digital print traffic, and professional contract negotiations.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Production Incentives Specialist
Texas Film Commission
Austin, TX
04.2024 - Current
- Cultivates strategic partnerships with major studios and independent producers, advising on resource allocation for a diverse slate of projects ranging from blockbuster series to independent features.
- Owns the contract management and audit preparation for a high-volume portfolio of projects, ensuring fiscal compliance within the state's largest-ever $300M production incentive slate.
- Serves as a strategic liaison to government agencies, community organizations, and the general public to provide expert assistance with incentive resources and industry trends.
- Identifies emerging talent and production trends by representing the TFC at international film festivals and trade shows to maintain a competitive edge in the global film market.
Film & TV Industry Admin
SXSW
Austin, TX
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Managed the SXSW Digital Screening Library via Cinando, overseeing the secure delivery of premiere titles to thousands of accredited international sales agents, distributors, and festival programmers.
- Coordinated with international sales houses (e.g., Cinetic, Memento, The Match Factory) to verify rights availability and technical assets for titles entering the North American market.
- Facilitated market discovery for specialized titles, acting as a bridge between independent filmmakers and acquisitions executives to ensure high-potential films received targeted industry visibility.
- Managed high-volume event logistics, including the distribution of 35,000+ guest tickets and coordination of Competition Jury deliberations to ensure a seamless experience for filmmakers and industry VIPs.
Registration Director
Austin Film Festival
Austin, TX
2023 - 2023
- Managed the end-to-end credentialing workflow for 5,000+ attendees, including filmmakers, screenwriters, and executives, ensuring all production timelines and delivery deadlines were met ahead of the festival.
- Directed a multi-disciplinary team of staff, interns, and volunteers, providing leadership and training to ensure a "guest-first" registration experience aligned with festival standards.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Media Arts
University of North Texas
Denton, TX01.2021
Skills
- Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM): Expert-level proficiency in contract negotiation, vendor management, and the legal/financial lifecycle of professional agreements
- Rights & Distribution Research: Specialized in "detective work" to identify current rights holders for independent and international titles
- Digital Print Traffic: Managing technical asset delivery, ingestion, and Quality Control (QC) within secure digital screening environments (Cinando, Shift72)
- Content Partnership: Maintaining professional relationships with international sales agents and major studio stakeholders
- Database & Project Management: Airtable, FileMaker Pro, Asana, Slack, Microsoft Office Suite, QuickBooks
- Event Systems: High-volume ticketing and registration software (SquadUP, TicketBud)
- Market Intelligence & Trend Tracking: Maintains a national view of repertory exhibition, monitoring leaders like the Metrograph and Aero Theatre to identify emerging audience demands for alternative content
- Repertory Programming: Served as a curatorial consultant for independent micro-cinema series, identifying key titles for genre-specific retrospective on Screwball comedies
Certification
- Certified Texas Contract Manager (2025) - Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
- Certificate of Completion, Movie Magic Budgeting (2025) - Entertainment Partners (EP)
- Certificate of Completion, Becoming a Payroll Clerk (2025) - Entertainment Partners (EP)
- Austin Public Certified Producer (2022) - Austin Film Society
Timeline
Production Incentives Specialist
Texas Film Commission
04.2024 - Current
Film & TV Industry Admin
SXSW
01.2023 - 01.2024
Registration Director
Austin Film Festival
2023 - 2023
Bachelor of Science - Media Arts
University of North Texas