
Moonless International Film Festival
Welcome to the First Annual
Moonless International Film Festival
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 2025 SUMTER IRIS FESTIVAL
May 16th to May 17th
Locations to be announced soon.
May 18th - Screening, Meet & Greet, & Autographs. Tickets on sale soon.
Sumter Opera House, Sumter, South Carolina
The Moonless International Film Festival is a prestigious global event celebrating excellence in film, music videos, screenwriting, and songwriting. Known for showcasing diverse voices and innovative storytelling, the festival honors creative talent from around the world, providing a platform for both emerging and established artists to gain recognition and connect with audiences.
2025 SPONSORS
Moonless International Film Festival
Visionary Award Recipients
Chelsea Gilson
ACTRESS, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, CASTING DIRECTOR
Karen Waldrup
SINGER & SONGWRITER
2025 Special VIP Guest
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CHELSEA GILSON
ACTRESS, PRODUCER, CASTING DIRECTOR
Chelsea Gilson is an American actress and television host from Massachusetts. She has appeared in various television series and films, including "DollFace," "Hawaii Five-0," "Lucifer," "Dolemite Is My Name," and Hallmark's "Sister of the Bride."
In addition to her acting career, Chelsea maintains a travel blog called Traveling Fig, teaches yoga, and works in real estate.
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KAREN WALDRUP SINGER & SONGWRITER
Waldrup is a BMI songwriter, a member of NARAS/The Recording Academy (the “Grammy” organization), the CMA’s, and has partnered with Mission of Hope: Haiti.
Waldrup was a Top 5 Finalist on Season 25 of NBC's The Voice and has been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, People Magazine, Netflix, The Hallmark Channel, Bravo TV, Facebook Artist of the Day, NASCAR ESPN Live, the NFL Experience Superbowl XLVII, CMT, Fox, Military.com and hundreds of other outlets world-wide. She has scored 12 Nashville Industry Music Awards and won the 2019 Torch Award from the Keith Whitley Fingerprint on Country Music Awards. Waldrup was named 2023 Top 5 Artist to Watch by Country Evolution. She just released her newest song "Louisiana Hurricane" and is preparing to release her new singles "Fix It" March 2025 and "Blue Cowboy Boots" May 2025. She has recorded 7 studio albums and released over 50 songs internationally.
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ANDREW ROBERTS
ACTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER
Andrew Philip Rogers is a French-American actor known for his work in film and television. Born in La Rochelle, France, to a French-English father and a French-Italian mother, he spent his formative years between France and the United States, living in cities such as Bordeaux, New York, Paris, and San Francisco. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy of Industrial Societies.
Films include, “A Merry Single Christmas”, “Christmas Matchmakers”, “How I Met Your Father”, and “Stream”.
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GARY WALES
ACTOR, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR
Gary Wales is a talented Scottish actor and filmmaker known for his captivating performances in both film and television. Born in Falkirk, Scotland, Gary discovered his passion for acting at a young age, leading him to roles in a variety of genres, from drama to thriller. He gained recognition for his portrayal in the popular series Game of Thrones, where he showcased his versatility and commitment to his craft. Beyond acting,
Gary is a passionate storyteller, often taking on projects that push boundaries and deliver compelling narratives. His dedication to his art, combined with his Scottish roots and commitment to authentic storytelling, make him a dynamic presence in the entertainment industry.
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LAURA MITCHELL
ACTRESS, DIRECTOR, WRITER
Laura Mitchell is a versatile actress, director, and writer known for her dynamic performances across film and television. Born in Singapore, she spent her early years in Jakarta before relocating to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she cultivated her passion for the arts. Surrounded by nature and the ocean, Laura's upbringing fueled her imagination and creative pursuits.
Laura has portrayed a diverse range of characters, earning acclaim for her role as Kate Middleton in Lifetime's trilogy: "Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance," "Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal," and "Harry & Meghan: Escaping the Palace." Her filmography includes leading roles in romantic comedies such as "Blueprint to the Heart," "Love at the Ranch," "A Great North Christmas," and "Just Add Love." In 2022, she expanded her creative repertoire by writing and directing "Meeting Mr. Christmas," in which she also played a supporting role. Produced by Screen Media and Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, the film aired during the 2022 holiday season.
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SIRILAK COLON
ACTRESS, PRODUCER, CASTING DIRECTOR
Sirilak Colon is a very talented actress, producer, & casting director. Her love for acting began when she was offered a role as a police officer in the Indie film "Keys: The Biggest Bank Heist." This sparked her love for film and production.
Along with acting and production, Sirilak has a talent for martial arts (such as Muay Thai) and can handle heavy artillery from prior weapons training. She later starred in "Walker Texas Ranger" and a "John Wick 4" promo for ESPN. She received an award with the RCCI for "Best Documentary" for her story as a survivor of domestic violence. She acts as an advocate awareness to stop domestic violence and support women.
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ROCKDIESAL SANTIAGO COLON
ACTOR, STUNTS, & STUNT COORDINATOR
Raul colon was born in Bronx, Ny 1970 to Puerto Rican parents . At the age of 6, Raul became a foster child and moved to Watertown Connecticut where he was raised by his foster parents Mel and Virginia Lee Gabey. Raul was one of the few children they kept in their care long term. Eventually, Raul and his new found family move to Florida where he still lives today. He found his love of acting in the shows he watched with his mother and always wanted to be a Cowboy. Raul's journey in life first began as a boxer at the age of 14 which lead him to become a body builder and a cagefighter. In 2012, After a cage match he was asked to do some stunt work on an indiefilm which finally lead him down the path to pursue his dream of acting.
Since then, Raul colon has been in many films both in the indie market and the main stream market, as a stunt fighter, stunt coordinator and actor. Some of his films include Pain and Gain, Aztec warrior, Graceland (stunts), he as well; stunt doubled for Marcus Taylor in the movie called Paying Mr. Mcgetty, worked along side Dwayne Johnson in an episode of Ballers and served as stunt coordinator in quite a few indie films. Raul has taken the industry by storm and has proven to be quite a formidable up and coming actor and stuntman.