Tom joined the Video Data Bank in 1999 and has been with the organization in a variety of roles, and through many shifts and changes. In 2022 he was appointed as the Director. During his time as Archive and Collection Manager, Tom led the process of migrating the VDB’s collections from analog to digital formats, and he has been integral in projects to modernize the VDB’s distribution systems and digital workflows. He works closely with the entire VDB team to ensure services run smoothly for all of the VDB's constituents. Tom collaborates in running the Butcher Shop, an artist run studio space. He received a BA in Studio Art and Anthropology from Oberlin College, and an MS in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is also an active member of AMIA, the Association of Moving Image Archivists.

tom [@] vdb.org

Emily oversees orders and inquiries regarding purchases and rentals, artist and client services, festival distribution, and coordinating exhibitions and screenings with national and international arts organizations. She has been a part of the VDB team serving in different roles since 2018, most recently as Distribution and Communications Assistant. Emily received a BA in Screen Arts & Cultures and International Studies from the University of Michigan and a Dual MA in Contemporary & Modern Art History and Arts Administration & Policy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her past experience includes various administrative, programming, and research activities at the Ann Arbor Film Festival, the Chicago History Museum, The Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

emarti [@] vdb.org

For any festival distribution inquiries, please contact festivals [@] vdb.org.

Kristin organizes and manages the VDB collections. She is responsible for preservation, digitization, and cataloging activities and for maintaining legacy equipment. Prior to this role, Kristin worked as the Assistant Media Conservator at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she collaborated with colleagues to implement guidelines and procedures relating to time-based media artworks. Outside of work, Kristin empowers others to engage with at-risk and under-supported audiovisual collections through mentorship and by organizing workshops and courses on caring for AV media. Kristin holds an MA from the Moving Image Archiving and Preservation program at New York University and is a co-founder of XFR [pronounced ‘transfer’] Collective, a New York City-based non-profit dedicated to AV education, preservation, and access. She previously worked at VDB as the Digitization Specialist, and has also worked for other organizations including The StandBy Program and Bay Area Video Coalition.

kristin [@] vdb.org

Elise designs and maintains digital assets and printed materials for communication, distribution, and marketing purposes. Elise also supervises the operation of the website and digital delivery systems, as well as maintains and organizes digital collections to ensure accessibility via various platforms. Prior to VDB, Elise worked for Kartemquin Films, the John M. Flaxman Library Special Collections, and the Gene Siskel Film Center. Outside of work, Elise is a writer and curator who enjoys thrillers, dark comedy, and experimental documentary. Elise co-programs Employees Only, an artist-run cineclub for workers, filmmakers, and film lovers. Elise is currently undertaking an MA in Visual and Critical Studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where they are researching technological imaginaries around extinction threat in the histories of both nuclear power and artificial intelligence. Elise holds a BFA in Film, Video, New Media and Animation from the same.  

elise [@] vdb.org

Nicky maintains the public-facing front office, screening room, and print library. She coordinates festival distribution, promotion, and submissions and also assists with general distribution, record-keeping, and marketing. Beyond work, she writes and curates exhibitions and screenings. Nicky has completed curatorial projects at Onion City Film Festival, Conversations at the Edge, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Mana Contemporary, Arts Club of Chicago, Lit & Luz Festival, and other venues. She edits and fact-checks at Newcity, and her writing has appeared in publications such as Sixty Inches From Center (where she's a contributing editor), Chicago Reader, Cine-File, and Portable Gray. Nicky co-founded LITHIUM/TNL, an entity dedicated to time-based art. She graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University. When not working, Nicky enjoys geeking out on coffee, exploring vegan cooking, and listening to electronic music.

nicky [@] vdb.org

Abina's work promoting artists' film and video has spanned decades and continents. She officially moved on from the Video Data Bank in the spring of 2021, though she is still informally associated with the organization. Prior to joining the VDB in 1999 she worked with a number of arts organizations in the UK., including the LUX Center, the London Film Maker's Co-op, London Electronic Arts, and Cinema of Women. She was Director of the inaugural Pandæmonium Festival of Moving Images, a major European exhibition presented at the Institute for Contemporary Arts in London showcasing film, video, gallery installations, and multi-media works. Abina has participated in many international film and video festivals and art fairs as a juror, panelist, curator, and advisor, and has worked on collaborative projects with arts venues internationally. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Philosophy from Middlesex University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Film and Television from the University of Westminster, London.