Tonya Mantooth
Tonya Mantooth | |
|---|---|
| Education | San Diego State University |
| Occupations | Film producer, arts administrator |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
| Known for | San Diego International Film Festival |
| Notable work | Army Dog |
| Relatives | Randolph Mantooth (brother) |
Tonya Mantooth is an American film producer, arts administrator, and artistic director of the San Diego International Film Festival.[1][2]
Early life and education
[edit]Mantooth was born in El Campo, Texas and grew up in Santa Barbara, California. She was involved in theater and music at a young age.[2] Mantooth graduated from San Diego State University in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and music. Actor Randolph Mantooth, known for his role as firefighter-paramedic Johnny Gage on the television series Emergency!, was her older brother.[2]
Production career
[edit]Mantooth performed as a singer and pianist while working as marketing manager for Learning Forum before joining CRM Films.[2] She later worked as a producer at 4Square Productions and co-founded The Dakota Group, a Southern California film and post-production company. She then went on to work for Aviatech, an internet advertising agency.[2] By 2018, she had produced four feature films through Mantooth Films.[1]
San Diego International Film Festival
[edit]Mantooth, along with Patti Judd, Kevin Leap and Dale Strack, undertook leadership of the San Diego International Film Festival in 2012.[1] She helped rebrand the festival in 2016, establishing partnerships the San Diego Jewish Film Festival and FilmOut San Diego.[3] By 2018, Mantooth assisted the festival's programming of films focused on environmental issues and social impacts, to let audiences know about social issues and provide them with international perspectives.[1]
After the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the festival was mostly virtual, it returned to in-person screenings in 2022. It had almost 3,100 submissions from 85 countries, much higher than the approximately 300 to 400 submissions it received when Mantooth joined. She also developed a Women's Film Series for the festival with Women's Museum of California executive director Felicia Shaw.[4]
Accolades
[edit]Mantooth received regional Emmy Awards for work that included a documentary about the San Diego Bay.[2] By 2018, it was reported that she had received nine regional Emmys as well as more than 60 Telly and ADDY awards.[1]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Deadtime Stories | Executive producer |
| 2013 | Grave Secrets | |
| Killer Holiday | ||
| 2014 | Inventing to Nowhere | Co-producer |
| 2015 | Operation: Neighborhood Watch! | Executive producer |
| 2016 | Army Dog | Producer |
| 2024 | Into the Unknown |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 Williams, Michael J. (August 6, 2018). "RSF Rotary Club to host San Diego International Film Festival leader". Rancho Santa Fe Review. Archived from the original on 2018-08-08. Retrieved October 5, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lightbourn, Arthur (July 22, 2010). "Tonya Mantooth takes talents in new direction". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2026-10-05. Retrieved October 5, 2026.
- ↑ Accomando, Beth (September 28, 2016). "Newly Rebranded San Diego International Film Festival Kicks Off Tonight". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved October 5, 2026.
- ↑ Coddon, David L. (October 16, 2022). "San Diego International Film Festival focuses on what you can't get at home". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2022-10-22. Retrieved October 5, 2026 – via Del Mar Times.