Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristian Perez-Franco.
Hi Kristian, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I got my start back in 2014 at Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas, where I learned the basics of theater operations and digital cinema projection. I worked my way up from Floor Staff to Assistant Manager in a couple of years, which gave me a great foundation but after a while, I realized I wanted more room to be creative and to feel connected to the film community here in San Diego.
That chance came in 2016 when I joined the Digital Gym Cinema, an independent arthouse theater run by Media Arts Center San Diego. I quickly learned that working in the nonprofit world meant wearing a lot of hats, but it also meant my ideas actually had the space to grow. I ended up diving into everything from operations and projection to programming, marketing, and community outreach. Then I got involved with the San Diego Latino Film Festival, which opened the door to other local festivals and really helped me find my place in the San Diego film scene.
Fast forward almost ten years, and I’m now the Exhibitions Senior Manager at Media Arts Center San Diego. I oversee operations for Digital Gym Cinema, the San Diego Latino Film Festival, the iVIE Awards & Student Film Festival, and a handful of other projects. I also get to collaborate with festivals across the county: the San Diego Asian Film Festival, the San Diego Italian Film Festival and many others, helping bring all kinds of film experiences to local audiences. Community and creativity have really shaped this whole journey.
More recently, I joined the San Diego Museum of Art as an Event Technician and Projectionist, and I’m excited to keep learning and growing in that space too.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Working in the arts, especially in the nonprofit world, comes with a lot of challenges. Resources are usually tight, teams are small, and everyone ends up juggling more responsibilities than they ever expected. There were plenty of times when I felt stretched thin or unsure if I was growing in the right direction.
There were also moments of uncertainty as I moved into new roles. Shifting from operations to marketing to programming, and eventually into a leadership position, meant a lot of learning on the fly. And in the film world, things have changed dramatically — priorities, funding, even entire festivals can shift from year to year, so adapting became a big part of the job.
But those challenges pushed me to develop new skills, trust my instincts, and lean on the people around me. Looking back, the tough moments were usually the ones that helped me grow the most, and the reward of helping create meaningful film experiences for the community has always made the bumps in the road feel worthwhile.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I do a little bit of everything in the exhibition world. At Media Arts Center San Diego, I oversee operations for our year-round arthouse cinema, the Digital Gym Cinema, as well as major events like the San Diego Latino Film Festival and the iVIE Awards & Student Film Festival. That can mean anything from managing our projection systems to coordinating screenings, working with filmmakers, supporting marketing efforts, and making sure audiences have a great experience from the moment they walk in.
Because I’ve worked in so many areas: operations, projection, programming, marketing, community outreach, I’ve ended up becoming sort of a bridge between all these different parts of the organization. I think I’m known for being the person who can jump in wherever help is needed and still keep everything running smoothly. I love problem-solving and I love creating spaces where people can experience films they may not see anywhere else.
What I’m most proud of is the community side of the work. Helping local and international filmmakers share their stories, supporting student filmmakers at the iVIE Awards, partnering with other festivals across San Diego; that’s the part that feels the most meaningful to me. I’m really proud of how much the Digital Gym and our festival programs have grown, and of the small role I’ve been able to play in helping strengthen San Diego’s film community.
I think what sets me apart is that I’ve worked through almost every layer of this world. I’ve done the hands-on jobs, the behind-the-scenes roles, and the public-facing pieces, so I’ve learned how all the moving parts fit together. It helps me approach the work with a balance of practicality, creativity, and a real love for what film can do for a community.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
For me, the most important quality has been adaptability. So much of the work I do changes from day to day; one moment I’m dealing with projection issues, the next I’m coordinating a festival screening, talking with filmmakers, or helping with marketing. Things rarely go exactly as planned in the arts world, so being able to pivot, stay calm, and figure things out on the fly has been huge for me.
I’d also say curiosity plays a big part. I’ve always been willing to learn new skills, ask questions, and jump into areas that weren’t technically “my job” at the time. That openness has helped me grow through all of these different roles.
And honestly, caring about the community keeps me steady. When you actually love the work and the people you’re doing it for, it’s easier to push through challenges and show up fully. I think that combination of adaptability, curiosity, and genuine care has shaped most of my success so far.
Pricing:
- Digital Gym Cinema General Admission Ticket: $13
- Digital Gym Cinema Student/Senior Ticket: $11
- Digital Gym Cinema Memberships start at $60/year
- Digital Gym Cinema Rental Rates start at $450
Contact Info:
- Website: https://digitalgym.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalgymsd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalgymsandiego/
- Twitter: https://x.com/digitalgymsd
- Other: https://letterboxd.com/DigitalGym/
