Tony Gapastione
BraveMaker
Redwood City, California
Trained as a pastor and later shepherding congregations for two decades, Tony Gapastione transformed his faith into cinema—building what he now calls his “ministry through storytelling.” A single trip to Sundance ignited his calling, ultimately leading him to found BraveMaker in 2018, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting ‘brave voices’ and curating films that spark dialogue about justice, diversity, and the human spirit
BraveMaker isn’t just about screenings; it’s about sparking transformation. Tony and his team host monthly community film nights, acting and screenwriting classes, a podcast, and a robust annual festival—all rooted in the belief that storytelling fosters healing, awareness, and connection.
About Tony Gapastione:
Tony Gapastione is a pastor turned filmmaker, actor, director, producer screenwriter, podcaster and CEO of BraveMaker. Tony has worked on stage and in front of the camera acting, in print and film for thirty years. Originally from Chicago, Tony grew love for acting through theatre and now lives in Northern California as an actor and filmmaker. His first feature film, Last Chance Charlene, was screened at the Cinequest Film Fest April 2022. An ordained pastor who now works as a vocational pastor, Tony previously worked as a mentor/consultant for Co-Creators, the ABHMS social entrepreneurship incubator.
BraveMaker Film Festival
Since its debut in Redwood City in 2019, the BraveMaker Film Festival has grown from a three-day event into a multi-venue cultural beacon. Films span genres—from documentaries and narratives to horror-comedy, animation, and accessible student-made shorts—each linked by a common thread of bravery. Every story is chosen for its ability to inspire, incite empathy, or challenge comfort zones
Driven by Tony’s belief in the redemption power of story, BraveMaker is a faith-infused movement. His films, including the award-winning feature Last Chance Charlene, confront themes like grief, suicide, justice, and the marginalized—offering spiritual grounding through art.
The BraveMaker Film Festival—a constellation of courageous voices and compelling cinema—melds art with activism, forum with fellowship, all woven together by accessibility, diversity, and faithful motivation. Hundreds of artists and thousands of audience members are welcomed to experience inspiring, life-changing films that spark powerful conversations and drive meaningful social impact. The vision is to expand—creating more opportunities for emerging filmmakers through incubators and labs, with the ultimate goal of becoming a fully independent film studio.
Tony and the Bravemaker team are committed to building community with a focus on justice and inclusion. “Since our founding in 2018, BraveMaker has been dedicated to educating, entertaining, and building community through film, with a focus on justice, diversity, and inclusion. We actively curate and showcase films that amplify disability rights, LGBTQ+ representation, racial justice, and more. Driving meaningful change and challenging systems of injustice is at the heart of BraveMaker’smission.”
Through the transformative lens of film, Tony continues to forge a community where creativity and courage unite, reminding us that the bravest act may simply be telling the truth.
