Tony Gapastione is a progressive pastor turned filmmaker. As a writer/director, he has several scripted shorts to his credit, one of which starred Emmy winner Loretta Devine and screened at NYC’s Urbanworld Film Festival, Pasadena Film Festival, San Jose Short Film Festival and Chicago’s Blue Whiskey Film Festival. His first feature film, Last Chance Charlene, premiered in 2022 with Cinequest Film Festival and won the audience award. It can be found on Amazon/Apple/VOD.

When Tony is not shepherding his congregation, he consults with other communities of faith, shares his storytelling and teachings via podcast, and invests in makers of all kinds. Passionate about telling stories that incite awareness about rarely discussed theological issues like suicide, mental health, gender, racial justice and human trafficking,

Tony founded a media nonprofit called BraveMaker focused on social justice, diversity and inclusion. Through monthly film screenings, community dialogues and an annual film festival, BraveMaker affects cultural change through art and conversation. Tony and his wife, Wendy, live in Redwood City, CA and have three teenaged daughters.