The Board Members

Bringing the best in contemporary international and independent films to the Inland Empire region of Southern California.

Jim Buchholz
President/Festival Director

Jim Buchholz is a Professor of Mathematics and Physics and earned his PhD in Astrophysics from the University of California, Riverside. In addition to wrestling and playing soccer during his college days, he performed as a Stand-up Comic and was once recognized as the Top Collegiate Comedian by the American Collegiate Talent Showcase (formerly the Bob Hope Search for Collegiate Talent). He now produces, writes, directs and acts in short films. His first short film "I Saw Her First" played in festivals in three different countries. He recently finished his first full-length feature screenplay based off of a book published in 13 languages. Dr. Buchholz combined his talents in science and the film industry by creating a very successful college class titled: "The Physics of Hollywood". He is also presently an active board member of the Riverside International Film Festival.

Avni Patankar
Board Member/Treasurer

Avni Patankar manages the finances for the Riverside International Film Festival (RIFF). Avni received her BS in Mathematics from the University of California, Irvine. She is a long time resident of Riverside and has been a volunteer with the RIFF for the past couple of years.

Dr. Harki Dhillon
Founder/Vice-President

Harki Dhillon is the Founder and past President of the Riverside international film festival.
He is the Producer of the critically acclaimed feature film Beyond Honor.
Actor in feature films American Blend and Beyond Honor.
Author of two books of Poetry - Invisible Hands and Misty Darkness. (amazon.com).
Harki is on the Board of Advisors/Trustee of California Baptist University, University of California Riverside Foundation and the Center for Social justice and Civil Liberties.
Harki is an Orthopedic and Hand Surgeon.

Mark A. Roberson
Board Member/Secretary

Mark Roberson came to California Baptist University in September 2011 to begin his role as founding Dean of the College of Architecture, Visual Arts & Design, and to launch the new architecture program. 

Prior to coming to CBU, Mark was the Vice President and Director of Design for Fender Architects in Fort Worth, Texas for 15 years. Mark earned his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington. Mark then earned both a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Architecture from University of Southern California, and worked as an architect in LA for several years.

Mark has previously taught architecture at UTA, USC, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and the Ecole Des Ponts in Paris, France.