Three individuals whose work has helped strengthen filmmaking, storytelling and the arts in northwestern Pennsylvania will lead PennWest Edinboro’s “At the Movies” Homecoming parade Saturday, Oct. 3.

Margaret Dieudonne, Jackie George ’72 and John C. Lyons ’00 have been selected as grand marshals for the annual parade. Together, the trio represents both Edinboro’s longstanding connection to the arts and a growing regional film community that supports filmmakers, creates opportunities for collaboration and brings stories to audiences locally and beyond.

Margaret Dieudonne

Dieudonne is president of the Eerie Horror Fest, a nonprofit horror film festival that celebrates filmmakers from around the world while creating a welcoming community for longtime horror fans and newcomers to the genre.

She leads a team of volunteers, many of them proud Edinboro graduates, who curate film submissions, vendors, workshops and panels featuring industry professionals. The festival has earned national attention, including recognition by The New York Times as one of five horror film festivals worth traveling to experience.

Now operating as an independent educational nonprofit, the Eerie Horror Fest continues to expand its focus on showcasing filmmakers locally and globally while providing opportunities for audiences to engage with the art and craft of filmmaking.

Outside of her work with the festival, Dieudonne is an advanced lead engineer at Wabtec Corporation’s Erie site. She works with customers and engineering teams to develop locomotive strategies designed to protect engines, improve diagnostics and help locomotives meet Environmental Protection Agency standards. She also holds a patent for a locomotive-engine dead-cylinder detection strategy.

A native of Miami, Florida, Dieudonne earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rice University and a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She was named to Erie’s 40 Under 40 in 2024 and recognized as a 2025 Woman of Distinction by Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania.

Jackie George ’72

George launched a decades-long career in the film industry after graduating from Edinboro in 1972 and moving to Los Angeles.

Her early film credits included “Still Smokin,” “Die Hard 2,” “She’s Having a Baby” and “Dick Tracy.” Her first producing credit came with “Out for Justice,” and she later became vice president of production at Silver Pictures/Warner Bros., where her projects included “Demolition Man,” “Richie Rich” and “Tales from the Crypt.”

George later produced five films for Disney Channel and ABC, including “The Cheetah Girls.” She received a Humanitas Prize as a producer of “Searching for David’s Heart.”

After returning to Erie, George continued to support filmmaking and creative talent throughout the region. In 2023, she produced and directed the documentary “Concrete Canvas,” which followed 28 muralists creating public art throughout Erie.

She is currently editing a documentary project connected to America250 that includes the creation of the 72-foot mural at 10th and State streets in Erie.

George also serves as vice president of Film Erie, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening the region’s filmmaking community, and as a board member for Bayfront Eastside Task Force and Dance Erie.

John C. Lyons ’00

Lyons, a 2000 Edinboro graduate, is an Erie-based filmmaker whose work often explores environmental, social and community issues.

He co-directed the eco-horror feature “Unearth” with his partner, Dorota Swies. The film premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival, screened at the Museum of Modern Art and was distributed through Showtime in the United States and in markets around the world. Starring Adrienne Barbeau and Marc Blucas, the film examines working-class struggles and the consequences communities and future generations can inherit from short-sighted decisions.

Lyons also collaborated with filmmaker and journalist Melissa A. Troutman on the Emmy-nominated PBS documentary “Lake Erie, Our Kin,” exploring humanity’s relationship with Lake Erie. His additional collaborations include four short films with choreographer and filmmaker Corinne Justine and Seiche Dance Collective focused on women’s and environmental issues.

More recently, Lyons founded Tethered, the region’s first immersive theater company. Its productions bring together dance, theater, music, film and technology through collaborations with artists and community partners.

Lyons previously served for 15 years as executive director and director of programming for the Film Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, later known as Film Erie. He also helped revive the Eerie Horror Fest, serving as festival director and lead programmer from 2021-23.

A teaching artist with Erie Arts & Culture and the Erie Center for Arts & Technology, Lyons also serves on the Erie Philharmonic Board of Governors.

At PennWest, Lyons is manager of Client Support Services, overseeing technology support across the university’s three campuses.

His honors include Erie Arts & Culture’s Bruce Morton Wright Artist of the Year Award, Erie Reader’s Best Filmmaker honors and recognition among the Erie Times-News’ People of the Year.

The Homecoming parade is part of PennWest Edinboro’s Homecoming celebration, scheduled Oct. 1-3. This year’s “At the Movies” theme will bring students, alumni, employees and community members together for a weekend celebrating Edinboro traditions, creativity and connection. For a complete schedule, visit pennwest.edu/boro-homecoming