Hoag Kepner

Hoag Kepner is an Austin, Texas-based filmmaker, musician, record producer, and puppeteer. He is the director and producer of Big Phan, a feature documentary exploring the lives of Dave Raymond and Tom Burgoyne, the two men who have brought the Phillie Phanatic to life for nearly five decades. Kepner previously directed Torched: The Story of the Austin Torch, a documentary about Austin's professional women's ultimate frisbee team. His filmmaking career spans more than a decade, with work encompassing documentaries, music videos, and commercial productions. Beyond filmmaking, Kepner is a drummer, songwriter, and record producer who has toured and recorded with the bands Full Service and Two Player. He is also a puppeteer and creator of Puppet Telegrams, a personalized puppet-performance venture. His diverse creative pursuits share an interest in performance, storytelling, and the personalities behind the spectacle. A graduate of Yale University, Kepner lives in Austin, Texas. Big Phan makes its world premiere at the 2026 Philadelphia Film Festival.