Judges

EDWARD BUFFMAN - BEST FEATURE

Ed Buffman is a multiple award-winning director/cinematographer with a great range of project experience. Throughout his career, he has directed and shot numerous television commercials, corporate films, documentary and music productions, infomercials, live sports programs, live television events as well as web and multi-media presentations. This work includes humorous and dramatic action and dialogue and a documentary style. Ed has directed actors and real people as well as celebrities, sports personalities, and politicians.

CHRISTIAN CRESPO – BEST MADE IN READING JUDGE

Christian Crespo made history in June 2020 when hired by the City of Reading as their first Communications professional. With a promising career of over five years, the Latino with Puerto Rican roots is motivated by his genuine and passionate character and possesses credits as a Producer and Director of his Christmas Special Una Cantata a los Reyes Magos and Production Assistant of shows from major Hispanic stations such as Univision Puerto Rico. Mr. Crespo completed his educational formation at the Ferré-Rangel School of Communications through Sagrado University at San Juan Puerto Rico, earning a Bachelor in Arts of Communications. More recently, he leads successful multimedia campaigns in the City of Reading, increasing their audiovisual offer as a form of communication with the residents of Reading and beyond.

KELLY DEVINE – BEST DOCUMENTARY AND SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD JUDGE

Kelly DeVine has served as the Artistic Director for the Global Peace Film Festival Artistic Director since 2006. Connecting story to community in action, the GPFF supports and amplifies the work of Central Florida civic, faith, educational and activist groups by curating film and media events to raise awareness and catalyze audiences. She has consulted on impact projects for award-winning documentaries such as Bully, How To Survive A Plague. This is Kelly’s 6th year as our Documentary/Social Impact Award Judge! We’re grateful for her ongoing support of the festival! KEVIN HACKENBERG – BEST SHORT FILM AND BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY JUDGE

With over 25 years experience in the film world as a DP, Director, and Producer, Kevin is a trusted source for any size project and is considered one of the East Coast’s premier DPs for his beautiful visuals, steadicam and drone work. Known for THE SIXTH SENSE (1999), THE BELOVED (2011), CHASING AMY (1997) THE WOODSMAN (2004), EQUITY (2016) and AS YOU ARE (2019). Kevin is also the creator of FUNNY & AMEN, a series of shorts proving that Christians actually can have a sense of humor.

MICHEAL BUTERBAUGH - BEST MUSIC JUDGE

Mike Buterbaugh is a is a 1980 Music Education graduate of Lebanon Valley College (PA). He went on to enjoy a 34-year teaching career, retiring from the Schuylkill Valley School District in Berks County, where he was the Director of Vocal Music and taught music history, theory, humanities, and the Music Keyboard Lab Ensemble, a course he created combining elements of performance, digital sequencing, arranging, and composition. While at Schuylkill Valley, he also worked in various roles, from set designer to producer and music director for over 30 musical theatre productions, and considers music directing productions of Titanic, Les Misérables, and Ragtime to be among his most satisfying experiences. Since 2014, Mike has been the Music Education Advisor for the Reading Musical Foundation, a local non-profit devoted to advancing and advocating for music education and appreciation in Berks County. Honored to serve as a 2022 FilmFEST judge, he notes that he first developed a fondness for independent films after renting (in Beta video format) Fantastic Animation Festival in the early ‘80s.

RICK OLMOS - BEST LATINX FILM JUDGE

Rick Olmos was named Chief Operating Officer of Centro Hispano Daniel Torres in April 2019. In this capacity, Mr. Olmos is responsible for the strategic management of Centro Hispano, including day-to-day operations. Mr. Olmos brings to bear a strong track record of leading collaboratively across all levels of the nonprofit world and fostering a corporate culture of workforce engagement and professional development.

Mr. Olmos has worked in the public relations and marketing field for over twenty-five years. Mr. Olmos’ other career adventure was in the television/film industry where he worked both in front of the

camera as an actor and behind the camera as a casting director/ extras casting director. Olmos worked on such films as Selena, The Postman, Pearl Harbor, and Dig. He has been involved with the television series Friday Night Lights.

ADAM LAZARRE-WHITE - BEST ACTOR JUDGE

Adam Lazarre-White grew up in NYC, was a 3-sport high-school athlete, played guitar and saxophone; and went on to graduate Harvard University, where he was the starting QB and played in the Harvard Jazz Band. Adam studied acting in NY and LA, then became known as a young actor on Living Single, Martin and for his colorful role as “Flynn” on the EMMY winning mini-series, The Temptations. A highlight of his early career was being nominated for an NAACP Image Award as “Nathan” on The Young & The Restless. His later credits include The GIFT, Blacklist, Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, Lethal Weapon, Private Practice, Heroes, The Parkers, and Ocean’s 13 among others. In 2021-2022, he’s on The Upshaws (Netflix), Flinch (Amazon) and coming soon, BlackJack Christmas (BET) and The Old Way (w/Nic Cage). As a writer, Adam was a senior writer on Vin Desil’s groundbreaking streaming show, The Ropes then staffed on NCIS NEW ORLEANS in 2020 and ‘21. His writing career began, both adapting and producing two films for TV, which won Regional EMMYs in ‘98 and ’99, Just Passin’ Through and What Angels Fear. As a Director, his film “200 YEARS” reached the 3rd round of Oscar voting for Best Live Action Short, and he is preparing to direct one of his several original feature film scripts this coming year.

CAROLYN MACDONALD - BEST FEMALE FILM MAKER JUDGE

Carolyn is the award-winning executive producer of AMERICA’S DREAM (HBO), BUFFALO SOLDIERS (TNT) and FREEDOM SONG (TNT), and Big Kenny Alphin’s inspiring documentary, BEARING LIGHT (NatGeo). Prior to running Danny Glover’s Carrie Productions, she was a part of the Warner Bros. TV advertising/publicity team, and later a Creative Executive at Cinecom Entertainment Group. She directed and produced the short film “P.N.O.K.” featuring Danny Glover & Elle Fanning, the documentary DESIGN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, and several music videos & corporate films for Nissan, the Nashville Civic Design Center and the Nashville Film Festival. As a screenwriter, she has scripted works for 20th Century Fox, GMC, a variety of indie producers, and most recently adapted the novel “The Color of Hope.” Carolyn is also the prolific photographer of her ongoing project NOUNS IN THE ROAD exhibition, which has been exhibited in galleries in Nashville, TN, and Charlotte, NC, and has several high profile collectors. SUE LANGE – BEST SCRIPT JUDGE

Sue Lange is a screenwriter, playwright, novelist, short story writer, and columnist. Her novella, We Robots, was recently republished by Night Shade Books in the MORE HUMAN THAN HUMAN anthology. Her first feature film, DUST NUGGETS, was released early 2020 on Amazon’s Prime Video. Sue is the producer/ writer of TRAFFIC OPERA, nominated for best short film and best edited film at the 2018 Nice International Film Festival, and the producer/director/writer of the award-winning short A PERFECT YOU. Sue is the writer/producer of PRINCESS DANCER and JUMP. Her current project, LE BON CHEF, in development, was the 2020 winner of the Apple Film Festival Best Comedy Script. Sue is an award-winning playwright whose work has been produced throughout the country.

SANTO D. MARABELLA – BEST SCRIPT JUDGE

Santo D. Marabella, MBA, DSW, The Practical Prof® and the 2018 Reading Eagle Entertainment Newsmaker of the Year, is an author, playwright, filmmaker, speaker and educator with writing, directing and/or producing credits that include books, television pilots, a musical, short films and plays. He was a producer of This Is Reading by Lynn Nottage. He co-founded and executive produced ReadingFilmFEST (2015 through 2017), as well as co-founded and served as Film Commissioner, ReadingFilm (2006 to 2018).

Current projects include: director/producer, “This Machine” (video/ audio play); producer, “Flashlight” (feature); producer, “Le Bon Chef” (feature) writer/producer, “The Caregiver” (short); writer, “Barbara Saves Herself” (screenplay) and writer/creator, “Raising the ‘Rents” (TV pilot). He is a member of The Lambs®, The Dramatists Guild of America and Theatre Communications Group. More information can be found on his IMDB profile.

CARA CORTELLESE - BEST SCRIPT JUDGE

Cara has been teaching in higher education for over 30 years. She is currently a Professor in the department of Cinema, Television and Media production at Kutztown University where her specialty is live television. This is her second year of being involved with the Reading FilmFest as a judge and moderator and is excited to be part of such a great event.