Alexander Julian, Ph.D., J.D.

Writer, producer, and inventor, brings his long careers in forensic psychology and law to the creation of novels, graphic novels, screenplays, and award- winning films. Over the past dozen years, Alexander and his production company, Feedback Filmworks, have garnered over 300 screenplay and film awards since mid 2018. His feature film FEVER DREAMS currently streams on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Tubi.

Robert Dane Goodwin

Actor/ musician. He was born and raised in White Lake, NC. He can be seen in shows like Joe Kenda’s Homicide Hunter, and features like Lions Gate Penthouse. He is also in 87 & Pines music video Goodbye Carolina, which was shot on Chminey Rock.

Evelyn Putnam

Well versed in film, hair, sfx, makeup, photography. Producing shorts, music vids, and feature films. Location scout, pa, continuity, lighting and design. 44 years in the film industry. Entrepreneur, educator, and philanthropist.

Mike Leonard

University of South Carolina film graduate. Throughout his young life and travels across America as an Air Force brat, he was fascinated with the moving image and always tried to capture his experience through a lens. His childhood obsession with the works of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg only catapulted his imagination. As a father of three children and working for the government, Mike has a constantdesire to surround himself with other artists and continue learning how to perfect his filmmaking craft.

Daniel Goodman

Daniel works in the AV tech world by day, and moonlights as a passionatestoryteller and video editor. With a deep love for all things film–escpecially horror, sci-fi, and war genres– he’s always chasing the next great story, whether it’s on screen or behind the scenes. While he’s not a film industry insider(yet), he’s no stranger to the editing timeline and knows how to spot a well crafted moment when he sees one.

JD Demers

is an award-winning actor, film, television, and new media producer, as well as a recognized media futurist with nearly three decades of industry expertise spanning media, entertainment, and content delivery.
Throughout his career, JD has worked extensively behind the camera—producing, directing, writing, and developing projects—while also performing in front of the camera in independent feature films, network television, and national theatre tours. His on-screen credits include Flight from Justice, Among Brothers, The West Wing, Vandroid, History’s Heroes: TheRustBucketKids.com, Homicide Hunter, and The Prosecutors, among many others. JD has also appeared in national and regional commercials for brands such as NASCAR and Protein2o. On stage, he has performed with Elinor Donahue in Harvey, Johnny Whitaker in To Kill a Mockingbird, Paul Sorvino in Fiddler on the Roof, and the real von Trapp family grandchildren in The Sound of Music.
Beyond entertainment, JD collaborates with various law enforcement and government agencies, producing media elements for training programs.
A dedicated mentor, educator, and mediagenics expert, JD has served as a faculty advisor at Living Arts College: The School of Communication Arts and Piedmont Community College’s Film and Video Production Technology Program. He has also taught as adjunct faculty at UNC-Greensboro and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and actively supports graduate productions at UNC School of the Arts and SCAD as part of his commitment to giving back to the next generation of filmmakers. He has served on advisory boards for several organizations, including the International Television Association (ITVA), and is a lifetime member of the Digital Cinema Society. JD currently serves as Executive Director for Carolina Arts and MediaPros, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, and has held a board seat with the Media Communications Association International. He is also a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.
JD has actively advocated for North Carolina’s film industry, playing a key role in bringing on board noted lobbyist Tony Adams and working with others to help pass the PACES Jobs Act, which modernized how entrepreneurial producers can raise capital, expanding opportunities for local productions.
Currently, JD oversees multiple projects: several in active development, one in pre-production, and one in post-production. He has recently expanded into corporate media production under RBKC, Inc., with a focus on delivering sustainable returns for stakeholders.
Outside of work, JD and his wife, Michelle, once raised wolves and now enjoy golfing together. They have two grown children: a daughter, a Wake Forest University graduate who works as a producer in New York City, and a son, a UNC-Charlotte alumnus, who also works in media.
JD is an avid run-walk runner, devoted to runDisney events, and a lover of historical sites like Colonial Williamsburg. Whether tubing on water or snow, perfecting his marksmanship, or hosting meetings while cooking in his kitchen—his signature BLT with Tabasco is legendary—JD brings passion and creativity to every endeavor.
He lives by the philosophy: “Think outside the box, work outside the box, and know when to get back in the box!” and believes wholeheartedly: “When you see art as a business, anything is possible.” — John M. Demers, 1996.

Tom Gore

Award winning actor and indie filmmaker, this talent has been featured everywhere from Fox’s Superhuman to Sports Illustrated. He spends his free as a storyteller and filmmaker entertaining audiences with his dry wit and horror comedy skills.

Jayne Keifer

is a proud grandmother of three, cherishing every moment spent with them and doting on them as often as possible. She enjoys being outdoors—skiing down snowy slopes, biking along scenic trails with her grandchildren, and kayaking through coastal waterways. Residing along the beautiful coast of North Carolina, she thrives on ocean breezes and seaside living.
Jayne earned her doctorate in Genetics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her research made important contributions to understanding signaling pathways in cancer. As a dedicated family person now enjoying retirement, Jayne remains deeply engaged with the world of science, staying up to date on the latest breakthroughs and discoveries. A lifelong learner, she blends her curiosity for scientific advancement with a growing passion for baking and culinary arts. Whether she’s experimenting with new recipes or exploring innovative cooking techniques, Jayne approaches the kitchen with the same enthusiasm she once brought to the lab. Her days are now a joyful mix of delicious creativity and intellectual exploration.

Frankie Hayes

has spent his entire life in the Arts, theater and music, as a veteran of theater 32 years a songwriter, singer, and band leader, painter, artist and sculptor often called a trend setter, style icon, and local celebrity. He is honored to be selected as one of the prestigious judges on the panel.

Carson Berger

Passionate, detail-oriented storyteller eager to expand his repertoire of film-making skills. Values effective teamwork on and off production. Focused on making sure every aspect and detail of a film is visually and audibly seamless. Script supervisor on many films.

Pam Ross

MTS Promotions & Records artist Pam Ross has created her own style of music.  Fans began calling her sound “Pam Music” because she uniquely  combines americana, country, rock, pop, and folk into a unique sound that is all her own.  Her musical style has been compared to walking a tight rope between the raw edge of Lucinda Williams, Sheryl Crow, and Bonnie Raitt.  Born in Pittsburgh, she lived most of her life in Houston and now lives in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina.  She splits most of her time between North Carolina and Nashville but can also be found performing at venues around the country.

In 2024, Pam won Female Multi-Genre Artist of the year at the Josie Awards held at the Grand Old Opry and her album, When Therapy Fails, was named one of the best indie albums of the year by Inscriber Magazine.  In 2023, she won Musician of the Year at the Who’s Hoo Country Music Awards and Fan Favorite in the Independent Music Network Awards.  Her current nominations include Songwriter Achievement and Female Americana Artist of the Year in the Joise Awards, Singer-Songwriter of the Year in the Hollywood Independent Music Awards, and 7 nominations in the International Red-Carpet Awards. Her energetic performances and soulful songwriting make her a memorable experience to see live.

Kathy M. Newbern

of Raleigh, NC, has been a professional writer since age 17 when got her first newspaper job and started college. She did both full-time, eventually working more than a decade each in journalism and in public relations/public information.
She’s extremely proud to have needed more pages in her passport based on her work as an award-winning travel writer and photographer on assignment since 1994 for a wide array of magazines and newspapers (374 articles and in later years more than 500 blog contributions).
She and her late husband journeyed the world, visiting every continent and 70+ countries specializing in romantic destinations, luxury getaways, spas and cruising. In one year alone, they visited China, Dubai, the Maldives, Russia and the Baltic, Paris and Lyon, Easter Island, South America and Antarctica.
When not traveling, they ran their own boutique publishing company for three decades creating the genre of personalized romance novels. Together they wrote 23 of the 50 available titles (with settings inspired by their world travel) and gave two dozen other writers the opportunity to see their work in print. She is currently working on a memoir and revising a screenplay.

J. Michael Goulding (Mike)

is a multi-talented creative and mental health professional whose work bridges storytelling, visual artistry, and emotional insight. With a degree in film, he has written compelling movie scripts, worked behind the camera to capture striking visuals, and created engaging online content that reaches diverse audiences. Drawing from his expertise in mental health, Mike brings a unique depth to his projects, ensuring stories not only entertain but also resonate on a profound human level.

Cindy Goulding

brings a unique blend of creativity and insight to the judging panel. As a screenwriter who has penned her own movie script and an actress in local film productions, she knows storytelling from both sides of the camera. Beyond the art of filmmaking, Cindy serves as a mental health consultant for movies, ensuring authentic, respectful, and impactful portrayals on screen. Her passion for compelling stories and her dedication to emotional truth make her an invaluable voice in celebrating the films of this year’s festival.