Meet Our Juries 2025

Roland Ballester – Doc Feature

Roland Ballester is a producer of the documentaries “Halston”, “Every Little Thing”, “The U Part 2”, “Merpeople”, etc. He previously was Vice President in Fox’s International Channels group, overseeing new ventures and programming partnerships.

Martin Baer – Doc Feature

Martin Baer is a cameraman, writer and film director, based in Berlin, Germany.
His films “White Ghosts”, “Headhunting” and “Free Africa!” deal with Germany’s colonial past and today’s racism, while “Kinshasa Symphony” tells the story of a Congolese symphony orchestra.

Hiram Smith – Doc Feature

Hiram L. Smith is an Associate Professor of Spanish and Linguistics at Bucknell University. He teaches courses in sociolinguistics, Spanish, and African American English. Raised in Lawton, Oklahoma, he continues to draw on the voices and lessons of home in his career as a linguist.

Sara Garth – Doc Feature

Sara Garth is a cinematographer based out of Los Angeles and Vancouver.
She received her bachelors degree in Cinema and Media Studies from The University of Chicago and has since been working in narrative, commercial, music video and documentary content. Her work has screened and been televised worldwide and is currently available on Netflix, HBO and Amazon Prime.
Sara is a collaborator, always working to produce images that achieve the directors vision for the story at hand.

Leah Bahamonde – Doc Feature – Student

Leah Bahamonde is a senior Film Production student at Pennsylvania State University. She recently completed Penn State’s Hollywood Program and a TV Development internship at CBS Studios, where she gained hands-on experience in creative development. Currently, she is directing one of Penn State’s senior capstone films, Unstrung, which she also wrote. Bahamonde is passionate about telling stories that explore raw, human emotions and aims to continue creating films with powerful, resonant messages.

Kayla Myers – Narrative Feature

Kayla Myers is a freelance film programmer, writer, and artist programs administrator. She’s previously been the Director of Programming at Indie Memphis, Series Producer for The DocYard in Cambridge, MA, and a Features Programmer for the San Francisco Documentary Festival. In addition, Kayla’s writing has appeared in Filmmaker Magazine, Them., and Vox Magazine. She is passionate about making film more accessible to those not living in large filmmaking centers, and has served on juries and grant review committees for organizations such as the IDA, ITVS, Princess Grace Foundation, Creative Capital, New Orleans Film Society’s Southern Producers Lab, Milwaukee Film Festival, RiverRun Film Festival, and Sidewalk Film Festival. Kayla is also a 2024 IDA Getting Real Fellow.

Spencer Folmar – Narrative Feature

Director & Producer Spencer T. Folmar’s theatrical debut, “Generational Sins,” has spurred a national debate surrounding the interplay of faith and film. The New York Post, The Los Angeles Times, FOX, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Washington Times, CBN, Christian Post, and more have all joined the conversation about the film’s release. In response, Folmar coined the term “Hard Faith” to describe this new genre of film, written for audiences who are hungry for hope in the midst of gritty real-life stories. While planning another film, Folmar felt compelled to bring light to the overwhelming opioid epidemic ravaging America. When he visited his home in central Pennsylvania, and after hearing so many heartbreaking stories he felt the best way to bring attention in the media was through film. “Shooting Heroin” was then brought to life. A film about a small town taking justice into their own hands to stop the spread of drugs by whatever means possible. This movie began its theatrical tour in 2019 and is planning a wide release in the first quarter of 2020.

Johnathan Fernandez – Narrative Feature

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Johnathan is an actor and comedian splitting time between Los Angeles and New York City. He is is famous for his litany of roles across TV, including as Scorsese on the FOX action series Lethal Weapon. He has also guest starred across several UCB Original comedic sketches, and as Flamien Flirst on the TruTV series Adam Ruins Everything. He has guest starred on the TV series Bull and Girls. He appeared on the late night comedy show @midnight as himself in 2016. In addition to his role on Lethal Weapon, Johnathan Fernandez recently guest-starred on “Bull” and “Adam Ruins Everything.” He also has become a regular panelist on “@midnight.” Prior to Lethal Weapon, he appeared on “Younger” and “Girls.”

Colin Wilkins – Narrative Feature – Student

Hello, I am Colin! I am a sophomore at Penn State, majoring in Film Production and Psychology. I was raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where I grew a passion for film. My goals in life are to pursue a career in film production. It is a dream of mine to produce my own films and help out on set on other productions. I am so excited to have this opportunity to work for the festival! Film is a passion of mine so being able to help filmmakers showcase their movies is very fulfilling to me. I am also the Event Planner for the Entertainment Business Club at Penn State. In my spare time I like to pursue creative outlets such as reading, writing, watching movies, or even gathering my friends together to make a short film. I have loved working on this event and am so excited to be work on it even more!

Bryan Conyers – Doc Short

Bryan Conyers is an award-winning videographer, editor, and filmmaker based out of Centre County, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Penn State in 2009, he has worn many hats across the media industry, including award-winning live broadcast production in a top U.S. news market, editing award-winning television programs, and now covering community events in and around State College. His short film Aneaus: The Boy Who Could Dance, won multiple awards and was featured in the 2024 Centre Film Festival in the Made In PA category.

Jessie Beers-Altman – Doc Short

Jessie is a documentary filmmaker, editor, and educator with over 20 years of experience. She is currently a member of the production team at WPSU Penn State Public Broadcasting. Her storytelling centers on people who are marginalized, march to a different beat, or or simply seek to exist outside of their prescribed roles.

Muhammed Rehman Shirzad – Doc Short

Born and raised in Afghanistan, Muhammad Rehman Shirzad is a doctoral student at the Shriver Anthropological Genomics Lab at Penn State University, where he researches 3D craniofacial variation, voice features, and genetic linkage for complex disorders like sleep apnea. He served as a field producer on the Emmy Award-winning documentary produced by ProPublica and The New Yorker. He applies a visual anthropology approach that links observation, documentation, and analysis to inform public understanding.

Darien Reimold – Doc Short – Student

My name is Darien and I am a freshman at Penn State York studying Film Production. In high school I started making my own short films, establishing my own film studio called Crying Light Studios! My moto is “Eat, Breathe, and Live by the Big Screen”.

Bavly Soliman – Narrative Short

Bavly Soliman is an Egyptian filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY, whose debut short film HoLEY premiered at the St. Louis International Film Festival and continued to screen at several others. A graduate of the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, he is currently in post-production on his debut feature film, continuing to explore bold and deeply personal storytelling.

John Pendygraft – Narrative Short

DR. JOHN PENDYGRAFT was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and worked at the Tampa Bay Times from 1997 to 2022. He is currently an assistant professor of visual journalism at Penn State University. Pendygraft has received national awards for feature writing, video and still photography from the American Society of News Editors, Society of Professional Journalists, Scripps Howard, National Headliner Awards, Pictures of the Year International and the Emmy awards. His documentary revealing escalating violence and neglect in Florida mental hospitals was included in the winning entry for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting, won a regional Emmy and was a finalist for a national Emmy. His continuing mental health coverage has been awarded multiple regional Emmy awards. In 2017-2018, Pendygraft completed a Knight-Wallace Fellowship at the University of Michigan and received a Ph.D. in applied anthropology at the University of South Florida.

Tom Dallal – Narrative Short

Palestinian-American documentary filmmaker, cinematographer and editor Thomas Dallal currently lives between Haifa and Ramallah. Raised in upstate NY and Kuwait, he studied at McGill, then worked globally as a photojournalist from a NYC base for two decades before studying law. His clients have included PBS, France24/Arte, Euronews, Aljazeera, Der Spiegel, Time, Newsweek, Vanity Fair and The New York Times.

Arda Wuytz – Narrative Short – Student

Arda Wuyts is a Belgian-Turkish writer and director. He now lives in State College, Pennsylvania where he also received his education at Penn State University and will be in Hollywood in 2026, where he will continue making films in which he explores his wordview through his unique, multicultural background. Dimitrios Manias is a Senior Biobehavioral Health Student at Penn State University with a passion for film and directing in particular, he hopes to continue studying to be a Therapist while staying involved with film in the future.

Eric Engelbarth – Sports on Screen

Eric Engelbarts is the Executive Director of the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance (HVSEA), leading efforts to grow sports and entertainment tourism, strengthen community impact, and boost regional visibility. With extensive experience in sports tourism and event management, he previously led the Michigan Sports Alliance and holds degrees from Western Illinois University and Springfield College.

Char Morett Curtiss – Sports on Screen

Char is the leader, spokesperson and driving force behind Teammates For Life. Recently retired, Char is the longest-serving Penn State field hockey coach, three-time All-American Penn State field hockey and lacrosse player, 1984 Olympic bronze medalist and USA Women’s National Team member. With an illustrious career spanning over 39 years, Char has left an indelible mark on Penn State athletics. A 1979 graduate of Penn State and All-American standout, Char became Penn State’s fifth head coach in 1987, and then led the field hockey team to incredible success, including eight Big Ten regular-season titles and multiple NCAA semifinal appearances.

Brandy Reiter – Sports on Screen

Worked for the PA Legislature for 36 years. Retired in April and started working at HVAB and HVSEA In August as Fritz and Eric’s Exec. Asst. Married for 30 years with 3 amazing children!

Randy Houston – Sports on Screen

Randy is a musician, composer, writer, producer, actor, and improviser. He is a proud alum of Penn State (BA ’91) and the University of North Carolina (JD ’95), and he has been an entertainment and IP lawyer for 30 years, presently serving as General Counsel of the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation.

William Oldsley – Sports on Screen

Mr. Oldsey is a former publishing industry executive and the retired President of McGraw-Hill Education. Before joining McGraw-Hill, he served in a number of executive roles including Group President for Pearson Education International, President of Prentice Hall/Simon and Shuster College Publishing, President of Silver Burdett Ginn Publishing, and Editorial Director of John Wiley & Sons. His career in publishing spans over three decades and includes a wealth of global experience in print and digital teaching and learning products and services for the K-12, Higher Education, and Adult Education markets. After retirement from McGraw-Hill, Mr. Oldsey was engaged as an Operating Partner with Atlas Advisors where he worked closely with various firms in the private equity and venture capital markets, advising clients in the areas of educational policy, educational technology, and digital transformation in publishing.

Eddie Cerritos – Disabilities on Screen

Born and raised in State College, PA, Eddie Cerritos works with Student Disability Resources at Penn State University. A lifelong movie lover, he’s thrilled to serve on the Centre Film Festival Jury and celebrate the power of film.

Jen Gooch – Disabilities on Screen

Jennifer Gooch, based in Centre Hall, PA, US, is currently an Administrative Support Coordinator at Penn State University. Jennifer Gooch brings experience from previous roles at Penn State University, CHIZ RIDER MINISTRIES INC, H&R Block and SELIGMAN, FRIEDMAN & COMPANY, P.C. She currently freelances with Coach Training EDU.

Karen Armstrong – Disabilities on Screen

As I’ve grown and evolved as a dynamic, people-focused leader, I’ve remained steadfast in my commitment to fostering environments where every individual is valued, creative, and empowered to thrive. Over the course of my career, I’ve built a proven track record of success championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts — not as a compliance requirement, but as a strategic imperative and human responsibility.
My leadership has catalyzed meaningful change at the organizational, regional, and national levels, and I’m honored that my expertise and thought leadership in DEI and dignity-driven practices have been recognized nationally.

Caid Met – Disabilities on Screen – Student

Hi – I am a Senior at Penn State majoring in Human Development and Family Studies. I am also disabled, and am involved on campus as a leader for a disability advocacy program run through SDR. As a disabled person, disability advocacy and representation is very important to me, because it is not often that I get to see myself on screen.

Sonya Wilmoth – Pride on Screen

Sonya Wilmoth serves as the Director of the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity at Penn State University (University Park). She formally assumed the director role on July 19, 2021, after serving as interim director since January 2021. A native of Maryland, Wilmoth earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from La Salle University. She holds a Master’s in Sports & Athletics Administration from West Chester University and a Master’s in Higher Education Administration from Penn State World Campus. In her current role, she leads the center’s programming, advocacy, education and support services for the Penn State community around issues of sexual and gender diversity, working to create inclusive spaces where all students, faculty and staff can bring their full identities. She uses the pronouns she/her/hers in her professional capacity.

Sarah Dehena – Pride on Screen

Sarah Dehena is a film programmer, community educator, and horror scholar based in Northwest Arkansas. She is currently a Staff Writer for MovieJawn, a film publication in Philadelphia, as well as the Community and Engagement Coordinator for Centre Film Festival. Sarah previously was the Programming Coordinator for the Indie Memphis Film Festival, as well as part of the programming team for the Nashville Film Festival and NWA Film Club. She also holds a MA in Cinema Studies from SCAD.

Fermin Almeida – Pride on Screen

Fermin Almeida is a Los Angeles native currently living in State College pursuing a Bachelors in Biology with a pre-med focus at Penn State. Despite his background in the sciences, his career focus is in PR and marketing. He began his career as a brand developer for a private investment firm in Mexico and is now the marketing coordinator for Hotel State College. Fermin continues to explore his passion for telling stories through branding development and has recently expanded into talent management in the music industry.

Susan Marshall – Pride on Screen

An Independent College Advising & Admissions Counselor and owner of College Gateways. A founding Board member and Secretary of the Centre LGBT+.

Pia Smal – Pride on Screen

Associate professor in Rehabilitation and Human Services and Counselor Education and Supervision at PSU. Current president and founding member of Centre LGBT+.

Griffin Lee – Pride on Screen – Student

Griffin Lee is a senior art and film student.

Victor Hugo Gonzaga Marques – Made in PA

Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Victor Hugo Gonzaga is a colorist who seamlessly moves between production and post-production. Victor’s credits include Brazil’s award-winning short PRATA, Shooting My Life’s Script on Prime Video, and the children’s series GUILLERMO & WILL on Minno. A lifelong film enthusiast he serves on the board of Filmmakers and Actors of Centre County.

Pamela J Snyder Etters – Made in PA

Pamela Snyder Etters became the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts’ Executive Director in 2023. Pam comes to Centre County from neighboring Blair County, where she served as the Executive Director of Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania for two years. Prior to that she was the Executive Director of the Altoona Symphony Orchestra for nearly nine years. As an artist herself, Pam combines her experience in arts-related nonprofit leadership with her belief in the arts as a platform for youth empowerment and social connection. She is the founder and lead muralist within the Murals Talk Foundation—a program that uses mural construction to build bridges over cultural, social, and economic gaps for youth.
Pam is also the head women’s soccer coach at the Altoona campus of the Pennsylvania State University and involved in several Altoona community and cultural associations, such as Arts Altoona, the City of Altoona Beautification Committee, Explore Altoona, and the Blair 9/11 Committee. She lives in Altoona with her husband Travis and their two daughters Emma and Tobin.

Leah Carraway Justice – Made in PA

2x Penn State World Campus graduate. Project and Change Manager in the Office of Enterprise Change & Transformation – Penn State Office of the President.

Kristin DeBoer – Made in PA

Kristen Rigby-DeBoer is the co-owner of Brown Dog Catering. She was a film major at Penn State University.

Marty Camden – Experimental/Animation

Martin Camden joined the faculty full-time in 2008 after serving as an adjunct instructor for four years. He has taught beginning film production, beginning screenwriting, and intro to audio and video production.
Camden received the 2004 Liz Ralston Award from the cinema and photography faculty at Southern Illinois University and the 2000 Samuel Abrams Endowment Award from the film-video faculty at Penn State. His filmography bodes numerous short films, including “Homesick,” which was screened at the Big Muddy International Film Festival and “Cal-de-sac,” which was screened at the Athens International Film Festival.

Tom Range – Experimental/Animation

Range, a Centre Hall resident and Penn State graduate, is the visionary co-founder behind the Happy Valley Comic & Collectibles Convention (HVC3). With a lifelong passion for comics and pop culture, Range launched HVC3 in 2023 to bring a vibrant, inclusive fan experience to Central PA. His background in education and community engagement fuels the convention’s mission to celebrate creativity and connection.

Maureen Range – Experimental/Animation

Sabrina Pack – Experimental/Animation – Student

Colin Wilkins – Student Short – Student

Owen Rassmusen – Student Short – Student

Owen is a freshman at Delta High and an aspiring filmmaker. He’s always looking for ways to grow his photo and video skills, whether it’s producing the weekly school news or building cinematic drones. Owen has two cats and lives in State College.

Charlie Meloan – Student Short – Student

Charlie Meloan is a freshman at Delta High School. She is heavily interested in media analysis and fandom culture along with creating original works. In her spare time she enjoys playing guitar and hanging out with friends. One of her favorite movies is Legally Blonde.

NuNu Schaeffer – Student Short – Student

NuNu, Nicole, or even Sgt. Nasty. Whatever you call her, she’s a successor. NuNu Schaeffer, a 14-year-old high school first-year student, is the kind of person who never leaves a door unopened. She takes every opportunity she can get and pushes it beyond her bounds. Wherever she goes, somebody knows or will know her name. She’s a bright girl with many talents, such as drumming, marching in a band, softball, making jewelry, public speaking, painting all the curtains in her room without her parents’ permission, skiing, and she does this all with a good outfit. Though she doesn’t write a perfect or even decent essay in English, half the time, she always writes from her heart.

Darien Reimold – Student Short – Student

Anaya Marie Milligan – Student Short – Student

Anaya Milligan is a film student at Penn State University who is passionate about storytelling through visual language. She specializes in writing and directing short narratives, gaining experience in camera operation and editing. As a lover of cinema, Anaya appreciates innovative storytelling and meaningful artistic risks, leading her to approach her own works with creativity, empathy, and deeper meaning.