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JURY MEMBERS Donna McKenna (Casting Director and Producer) Donna holds a seat on the board of the Nassau County Film and Television Foundation and the Suffolk County Film Commission. She is frequently invited to host audition/film workshops for the SAG-AFTRA NYCAP programs and teaches at many acting schools worldwide. She has cast over 25 independent feature films, 9 short films and 4 web series. Her ensemble casts consist of not only award winning actors from film, television and Broadway but she has discovered and cast new up and coming actors. Some of her films have been invited to screen at renowned film festivals including the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival. Her recent film Trust Me, I'm a Lifeguard premiered at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival and many of her films have won numerous festival awards.
Yvonne Maria Shaefer (Actress, Model and Film Producer) Yvonne Maria Schaefer is an actress and a film producer currently living in New York City, she was born and was raised in Frankfurt Main Germany. Early on in her career she began as a model and actress. As a child Yvonne Maria studied ballet, while also acting in theater productions. Her Model career started off when she was 3 years old. She was discovered by a child photographer, who worked for major European catalog companies. Later on Yvonne Maria worked internationally and was represented by agencies world wide. In the 1990´s meanwhile studying at the Goethe University in Frankfurt / Germany, Yvonne Maria focused more intently on her acting career and studied drama. During her studies, she worked in numerous Films, TV Series and plays. She also sang background vocals for various bands including Vanessa Mae and Joe Cocker. Through her passion and participation in extreme sports, the Maxim Lifestyle Magazine voted Yvonne Maria Schaefer as the "Action Girl". After living part time in Asia and Spain, Schaefer moved in 2008 to New York City and founded the Film Production Company YMC Films .In the States Yvonne Maria Schaefer has been successfully working as both an actress and a producer. Yvonne Maria's many notable credits can be seen on IMDB. In 2012 Yvonne Maria founded a second company, the YMC Entertainment GmbH in Frankfurt / Germany, focusing on Film and Music Productions.
Pat Addiss (Theater Producer) Pat Addiss is one of the most prominent female producers in theater - in fact, she is the one responsible for the number one longest running musical ever - The Fantasticks, which has played in theaters world wide. Addiss has produced many other notable Broadway musicals such as Promises Promises, Little Women, Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, Bridge and Tunnel, Spring Awakening, 39 Steps, and Passing Strange. She has also had some very notable off broadway projects including Shout and A Christmas Story. Pat Addiss is not only a Broadway Producer loved by many, but a Tony Award winning producer for 39 Steps. Best sound for a play for 39 Steps also won the Drama Desk Award. She is now working on Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike - starring David Hyde Pierce, Kristine Nielsen, Sigourney Weaver and Billy Magnussen.
Monique Dubois-Inzinna (Former Actress and Model) Born in Colmar, Monique Dubois-Inzinna left the Alsace region, because of WW2, when she was only a young child. The departure was heartbreaking for Monique - a shock she still carries with her today. Later she will leave behind France in order to go to Italy and then to the U.S. Life of a shooting star marked by immigration.