MEET THE 2024 JUDGES

JUDGES

Without our volunteer judges, we could not have a successful festival. Our judges take time (a lot of time!) to view the films and give constructive feedback to our filmmakers. The judges are a huge part of the festival!!

 

AARON KEELING

Aaron Keeling is an award-winning producer, director, and artist with more than 10 years of experience in digital media production, film, and theatre. After studying film production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Aaron entered the world of social media marketing where he has produced and directed dozens of branded and editorial campaigns for companies like Amazon, Target, Tastemade, Mars, Toyota, Coca-Cola, and more. Aaron is also the co-founder of E3W Productions, an LA-based film and immersive theatre production company telling frightening, emotional stories from a uniquely intimate angle. Past work includes the critically acclaimed indie horror film 'The House on Pine Street', several sold-out immersive theatre productions including 'In Another Room' and 'The Shape of the Night', as well as the alternate reality game 'ARCANA', named one of the “Best Games of 2020” by LA Times.

NATALIE JONES

Natalie Jones has a passion for storytelling and knack for making magic happen. As a founding force behind E3W Productions, she's brought spine-tingling tales to the big screen with feature film "The House on Pine Street" and crafted immersive adventures like "In Another Room." Now, as a Digital Media Producer at Tastemade, Natalie's rocking the online world, partnering with major brands like Hulu, Paramount, Pepsi, and Coca-Cola.

MARLEE MARSHALL

Marlee Marshall began her love of film in 1972 when she saw  “The Poseidon Adventure” in a single screen theater, in Killeen, Texas, with her dad. She actively pursued that love at the University of Arizona, graduating with a BFA in Film Theory in 1989. For her, watching a movie/film was forever changed. Lighting, use of colors, music, jump cuts, dialog, all became part of how she views film. Sometimes a film is just a film, and sometimes it is so much more. She loves discovering the “so much more.” The play may be the thing, but film is where the magic happens.

 

DOUGLAS LEACH

Doug Leach, from Parkville MO, was part of the generation that swapped VHS tapes with friends and scoured video rental stores searching for the obscure films that turned into the cult films of today, as well as being immersed the in indie film movement of the ’90s. He grew up with a strong appreciation for the craft of filmmaking and is trying to pass on that appreciation to his five children. Doug has also been a music critic for the website Regen.com since 2017, as well as covering local concerts and interview bands for Kansas City promoters and his own website.