Judges for the 2021 Youth Action Film Festival:
Whitney Shefte
Whitney Shefte is a Peabody, Murrow and Emmy award-winning video journalist at The Washington Post, where she has worked since 2006. She has documented everything from the opioid epidemic across the United States to press access issues in Pakistan to the forgotten conflict in Western Sahara. Whitney is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication where she concentrated in photojournalism. When she isn’t working, Whitney enjoys rock climbing, kayaking, practicing yoga, exploring the outdoors and traveling. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband. Follow her @whitneyshefte, at facebook.com/shefte, or at vimeo.com/channels/whitney.
Rachel Roberson
Rachel Roberson is KQED’s news education manager. Before coming to KQED, she spent 14 years as a middle school reading, writing and social studies teacher leader in San Francisco, Abu Dhabi and Austin. Rachel was a journalist based in the Bay Area prior to becoming a teacher.
Chanelle Ignant
Chanelle Ignant is KQED’s youth media specialist. Prior to KQED, she was a BAVC Bridges Fellow and reporter for the hyper-local, youth produced newspaper, The Richmond Pulse. She has taught numerous workshops on multimedia storytelling, and is an independent media maker and musician.
Alex Kim
Alex B. Kim is currently an Assistant Director and Production Coordinator located in Los Angeles. Prior to this, Alex was a Visuals Editor and Graphic Designer whose work has contributed to several productions at Netflix, Disney, Hulu, and more. Alex began his journey into entertainment as a Radio-Television-Film student at The University of Texas at Austin, where he specialized in directing and cinematography. He moved to LA in 2017 to pursue his dreams of being in Entertainment, and is still working in a heavily COVID-regulated Hollywood (safely and remotely from his home).
Past Judges:
Andrew Patterson
Andrew Patterson is an award winning filmmaker, with credits as a writer, director and producer. His first film Subtle Voices: Cries from Colombia (2006) was an official selection at both the Delray Beach Film Festival and the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. His second film, Let There Be Zombies (2014) premiered to a sold out crowd of over seven hundred fans at the Lakewood Theater in Dallas. The film won the People’s Choice Award at the Interurban Film Festival and the Award of Merit at Indie Fest. Let There Be Zombies is currently available On Demand through multiple platforms such as Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Xbox Video, Playstation, and Google Play. His production company, Film Patterson LLC, is currently in post-production for their next feature film called Prepper which is scheduled to premiere this summer. Andrew also teaches AP Human Geography at Coppell High School and believes that education is the key to shaping the mind of our next generation and is excited to be a part of creating that future. Andrew is married to his wife Lara and resides in McKinney, Texas where he finds rest and comfort while reading, watching movies and playing with his dogs.
Ryan Schwenn
Ryan Schwenn is a graduate of New Tech High @ Coppell and was a student in New Tech’s film program, FUZE. A veteran of the FUZE Show, Ryan has also appeared in front of and behind the camera in several award-winning shorts submitted to the Dallas International Film Festival, the Better Business Bureau North Texas Film Competition, and the World of Seven Billion Student Film Contest. Ryan Schwenn has also worked and collaborated previously with several other film programs, including the SMU Advertising Department and CHS’ KCBY program.
Kaitlyn Rigdon
Kait
lyn Rigdon is a graduate of New Tech High @ Coppell, was involved in New Tech’s film program entitled FUZE, and has been involved in films accepted to Dallas International Film Festival and All American High School Film Festival. She has been involved in the Better Business Bureau Student Video Contest for two consecutive years and was placed in the top 6 this past year. She has helped in the creation of films ranging from 20-minute dramas to short impromptu silent films. Kaitlyn has a large passion in the film industry and looks to grow in her skills as a filmmaker by pursuing it not only in college but in the oncoming future as well.
Joe Fatheree
maker. He has received numerous educational awards, including being named Illinois Teacher of the Year in 2007 and a recipient of the NEA’s National Award for Teaching Excellence in 2009. He was recently named one of the Top 10 Teachers in the World by the Varkey Foundation. He is a past president of the Illinois Teacher of the Year association, a founding board member of Advance Illinois, and currently serves as NNSTOY’s Director of Strategic Projects. He has served on committees for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and ITVS/Independent Lens. He is the instructor of Creativity and Innovation at Effingham High School. Joe’s television work has aired nationally on PBS, The Documentary Channel, Hulu, and the MLBNetwork. As a producer he has received three Mid-America Emmy awards. He is the former President and Chief Education Officer of Mutasia Entertainment.Daniel Larva
Daniel Larva is a graduate of New Tech High @ Coppell and a veteran of the Fuze program. Daniel has experience in operating a camera, audio equipment, directing, and editing. He also has experience working in large teams. In the first annual YAFF competition, his group received the award for The Best Short Film for their film Vanished. Later in his Fuze career, Daniel has worked on shorts accepted to the Dallas International Film Festival and the Better Business Bureau North Texas Film Competition. He has prepared to work with SMU on their student-led commercials.
Aviel Porzio
YAFF is sponsored by:
Youth Action Film Festival 