Lights, Camera, Pause!
MEET OUR 2022 TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL & STUDENT JURORS
Kim Estes, Actor
Emmy Award Winner
Received the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series - 2017 - "Dicks" His television credits include. "How To Get Away With Murder, I'm Dying Up Here, Brooklyn 99, Hot Wet American Summer 10 Years Later, Pitch, The Real O'Neals, Secrets and Lies, Fresh off the Boat, Stalker, State of Affairs, Pretty Little Liars, The Matador, Rake, The Fosters, The Bridge, NCIS, How I Met Your Mother, Private Practice, Law & Order: LA, House, Dexter, The Closer, Hawthorne, Body of Proof, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, Numbers," and others Kim has starred in many films, including Underdog (Ritchie Greer), Playing Beethoven (Catherine Shefski), Crossroad (directed by Shervin Youssefian), Not 4 Sale and Each Other (both directed by Roger Melvin), Volcano Girl (directed by Ashley Maria), Free Denmark (directed by Ricardo Korda) and The Birthday Gift (directed by Marie Tang).
In addition, he has appeared in the films Five Hour Friends (produced by Ron Jackson), Viral, Breathing Room, the 400 (all produced by John Suits), and Save Me (directed by Jennifer Getzinger). His stage credits include the staged performance reading of "Buried in the Night" at The Blank Theatre", "Private Eyes" at the Little Fish Theatre, "HellCab" at the Lillian Theatre, "Frankincense" and "Henry V" at the Pacific Resident Theatre Company, "Changes in the Mating Strategies of White People" at the Lounge Theatre (Nominated by NAACP for Best Actor 2014) and "Treat Yourself Like Cary Grant" (Nominated by NAACP for Best Actor 2012) at the Lillian Theatre.
While born and raised in Los Angeles, Kim has spent time in Vallejo, where he attended college at CSU, Cal Maritime Academy before continuing his post-graduate work at the University of Southern California. We are thrilled to have Kim Estes as a member of our juror panel.
George Maguire, Acclaimed Actor
Pursuit of Happyness, Fight Club, True Lies
George Maguire is a renowned stage and film actor, director, and voice-over artist. His career began as a teenager in 1964 with Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera; it encompasses Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional theaters, Shakespeare Festivals, and numerous films and TV shows. He has been an Actors Equity Association and SAG/AFTRA member for over 50 years. His career spans both coasts and includes Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Companies, and many of the top regional theaters in the states, including Actors Theater of Louisville, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Great Lakes, Marin, and Northshore Shakespeare Festivals, PCPA Theaterfest, ACT, Berkeley Rep, Magic Theater, Shotgun Players, Clarence Brown Theater and many more. His over 30 film and TV credits include “Fight Club, Pursuit of Happyness, Metro, The Sweetest Thing, Opal, The Dog Lover,” James Franco’s “Yosemite,” Clint Eastwood’s “True Lies, Youth,” films and pilots for NBC, ABC, CBS, and PBS and Lt. Governor Mel Wexler on “Nash Bridges.” In addition to “Nosferatu, The Stand at Paxton County, Disrupted, The Night,” Mr. Invincible,” additional projects include “13 Reasons Why” and “Generations,” along with many others.
His directing credits include CenterRep, PCPA, the Eugene O’Neill Foundation, SRT Santa Rosa, New Conservatory Theater, Indra Theater Company, Broadway By The Bay, and Playground, of which he is a proud member. He is Professor Emeritus at Solano College Theater, co-founded the Actor Training Program and teaches Advanced On-Camera Acting for Nancy Hayes Casting and Academy of Art University.
Samantha K Henderson, Film & TV Producer,
Co-Director of the SacFilmChallenge,
Music & Film Festival
Samantha K Henderson is an award-winning film and TV producer working in Sacramento and Los Angeles. She is also the Co-Director of SacFilmChallenge, a music and film festival, and founded the Sacramento Film Project, a film group that focuses on networking and developing filmmakers. Her latest film project, Smashed, was shot in Los Angeles on a Television City Studios soundstage and premiered at Raleigh Studios Hollywood in November 2021 as part of Women in Media's CAMERAderie Initiative.
Samantha serves on the Board of Directors at Access Sacramento (public access TV and radio) and is certified as a TV and Radio Producer. She is currently involved in multiple projects in various stages of production, including a feature film, docuseries, two short films, and a TV series. Her love of storytelling and the filmmaking process keeps her motivated.
Facebook, IG, & Twitter @SamKendrea.
Tom Bussineau, Actor, Short-Film Producer, Writer & Director
Tom Bussineau is an award-winning producer, writer, and director for the 48-Hour Film Festival. Most notably, his short film, “Fam Bam” was nominated for seven awards and won three awards at the 2018 48-Hour Film Project/Savannah. One of the nominations was for Best Supporting Actress by child actor Tiffany Thompkins. Tom will be starting pre-production on his first feature film in the Fall of 2023.
His acting credits include the British Comedy “Living The Dream” and Pop-TV’s “Florida Girls”. He has also volunteered his time as an advisor, producer, director, and actor for students at the Savannah College of Arts and Design, and at Augusta University.
Tanesa Kassa, Graphic Design, Video Production, Producer, Editor
Tanesa Kassa is a Little Rock, AR native. Mrs. Kassa graduated from Hall High School in 1995 and went on to further her education at ITT Technical Institute in the Little Rock, AR and Tampa, FL campus. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Graphic Design and Video Production in 2001 and an Associate's Degree in Engineering Technology in 1997. She has worked for several Architectural/Engineering Firms in Tampa, FL; Dallas, TX
and around Little Rock, AR. Companies such as; Woods and Caradine Architects, Cromwell Architects and Engineers, and currently ARDOT (Arkansas Department of Transportation).
From 2011 to 2016 was one of the Adjunct Instructors that taught the School of Drafting and Design at ITT Technical Institute. She also worked on a handful of Web-series, Short films, and Documentaries, Producing and Editing the Productions independently and
with several local and national filmmakers from Little Rock to Philadelphia to Los Angeles.
You can watch the film she helped produce called “Love Happens Again” on Amazon Prime Video! Traveling, Reading, Watching Movies, Cooking, Working out and Video Production are what she loves to do in her spare time. Mrs. Kassa can be followed on social media. Instagram: @tanesa707 and on Facebook: Tanesa Kassa.
http://www.studio707graphicdesigns.com/Welcome.html
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8033463/
Student/Teen Jurors
Anna Mia Conley, Actor, Producer, Writer, Editor, Director
Anna Mia Conley started acting at the age of 10 in a local community theatre and she never stopped. She is now a fully trained actress, singer, songwriter, dancer, and musician, playing 5 instruments including the Celtic harp, piano, and guitar. She has also enjoyed walking down the runway for fashion designers, as well as has become a certified makeup artist. Originally from Modesto, CA, Anna Mia is now living in LA where she is pursuing her dreams. In her spare time, she likes to read, work out, write music, model, take photography, as well as make TikToks. Anna is also a director, producer, editor, writer, and cinematographer, having done so for the music videos that correspond to her released music and short films. She’s most proud of her work on the music video Empty Spaces which was an official selection at the Shockfest Film Festival. https://www.instagram.com/annamiaconley/
Diego Argueta, Filmmaker,
Cinematic Arts, Marin School of the Arts
Diego Argueta was a former student and juror for Kids N Film. Thanks to the program Diego decided to pursue film throughout his high school career. Diego attended the Marin School of the Arts where he was enrolled in the Cinematic Arts division for all four years learning a variety of skills and roles like writing, producing, and directing, among others to work on his own "assignments" Diego is working on his final MSA Film: Track Runner. After the end of the school year, Diego will go to Los Angles to pursue further education in his passion for film.
Zach St. John
The International Kids N Film Festival is pleased to have Zach return for his 3rd year as a juror. Born and raised in the Napa Valley and eventually relocating to Benicia, Zach is 13 years old and has been active in the performing arts for five years. His recent roles include playing the lead role in "Dragon Of The Winds" and as Chorus for "A Thousand Cranes." He has also appeared in several Kids N Film projects including Kids On COVID, Choices, The Note, and more.
When he's not on stage, Zach also enjoys stage production and video and short film editing. His hobbies include coding, golf, swimming, and playing with his miniature pinscher, Rex.
Aiden Leary
Aiden Leary was born in Oakland and loves his life in Benicia. He has been involved as an actor with Kids N Film and is now in his first year as Student Juror. He’s an active member of the Cub Scouts and enjoys Little League Baseball, ping pong and especially hanging out with friends. If there is a trampoline around, he is the first one on it! He also loves family, gaming, ice cream and his dog, Grace.
Aiden has appeared in No Laughing Matter, Kids On COVID, Positively You, and a variety of film skits and marketing projects.
Patricia-Blue Pharr
An outgoing socially conscious middle schooler who serves as a student ambassador, plays basketball and participates in cheer. Her favorite subjects in school are religion and music. Blue, as she goes by, loves performing arts and is a current member of the San Francisco Girls Chorus. She has studied both violin and has taken piano as well. Blue has participated in theater camp with Musically Minded Academy since she was 3 years old, Children’s Fairy Land, and participated in acting workshops with Kids ‘N Film where she performed in the film project 'The Emoji Chronicles.' Blue was also crowned a Miss California Princess 2017- 2019. Blue is passionate about many social issues including combatting homeless.
Andrew St. John
Andrew has participated in several Kids N Film Workshop projects as an on-camera talent and behind the scenes. His most recent appearances include Kids On COVID, Choices, and a variety of short film skits.
Andrew is currently a drama student with flying monkey productions where his most recent lead roles are Icabod Crane in the production of “Sleepy Hollow” and narrator for “A Night at The Museum."
Joining his brother Zach in the Kids N Film programs, both boys enjoy swim team, and Andrew participates in cub scouts. Their dog Rex now has a companion,Tucker.
The International KidsNFilm Festival
Solano County, California
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Jacalyn Evone