FILMFEST JUDGES
Brad Sanders
Director of Marketing and Communications, Michener Art Museum
Brad Sanders is the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, where he helps advance the museum’s mission through marketing, communications, audience engagement, and promotion of its exhibitions and programs. He brings extensive experience in marketing, community engagement, event production, and the arts to his work throughout Bucks County.
Brad also serves as Festival Director and Co-Chair of the Bucks County FilmFest, where he helps provide high school, college, and emerging filmmakers with opportunities to showcase their work, connect with industry professionals, and develop their craft. His leadership has helped strengthen the FilmFest’s role in supporting filmmakers and the region’s creative community.
Dennis Lewis
Owner, Mad Icarus Media, Inc.
Dennis Lewis is the owner of Mad Icarus Media, Inc., a Bucks County-based marketing and creative agency specializing in strategy, digital marketing, content, website design, and video production. A graduate of the Art Institute of Philadelphia, Dennis brings a blend of creative storytelling and marketing experience to his work, with a particular interest in using film and video to connect audiences with compelling stories.
Dennis also serves as Co-Chair of the Bucks County FilmFest, where he helps support and showcase independent filmmakers and emerging creative talent. His own filmmaking work has been recognized by the FilmFest, including The Future Chef’s Garden, which received an Honorable Mention for Emerging Documentary and an award for Outstanding Cinematography.
James Breckenridge
Screenwriter, The PlayCrafters Group
James Breckenridge has worked in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. In 1995, his years of professional training and experience culminated in the founding of The PlayCrafters Group. As its Director, he specializes in helping writers from all over the country develop producible scripts for motion pictures, television and theatre. His work focuses on helping writers target the essential elements of their stories to achieve results that specifically serve their original vision. He has been rated in the Top Ten of Script Consultants from around the country and recommended as the Best of the Best Buys in Creative Screenwriting Magazine’s review of leading script consultants.
In addition to private classes, coachings and consultations, Mr. Breckenridge has been a featured speaker at The Philadelphia Writers’ Conference, The Algonquin Film Festival, The Bucks Fever FilmFest and has presented seminars at the SCREENWRITING EXPO in Los Angeles, California where he was named “Star Speaker.” Mr. Breckenridge has served on the Theatrical Motion Pictures Nominating Committee for the Screen Actors Guild Awards and as a Judge for the Freestyle Repertory Theater in New York City, Juror for The Philadelphia Film Festival’s Feature Film Competition, Juror for the American Independents category for the Philadelphia Film Festival/Cinefest as well as the Bucks County FilmFest.
Trained for the professional theatre, Mr. Breckenridge received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Temple University in Philadelphia. Over the years, he has performed professionally on radio, television, film and on stage. His work has taken him to Europe twice, once touring Germany and Italy, and a second time, appearing at The Edinburgh Festival in Scotland and in London. He currently maintains active memberships with both The Actors’ Equity Association and the SAG-AFTRA Union.
Lauren Nonini
Membership Director, County Theater, Doylestown
Lauren has been with the County Theater for over six years. Along with overseeing membership for the County Theater, she oversees membership for Renew Theaters’ three other historic art house movie theaters: the Ambler Theater, Hiway Theater, and Princeton Garden Theatre. The combined membership department serves over 18,000 members. She holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts with a focus on Acting and Directing from DeSales University. Lauren has previously worked both in administration as well as costume construction and wardrobe for the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. She has also had some firsthand experience as part of an independent film crew.
Tom Quinn
Associate professor for Film & Television, Drexel University.
Tom Quinn is a Gotham and Independent Spirit Award nominee for his debut film, THE NEW YEAR PARADE, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Slamdance and screened at festivals and venues including SXSW and MOMA. Tom was listed one of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film by FILMMAKER MAGAZINE and one of the Ten Young Writer-Directors to Watch by MOVIEMAKER.
He was a VFX producer on films including LAWLESS, SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED, and THE CHERNOBYL DIARIES. His most recent film, COLEWELL, was developed with support from the Biennale College, IFP, the San Francisco Film Society, and The Sundance Institute before premiering at the San Francisco International Film Festival. The film received two Independent Spirit Award nominations, including Best Lead Actress for Karen Allen (RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK). Tom is an associate professor for Film & Television at Drexel University.