Bethesda Film Fest Jury
The 2024 Bethesda Film Fest was juried by filmmakers Addie Moray, Kamilah Thurmon and Randall Blair.
Addie Moray
Addie is a Media Executive. A founding member of Smithsonian Networks she was Vice President of Production Management, Smithsonian Channel for 17 years; overseeing all documentary series including Aerial America, Epic Warrior Women, Ice Airport Alaska and hundreds of one-hour specials: When Whales Walked: Journeys in Deep Time, The Obama Years, and Cher & the Loneliest Elephant. She served as a committee member of the Community Advisory and Scholarship Awards for the T. Howard Foundation, an organization with the mission of increasing diversity in the media industry. The pinnacle of her freelance career in Film and Television was Line Producing the Discovery Eco-Challenge in Patagonia.
Kamilah Thurmon
Kamilah Thurmon is a Producer and Director who creates content that inspires and encourages people from all walks of life. As a HumanitiesDC grant recipient and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities fellow, Kamilah has developed and produced films to document and preserve the stories and memories of DC Communities. Her short documentary, The Legacy of Lee's Flower Shop, was nominated for an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences: National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter, and was also a selection for the 2023 Bethesda Film Fest. Kamilah has worked in various producer capacities for NBC, HGTV, BET, MTV, VH-1, Bravo, WeTV, Lifetime and Oxygen. In September 2020, Kamilah was recognized by the District of Columbia Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment (OCTFME) as the Filmmaker of the Month.
Randall Blair
Since 1993, Randall Blair has created award-winning documentaries, short dramatic films and educational/corporate videos. His films have been screened in film festivals and film markets including Berlin, Sundance, San Francisco, Aspen and more. Mr. Blair’s awards include the Washington Peer Awards for Best Director and Best Scriptwriter, the Pinnacle Award for Excellence in Media Education, and two CINE Golden Eagles. Randall has written five novels, and three of his works have been optioned by film producers. As an Associate Professor of Film and Media Arts in the School of Communication at American University, Randall created and is Program Director of the graduate program Producing Film, Television and Video. He teaches courses in film production, directing, producing, and scriptwriting. Mr. Blair has also had successful careers as a professional photographer/cinematographer, television programmer, and the owner/general manager of a group of commercial radio stations.