Thank you to this year’s competition readers!
 | Kristi Simkins | Kristi is a screenwriter, director, and editor. Her award-winning short film, SOMETHING SPECIAL, which she wrote and directed, was a finalist in a New Zealand international filmmaking competition in which she had the honor of working with executive producer Barrie Osborne (LORD OF THE RINGS, THE MATRIX). SOMETHING SPECIAL screened at dozens of film festivals all over the world and was broadcast on television on PBS and The Pentagon Channel. As an editor, Kristi has worked on a variety of projects, including narrative and documentary short films, trailers, online promotional videos, and a large-scale documentary project. One of the short films, ELEVEN PATHS, recently won a Golden Achievement Award from the National School Public Relations Association. |
| Shadrach Michaels graduated from the University of California, Berkeley earning a degree in English with a Creative Writing minor. He taught English as a second language during his college experience and recently finished his second year teaching Middle School English Language Arts and World History. Shadrach placed first, behind the grand champion in the inagural Destiny City Film Festival screenwriting competition, one of several screenplay competition credits he has received over the years. While continuing to write and develop original stories for publication and competitions, he currently works as a writer for his town’s local newspaper, The Ely Times, in Ely, Nevada. | Shadrach Michaels |  |