Best Female Filmmaker Judge

Carolyn McDonald is the award-winning executive producer of AMERICA’S DREAM (HBO), BUFFALO SOLDIERS (TNT) and FREEDOM SONG (TNT), and Big Kenny Alphin’s inspiring documentary, BEARING LIGHT (NatGeo). Prior to running Danny Glover’s Carrie Productions, she was a part of the Warner Bros. TV advertising/publicity team, and later a Creative Executive at Cinecom Entertainment Group.She directed and produced the short film “P.N.O.K.” featuring Danny Glover & Elle Fanning,  the documentary DESIGN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, and several music videos & corporate films for Nissan, the Nashville Civic Design Center and the Nashville Film Festival.

As a screenwriter, she has scripted works for 20th Century Fox, GMC, a variety of indie producers, and most recently adapted the novel “The Color of Hope.” She is developing a variety of original content including 5 EAST BROADWAY, BANJO MOON, MEAN LOVE, and the documentary series BLACK IRISH BLUES. She is presently working on her feature directorial debut, the romantic dramedy, EVERGLOW, for which she has also designed a line of home accessories to be featured in the film.Carolyn is also the prolific photographer of her ongoing project NOUNS IN THE ROAD exhibition, which has been exhibited in galleries in Nashville, TN, and Charlotte, NC, and has several high profile collectors. Her TIME + TIDE: AS REVEALED BY LIGHT collection will be available Fall 2021. Portions of her memoir INFLUENTIA: 50 YEARS ON EARTH AS IT IS IN CAROLYN, are now available as audio essays on SoundCloud.