2025 Davey Short Film Grant Jurors: Mary Dauterman & Theodore Schaefer

About Mary Dauterman
Mary Dauterman is a writer-director from Texas based in Brooklyn. Her debut feature Booger, a body horror comedy, premiered at Fantasia in 2023 and was supported by Tribeca Creators Market and Film Independent. Booger was released theatrically by Dark Sky Films. Her shorts have been selected for multiple Vimeo Staff Picks, screened at 30+ festivals and on Hulu, NoBudge, Vulture, and Booooooom. She has written and directed projects for Adult Swim, published kids’ books that aren’t for kids, and directed some decent commercials. She is developing her second feature, Thirty Grand, supported by Film Independent’s Fast Track and Screenwriting Lab.

About Theodore Schaefer
Theodore Schaefer is a New York-based Director and Producer. His feature film debut, Giving Birth to a Butterfly, premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival to critical acclaim. The New York Times praised the film’s “enthralling sense of atmosphere” and Film Threat called it “Donnie Darko meets Twin Peaks.” The film was released theatrically by Cinedigm and Fandor in 2023.

Theodore’s recent commercial work, includes the viral Blockbuster ad that won three Cannes Lions, including the Gold prize for Breakthrough on a Budget (2023). Online his work has garnered over 20 million views, along with write-ups from Deadline, New York Mag, The Huffington Post, and television coverage on CNN and FOX.

Through Dweck Productions, Theodore has produced a slate of successful features, including We're All Going To The World's Fair (Sundance 2021, Utopia and HBO MAX), The Adults (Berlin 2023, Universal), Tendaberry (Sundance 2024), Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point (Cannes Directors Fortnight 2024, IFC), and Vulcanizadora (Tribeca 2024, Oscilloscope). Theodore’s drive as both a filmmaker and producer is to create unique stories and champion independent cinema.