Meet Festival Judges
Seri DeYoung
Seri DeYoung grew up in Corrales, NM. She began her acting career on the stage as a teenager and quickly transitioned into film and television. Some of her credits include Medium, Breaking Bad, and NCIS as well as a few leading roles in various feature films. Most recently Seri appeared in the feature film Bullet starring Danny Trejo where she plays the daughter to the governor, played by John Savage. Seri wrote, directed, and produced short films Daisy and In Touch (WINNER- Best Screenplay, Hollywood Short Film Festival) which have been screened at festivals domestically and abroad. She has two feature-length scripts in various stages of development and co-wrote, co-produced and is starring in the feature film Burning Kentucky.
Seri DeYoung grew up in Corrales, NM. She began her acting career on the stage as a teenager and quickly transitioned into film and television. Some of her credits include Medium, Breaking Bad, and NCIS as well as a few leading roles in various feature films. Most recently Seri appeared in the feature film Bullet starring Danny Trejo where she plays the daughter to the governor, played by John Savage. Seri wrote, directed, and produced short films Daisy and In Touch (WINNER- Best Screenplay, Hollywood Short Film Festival) which have been screened at festivals domestically and abroad. She has two feature-length scripts in various stages of development and co-wrote, co-produced and is starring in the feature film Burning Kentucky.
Craig Hutchison
Film and Stage has been in Craig’s blood from early days at High School, where he was immersed in TOTAL THEATRE. This allowed the passion of lighting design to come to the fore. Craig has since been involved from a lighting perspective in “Guys n Dolls”, “Social Climbers”, “Pack of Girls”, “It’s my Party and I’ll Die If I Want To”, “The Men’s Room”, “Picasso” and “Privates on Parade”. In 2005 Craig made his Directing debut with the very successful “Sex Fiend”. This was followed with “Legless”, “STIFF”, “Ugly Customers”, “The School Ball”, and “Menopause Made Me Do It”. “Oliver (The Musical), “My Husband’s Nuts”, “Death n Taxes”, “SNIP”, “Bonking James Bond”, “Motel”. “Netballers” and “Sex Drive” Craig welcomes Ray Williamson to his Directing Debut with The School Ball and has enjoyed mentoring Ray from the acting and stage management roles to putting his own interpretation and slant on this comedy, as Director.
Film and Stage has been in Craig’s blood from early days at High School, where he was immersed in TOTAL THEATRE. This allowed the passion of lighting design to come to the fore. Craig has since been involved from a lighting perspective in “Guys n Dolls”, “Social Climbers”, “Pack of Girls”, “It’s my Party and I’ll Die If I Want To”, “The Men’s Room”, “Picasso” and “Privates on Parade”. In 2005 Craig made his Directing debut with the very successful “Sex Fiend”. This was followed with “Legless”, “STIFF”, “Ugly Customers”, “The School Ball”, and “Menopause Made Me Do It”. “Oliver (The Musical), “My Husband’s Nuts”, “Death n Taxes”, “SNIP”, “Bonking James Bond”, “Motel”. “Netballers” and “Sex Drive” Craig welcomes Ray Williamson to his Directing Debut with The School Ball and has enjoyed mentoring Ray from the acting and stage management roles to putting his own interpretation and slant on this comedy, as Director.
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Marta Niemiro
Film director and screenwriter. Her short film "The taste of stinging nettle" was presented at over 30 film festivals around the world. Author of a full-length screenplay, currently in development, also now working on her short film. Former director of the Artistic and Cultural Center in Krosno Odrzańskie, works as I AD at different projects. |
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Natalya Nova
Natalia is a New York-based artist, photographer and filmmaker. Natalya came to New York from Orenburg, Russia at the age of 19 to pursue her dreams. She did not know what she wanted but she definitely knew what she did not want – to stay in a small town and never see the world. In New York at first she tried herself out as a model. She liked the job, but she always preferred the other side of the camera. She was photographing and making videos for as long as she could remember. When she went to the International Center of Photography she started taking her passion seriously. She started creating. After a successful graduation Natalya Nova started publishing her work, did screenings and exhibitions and started working more on her writing and directing. Her films were awarded by LA film festival, Big Apple Film Festival and others and can be watched at her website. She worked with successful artists and photographers, like her partner Grammy Award Winner art director and photographer Ian Cuttler. She lives and works in New York since 2005. Contact details: Natalya Nova. www.natalyanova.tumblr.com |
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Maryam Farahzadi
Maryam Farahzadi is a Los Angeles based Animation Filmmaker. She is holding MFA in Film and Animation at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, New York. Currently she is working as an Animator director at CreatorUp Studio in Los Angeles. She won numerous awards internationally for her first short animation called "The Role of Each Fret" which is written, directed, and animated by herself won numerous awards internationally such as 1st prize at the Farhang film festival, Los Angeles and Best Animation award at the Noor film festival, Florida. Also it has been Officially selected in more than 40 film festivals internationally. "Blue" is her second successful project that is written, directed, designed, animated and produced by Maryam in 2017 and currently selected for more than 30 film festivals internationally and recently has been awarded in Congressional Black Caucus foundation film festival holding by congressman Hank Johnson in Washington DC and second Juror’s award at ACT human rights film festival in Colorado. She is now working on her 3rd short animation which is her MFA Thesis. You can watch her previous works on her website at: http://www.maryamfarahzadi.com |
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Sandip Pratihar
Sandip was born in 1987, a small village (Tajpur) of Arambagh, Dist. Hooghly. Graduated from Calcutta University. Have no degree in film-making. He worked with a theater group for yrs. Sandip has started work 2014 with his first short film. Always love to work on surreal subjects, drama, on true stories & human feelings. And he loves to watch different kinds of film where he learns film-making from. Sandip also a screenplay writer. He has finished five feature film script one of them is Hindi script those are arranged properly on my rack waiting & for an opportunity. He believes that film is a medium where people enjoy some time together. They find both their joys and sorrows. They identify with the subjects when they rebel and protest. It will always be the endeavour to try to make the kind of film where the lost and unwelcome voices of our world will also get to reach the people. That in itself his motivation. Sandip made 7 short film and ongoing project are a web series. Film "Sita" is a successful project of him. Officially selected 22 International Film Festival. With filmography link. https://filmfreeway.com/sandippratihar |
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Radek Sienski
Radek is a BAFTA-nominated editor with over ten years of experience in broadcast TV and film. He regularly works with Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+ and BBC. He is a BAFTA member and a graduate of the prestigious National Film & Television School in the UK. He began his professional adventure in 2010 with the critically acclaimed short films ‘Memories’ and ‘A Question of Time’ which he directed and edited. Amongst Radek’s recent works are 'Man Vs Bee' with Rowan Atkinson, 'Save Our Squad' with David Beckham for Disney+ and an upcoming series for Apple TV+. |
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Kubarka Maksim
For more than 7 years I have been creating video ads for large international companies and private enterprises, as well as for individuals. Businessman, athlete and musician. I have a high level of practical skills in the full cycle of video production (director's script, storyboard, filming, sound, lighting and editing). Winner of international awards. |