James Kirby (2023-Current)

James Kirby is an unapologetic award-winning amateur filmmaker from Des Moines, IA., although he is currently working in San Diego, CA. Kirby proudly acknowledges his directorial acumen to be on a sliding scale somewhere between Ed Wood and Akira Kurosawa. Bringing to bear decades of cinephilic experience and a degree in theatre arts, Kirby is earnestly seeking to improve with each project and to simply tell and watch interesting stories.

Ingrid Ulst (Current)

Cultural organizer, director, writer and actress.
Founder and creative director of Alle-Saija Teatritalu – a small country theatre with its own theatre house and the group of actors. Studies acting and directing at the Polygon Theatre School, Estonia (course supervisor Tamur Tohver, class of 2022).

Guga Lemes (Current)

Brazilian film director, Lemes created and produced series for players such as HBO Latin America, Sony, and Bandeirantes Group. Founder of beORIGINALS, has received awards in over 20 countries.

Sam Lodato (Current)

London-raised writer-director Samuel Lodato honed his craft over a decade through short films and commercial projects before launching his recent debut feature, ‘Remi Milligan: Lost Director.’ The film’s success at festivals and critical acclaim solidifies Lodato’s position as a promising filmmaker. He runs LodatoStudios, a production company poised to further contribute to the cinematic landscape with a number of exciting projects lined up.

OTHER CURRENT JUDGES

​Jean (Filmmaker), Zhou (Filmmaker).

Yoendris Solis Garcia (Past Editions)

​I was born in the city of Manzanillo, Granma Cuba and since I was little I was linked to the mass media. First on the Radio and then over the years I had the blessing of being one of the founders of the first community television channel in my native country. There I was able to carry out several program projects of different categories, some of which gave me the happiness of obtaining several prizes and recognitions at festivals. Graduated from the Center for Radio and Television Studies (CERT) in the specialties of “Video Editing” and in the specialty of “Scriptwriting and Dramaturgy”.

In 2015 I moved to live in Chile and since my arrival I was linked to audiovisual creation through the Institute of Advanced Audiovisual Studies of the O’Higgins University, completing a Diploma. On May 2, 2022, I graduated with a Master’s in Audiovisual Arts from the University of O’Higgins in the city of Rancagua. In Chile I have had the opportunity to be part of groups that produce TV programs but most of the time I have dedicated to making documentaries and fiction short films, being “Rayen” my last work.

Gabriela Dyminski (Past Editions)

Gabriela Dyminski graduated in performing arts. She is a director, producer, screenwriter and editor.

Co-produced and acted in the feature film “Ratoeira” (2018); Directed, produced, scripted and finished the short film “Eu Não Peço Desculpas” (2020) which has already been selected in more than 10 national and international festivals and received awards for Best Brazilian Film, Direction, Screenplay, Editing, Editing and Best Actress …
She directed and edited the visual EP “Pode Amar” (2021) which received 4 awards for best LGBTQI film in 4 international festivals,
She directed “Meu Amor” (2022) which is still on the festival circuit;
Directed, wrote and acted in the nano series for Instagram “Não Pare de Amar Ela” (2021);
She is co-founder of the independent audiovisual production company Disgrama Filmes.

Romain Fleury (Past Editions)

Romain Fleury is a French actor. He started his career by the prestigious Cours Florent between 2003 and 2006. It was plays written by Georges Feydeau that gave him his first roles. Until 2023, he appeared in many short films but we especially find him on the scene, whether in comedies or operettas. But it was in 2011 that the televiewers discovered him in the series « Bref! » on Canal+, with the role of Marc. He then appeared in several French television films such as « L’hôtel de la plage », but also series such as « La Loi de Marion », « Camping Paradis », « Scènes de ménages ». « Pitch » or even « Family Business ». In August 2022, he had the chance to shoot with Diane Kruger in Yann Gozlan’s new film « Visions ». This year, he has directed his first short movie with « Sur la touche » (Sidelined), winner of numerous prices in Festivals around the world. He’s very thrilled to be judge for the World Indie Film Awards.

OTHER PAST EDITION JUDGES

Stu Gamble (April-July 2023)

Ramin Sohrab (April-July 2023)

Camilla Zahn (January 2023-April 2023)

Claire Leona Apps (January 2023-April 2023)

Beto S. (January 2023-February 2023)