Our jury

Max Puglisi is a multi-awarded independent Italian filmmaker with over 20 years of experience in television and film production. Beginning his career in Italy, he initially focused on producing commercials and documentaries after graduating in Art direction and Fine Arts. He later diversified his roles, becoming involved in teaching film courses at various schools and university. Max moved to the United Kingdom, he pursued a Master’s Degree in Film Production, where he gained dozens of awards in festivals for his works;. The most significant is “CHROMA KEY,” featuring a soundtrack by Hollywood musician Peter J. Robinson,. This emotional short film set in an American prison, garnered widespread acclaim, and important winning awards at numerous international festivals in 20 Countries.

A multi-award-winning film editor, director, and edit producer with over 37 years of international experience. His career includes critically acclaimed feature documentaries such as Mugabe and the White African, Hawking, Outbreak, and The Hunt, with work appearing on BBC, Channel 4, PBS, and international cinemas. Timothy is passionate about ethical filmmaking, using his skills to amplify powerful, underrepresented voices.

A Cypriot-American filmmaker who holds a Master’s degree in Film Directing from MetFilm School London and a First-Class Honours BA in Film Studies from Falmouth University. With a deep passion for storytelling, Alexander has been involved in a range of projects, from directing to cinematography and editing. He is also a BAFTA Qualifying Filmmaker, with his work receiving global recognition for its creativity and technical skill.

As a multifaceted filmmaker, Alexander brings his expertise to a variety of projects, including his role as Director and Studio Operator at DigitalTree Ltd. in Cyprus and freelance work with notable brands like RedBull. His artistic journey is further distinguished by his leadership in workshops, including the Cyprus Film Days Festival in 2025.

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Genevieve is an award-winning filmmaker who trained professionally as an actor with Hugh Jackman at WAAPA in Australia, ranked as one of the top 30 Drama Schools in the world.

She went on to appear in commercials, films and TV series such as Home & Away, A Country Practice, Water Rats and Police Rescue over the next 10 years. After completing an MA Producing and setting up Salty Paradise Productions in London where she is based, she is a Producer, Writer and Director across scripted and documentary projects.

Youness is a self-taught filmmaker who honed his skills while studying Graphic Design at Central St Martins and Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art. It was during his Masters at the Royal College of Art that Youness delved into the world of moving images, realizing the unique expressive potential of film.

Hannah has over 20 years of industry experience working across feature documentaries, television, and film production. Her credits include internationally recognised TV productions nominated for BAFTA TV Awards, alongside feature documentaries nominated for Grierson Awards and selected for prestigious festivals including Sundance, BFI London Film Festival, and Hot Docs.'

As a director, her debut short film Art Buff screened at BAFTA-qualifying festivals in 2021. In 2024, Hannah was commissioned by Sheffield DocFest to direct a film as part of the Filmmaker Challenge, where she was mentored by Oscar-nominated director Julie Cohen. She was recently selected for the NFTS John Yorke Television Drama Writers Academy (2025), further developing her practice in television drama writing and storytelling.

Judith Bunting is a British writer and former documentary director whose work spans film, television, and journalism. Her creative background is rooted in factual storytelling, developed through years of producing and directing documentaries for major broadcasters including the BBC and National Geographic, as well as other international networks.Before transitioning into screenwriting, Judith also worked in public life as an elected Member of the European Parliament for the South East of England. Her diverse career across media and politics has informed her storytelling perspective, particularly in narratives dealing with systems of power, social tension, and high-stakes conflict.

Her award-winning action screenplay Snowdrop is a suspense-driven thriller set against the backdrop of a large music festival. The story follows a reclusive celebrity who is forced back into the public eye when she uncovers a plot to release a nerve agent targeting thousands of festival attendees.

Andy Twyman is a multidisciplinary director working across film, television, theatre, commercials, immersive theatre, and live events. Based in the United Kingdom, he has built a diverse creative career focused on narrative-driven work that spans both commercial and artistic platforms.

He is the founder of OutFoxed Films, a production company specializing in narrative-led commercial, branded, and corporate content. Through this work, Andy has collaborated with major clients including Universal Music, Black Isle Brewery, and Backyard Cinema, developing bespoke content designed to connect with both brands and audiences.

Andy’s experience also includes development work within major industry institutions. He was a member of BBC Writersroom, where he spent a year developing an original series, and he has worked with Apple TV+ on the returning series Invasion. In addition, he has served as Associate Director at Backyard Cinema, where he contributed to the creation of film, immersive events, and theatrical experiences.

Originally from Canberra, Australia, Craig Alexander is an award-winning actor, writer and filmmaker who trained professionally with a B.A. (Honours) in Acting and Directing from Charles Sturt University.

He has worked extensively across theatre, film and television for nearly two decades, with screen credits including The Killings: Parish Station (Stan), Home & Away (Channel 7), The Silent Service (Amazon), Murder in the Outback(7/Beyond) and Snatchers (The Horse Media). Alongside his work as a performer, Craig has built a strong career as a writer and director across both stage and screen.

Gillian Simpson is a British director, editor, and visual effects supervisor with extensive experience across film, television, and high-end visual storytelling. Her career spans over two decades, beginning in post-production before expanding into directing, writing, and VFX supervision across both broadcast and cinematic projects.

She spent six years working as a staff editor at the BBC, where she contributed to a wide range of BAFTA-winning programming across documentaries, children’s television, and music content. During this period, she also directed and edited music videos for BBC’s The Music Show and later worked within the BBC Innovations department, helping develop experimental, green screen–based drama formats.