our team
Max Puglisi
FESTIVAL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
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.
Achievements & Industry Experience
Max Puglisi’s academic journey reflects his dedication to the arts and film. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Art Direction & Graphic Design from IED Milano, Italy in 1994. Continuing his education, he obtained a degree in Fine Arts in Sicily. His academic pursuits culminated in a Master’s Degree in Film Production from Solent University Southampton. His short film Chroma key was also awarded Best Short UK 2023 at Liverpool Indie Awards. Max is working on an editorial project about the language of cinema.
Timothy Lovell
JUROR FOR SHORT FILMS | BAFTA WINNER
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.
Achievements & Industry Experience
Award Wins: BAFTA, EMMY, Grierson, Scripps Howard, One World Media, Royal Television Society
Official Selections: SXSW, Edinburgh, Cambridge, international cinema releases
Recent Festival Success:
Best Feature Documentary — Milan, Northampton, Stafford & Folkestone Film Festivals (2025)
Special Justice Award — Winnipeg Real to Reel (2023)
Best Short Documentary — Great Lakes & Winnipeg (2021-2022)
Guild of British Film Editors (BFE) Member
Alexander Machlouzarides-Shalit
JUROR FOR SHORT FILMS | BAFTA-Qualifying FILMMAKER
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.
Achievements & Industry Experience
BAFTA-Qualifying Filmmaker (2021 & 2025)
European Film Award Qualifier (2024)
Multiple international awards for Directing, Writing, Cinematography, and Editing, including accolades for 20 Euros (2024), The Morning After, Leonidas and the Fish, and The Attic.
Cyprus Film Grant Awardee (2020 & 2023)
Genevieve Sulway
JUROR
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.
Achievements & Industry Experience
She co-produced the crime feature film “The Mother, the Son, the Rat and the Gun” (2021) which garnered 18 film awards. Her two documentaries “I am Kanaka”(2022) and “When Worlds Collide” (2022) have won 85 awards in the International Film Festivals during 2023-2024. She’s currently in post-production for her latest documentary “Never Give Up” and pre-production for the feature film book adaptation of “Dirty Little Secrets” by Nandita Chakraborty due to shoot in India and Melbourne in 2025. Genevieve has also worked as development producer at Chalkboard TV pitching projects to Channel 5 and the BBC.
Award Winner
Youness Benali
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.
Achievements & Industry Experience
After graduating, Youness embarked on a dynamic career journey. He began as a Music Video Director and later expanded his repertoire to include roles as a Commercials Director and Writer. His versatile portfolio spans Music Videos, Commercials, and Short Films, earning him recognition at prestigious award bodies and festivals worldwide, including The Brit List, D&AD, and the UK MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS. Notable works include “CUT,” “Without A Word,” and “The Composer,” which showcase Youness’ distinct and emotionally resonant storytelling style.
Hannah Ava Dahl
JUROR FOR DOCUMENTARIES | BAFTA-Qualifying FILMMAKER
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.
Achievements & Industry Experience
Hannah Ava Dahl holds a BA in Film & Video from the University for the Creative Arts. Her ongoing professional development includes her selection for the National Film and Television School (NFTS) John Yorke Television Drama Writers Academy (2025), reflecting her continued focus on narrative craft and screen storytelling.
Judith Bunting
JUROR FOR SCREENPLAYS
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.
Achievements & Industry Experience
Judith’s work has earned recognition across multiple international screenwriting and film competitions as Snowdropdeveloped through 2025–2026. The script has received awards including Best First Time Writer in Tokyo, Best Screenplay at the Liverpool Indie Awards, Best Thriller at the Berlin BISF, the Readers’ Choice Award at ATCA in Tbilisi, and Best Sci-Fi Script at the Hollywood Best Script Competitions.
Her earlier career as a documentary director includes work for BBC Television, National Geographic, and other international broadcasters, where she gained extensive experience in factual storytelling, research-driven narratives, and science-based content development.
Andy Twyman
JUROR | BAFTA MEMBER
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.
Achievements & Industry Experience
Andy has directed numerous projects across theatre and screen over the past decade, including work that has been staged or presented at major UK festivals and venues. His short films have screened at prominent festivals such as Leeds International Film Festival, London Short Film Festival, and Cambridge Film Festival.
He has also developed work through prestigious industry platforms, including BBC Writersroom, and has collaborated on high-profile television productions including Invasion for Apple TV+.
Craig Alexander
JUROR FOR FEATURE FILMS | RAINDANCE® OFFICIAL SELECTION
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.
Achievements & Industry Experience
Craig made his feature debut as writer/director with Snatchers, which premiered at the Raindance Film Festival in London. The film has screened at numerous international festivals, earning several awards including Best Feature at Liverpool Indie and a Debut Feature award at Raindance, as well as an AWGIE nomination for Best Adapted Feature. Following its Australian release in 2025, the film is set for worldwide distribution through US-based Indican Pictures.
His additional directing credits include the screen projects Under the Bed, AKA Harvey Norman, The Photographer and The Children, as well as stage productions such as Stop Means Go, Home, Sweet Phoebe and The Dumb Waiter.
As a stage actor, Craig has appeared in productions including Waiting for Godot, Venus in Fur, The Chosen Vessel, Art, St Nicholas, The Story of the Oars, Unprecedented and Just Hearing.
Gillian Simpson
JUROR
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.
Achievements & Industry Experience
Gillian Simpson has built a distinguished career in both editorial and visual effects roles, contributing to BAFTA-winning productions across multiple genres. Her work spans documentary, drama, children’s programming, music content, and high-end cinematic features.
She has served as VFX supervisor on internationally recognized projects and award-winning short films, including Poles Apart, which received the BAFTA for Best Animated Short. Her industry experience extends to major studio productions and globally recognized directors, with credits on films by Wes Anderson, Tim Burton, Sam Mendes, and Matthew Vaughn.
