Saif Alshareef - Filmmaker

Saif Alshareef is a visionary filmmaker with over 15 years of experience across independent films, commercials, and documentaries. Beginning his career in Dubai, he blends technical mastery—including cinematography, editing, and color grading—with a deep passion for original, boundary-pushing storytelling. Known for his collaborative spirit, Saif creates inclusive, creative environments that empower actors and crew to do their best work. His commitment to independent cinema and diverse voices drives him to explore narratives that challenge convention and connect with wide-ranging audiences. As a film festival judge, Saif brings a sharp eye for both artistic vision and technical execution, offering thoughtful, inclusive evaluations that champion innovation and elevate emerging talent.

Ewart Chin, Actor, Kung Fu Master

Ewart Chin was born on the Island of Jamaica. He started studying Goju-Ryu Japanese Karate at a very early age. Finding the style too rigid and hard, he decided to pursue a softer style and started practicing Hung-Gar Kung Fu with a Master from KwangTung province, China who was a friend of his grandfather, also from KuangTung. He found that Hung-Gar was more to his liking and practiced this diligently for his entire life,attained " Master" status in the art. Master Sifu Wan-Hsu changed his life for the better.
Upon moving to the United States, he began working in films as an actor and stunts person.he was inducted in the World Martial Arts Council, USA Martial Arts Hall Of Fame, and The Martial Arts History Museum.

Camille Bacos, Screenwriter-Producer / Book Author

Camille Bacos is a Romanian filmmaker that lives in Los Angeles. 
She loves experimenting with words and images. From her experimental work to the narrative one, she is looking at beats that give meaning to everyday life. 
She wrote and co-produced several award-winning shorts. She is the co-author of the animation series, Friendship Sanctuary, from which the first book was published last year. Her experience as curator and jury member include curating the multimedia section of Mad Hatters' Review, one of the first NYC based online avant-garde magazines that flourished under late Carol Novack mastership and jury member of several films festivals in Romania such as Film4Fun and Bucharest Best Comedy Film.

Gerald Pallay, Producer / Writer / Director

As producer, writer, and director, Gerald has been in the entertainment industry for over 26 years, have been involved over 20+ film projects. He is known for The Story of Billy the Kidd (2015), The Jade Trader (2014) and The Puzzle in the Air (1999). Also the Best produced screenplay winner at 2015 Winner Action on Film Award.

Yu Tang, Producer / Screenwriter / Planner

Yu Tang is a film producer, screenwriter, and planner. She has completed 9 film projects that released in China and worldwide. Hers creenplay "Rose Fairy Legend" won the Best Screenplay Award of the San Diego International Kids' Film Festival 2013；In 2019 her film "Teenagers in The Capital" won the Best Short Film award of theSan Diego International Kids' Film Festival ；In 2020 won the Best Producer award of the Universe Multicultural Film Festival.. Her most recent release film “ Tibetan Hearts” won 5 big awards in Hollywood (USA), Bollywood( India)and Nollywood (Nigeria)

Mike Shields II, Actor / Producer / Screenwriter / Event Host

Mike is the owner and founder of Team 33 Productions, however, he started in this business as an actor first. He has completed several short films that have screened at The 168 Film Festival. In 2011 Blue Blazes also screened at 2011's Comic Con International Independent Film Festival, the first 168 film to do so. 
In 2013 he played the lead in Invisible Sacrifice , a short based on Romans 12:1, which also showed at the initial Alpha/Omega Con, where he taught a seminar on how to make a short film. In 2014, he won Best Screenplay at The Universe Multicultural Film Festival with Diamond is a Girl's Best Friend, a period comedy set in 1939. Mr. Shields II as leader of the firm is an industry insider, attending all major trade shows and events keeping in touch with the bridge between entertainment, creation and monetization. His biggest asset is his ability to pick things up quickly, and to adapt to any working environment

Pamela D. Torrance, Screenwriter / Filmmaker

Pamela D. Torrance is a scientist, salesperson and storyteller who combines her business background with her passion for screenwriting, filmmaking and producing content to support women empowerment. She is the filmmaker behind the award-winning pro-choice documentary 'WE'RE NOT GOING BACK!', new pro-choice comedy web-series Pyrrha & Pandora, and the founder of The HisTerical Society, a social welfare organization which is placing election ads in states with abortion measures this November. She is also the executive producer of 'On the Mountain', a romantic short film that won two awards at the Independent Shorts Awards in 2021.

Brian Connors, Director / Screenwriter / Producer

Brian has had a  long career as an actor which eventually evolved into writing, directing and producing.  Brian appears opposite KEVIN COSTNER in the Disney film MCFARLAND USA.  He's been featured on LAW & ORDER, LAW & ORDER SVU, THE RICHES, THE HANDLER and CLOSE TO HOME working in scenes with Eddie Izzard, Minnie Driver, Sam Waterson, Mariska Hargitay, Chris Noth and Jerry Orbach among others. 
Brian Connors recently wrote and directed the feature film SENIOR ENTOURAGE starring ED ASNER, HELEN REDDY, CHARLIE ROBINSON, MARION ROSS & MARK RYDELL. SENIOR ENTOURAGE is also being "pitched" as a TV series

Violeta Nuñez Gorritti, Filmmaker / Film Scholar / Former Professor

Violeta’s work as a historian has allowed her to publish the Pitas and Wire titles: the Golden Age of Peruvian Cinema 1936-1950 (Colmillo Blanco Ed. 1990); Peruvian Cinema Billboard 1930-1939 (Universidad de Lima 1998); Peruvian Cinema Billboard 1940-1949 (Lima 2006); The cinema in Lima 1897-1929 (Lima 2011) and editor of the book When the Cinema was a party: the production of Law 19327 (Lima 2013); Hollywood Goes Latin (Los Angeles 2019), as well as articles in various media. Violeta has directed the documentary Cinema history of a passion (Casablanca Latinfilms 2004). She participated in International Film Colloquiums such as "El arribo del cine to America "(Guadalajara -1994), “Silent Cinema in Ibero-America: nations, narrations, centenarians" (UNAM, Mexico 2010), member of the Organizing Committee and speaker of the Colloquium "Las rutas de cine en América 1896-1910" (UNAM, Mexico 2011). Violeta have been a jury member at: Festivals of the Peruvian Filmmakers Association (Lima 1991), Guadalajara FICG 2002, Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival - LALIFF 2013, Guadalajara International Film Festival in LA 1914. Due to her experience, she has been a script advisor to documentaries and thesis.