Submissions Now Open!
Introducing our 2022 jury. These judges will play the vital role of watching our award-nominated films later in the year and voting for the winner from each category, as well as also providing valuable feedback to the filmmakers where available. Most jury members will be added throughout the year.
NAT LUURTSEMA
Nat began her career as a stand-up comedian, performing live and on Radio 4, BBC3, and Channel 4. Her first short film Island Queen was nominated for a BAFTA in 2014 and she went on to write and/or direct five more.
She has several feature films and a television series in development. Nat’s short stories have been nominated for the Royal Academy of Art and the Royal Society of Literature Short Story of the Year awards and she is the author of five books. Her second book is being developed in a TV show with the BFI.
GREG SORVIG
Greg is the artistic director for nonprofit Heartland Film and its Academy Award®-qualifying Indy Shorts and Heartland International Film Festival events in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. Since 2011, 7 short films programmed by Heartland Film have won Oscars® with a total of 29 nominations.
Greg is also an associate programmer with the Tribeca Film Festival shorts team and recently served as an Arts Works II grants panelist for the National Endowment of the Arts. Greg also serves as a speaker and jury member at industry conferences, film festivals, and top 25 U.S. film school competitions.
DIONNE FARRELL
Dionne is Head of Development at B-Side Productions, working across film and TV. She began her career working on a magazine youth show, What’s Up, then worked in factual before moving into script development, working for the likes of the BFI and BBC Film.
JINKO GOTOH
Jinko is a BAFTA winner and Academy award-nominated producer and consultant for the animation industry. Her strengths and passion include discovering and nurturing diversified creative talent and innovating the animation medium. Jinko’s producing screen credits include 2020 BAFTA winner and Academy award-nominated Klaus, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, The Little Prince, Academy award-nominated The Illusionist, 9, and Academy award-winning Finding Nemo. Jinko is devoted to advancing women and all underrepresented people in the industry.
IDA MELUM
Ida is a BAFTA and BAFTA nominated, and Annie and RTS winning animation director based in Sweden and the UK.
After receiving her acting diploma in Norway, Ida earned her BA in Animation at Middlesex University, London. She worked as a stop motion animator on films such as the BAFTA winning Poles Apart, and Facing It, before deciding to get her master’s degree in Directing Animation at the National Film and Television School.
During her time at the NFTS, she made films such as Shopped and Ovary-Acting and her award winning and BAFTA nominated graduation film, Night of the Living Dread.
CRISPIN BUXTON
Crispin in a Locations Manager and Producer with over 30 years experience in the film industry. He runs the Norfolk Film Company and was Studio Director at Raynham Hanger Studios.
Crispin’s various film credits include Spencer, The Souvenir, and The Last King of Scotland.
CHRIS RANKIN
Chris Rankin was 16 years old when he sent off a letter asking for an audition to play Percy Weasley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. He went on to play the role for 11 years.
Chris is a performer, a director, a producer, and creative. These days, he can be found living in South Wales, with his partner Ness, and their dogs Stanley and Boo.
VICTORIA EMSLIE
Victoria Emslie is a British Actress known for her work on Downton Abbey, 12 Monkeys, The Frankenstein Chronicles, The Danish Girl and The Theory Of Everything.
She launched Primetime, a global visibility platform for all the women working above and below the line behind the camera, at Cannes Film Festival in 2019 and they currently have members in 55+ countries, including multi-BAFTA, Emmy and Academy Award winners. Victoria also sits on the Disability Advisory Group at BAFTA.
