Meet the Jurors

Masters in Directing from Texas State University, B.A. William and Mary (worked at TV/Video Services). Past experience includes Theatre and Film professor at Lone Star College, Tommy Tune Awards judge with TUTS, judge for Gimme the Mike at KPRC, working at Sundance Film Festival, presenting at Ampersand International Arts Festival and attending many other festivals (including WorldFest), acting coach, director, musician/songwriter.

An award-winning writer and director with experience on stage and screen. A proud native of Austin, Texas calling Houston, Texas his home. English Literature major from University of Maryland. A world travelled eight-year decorated veteran of the United States Army. Proud participant and two-time Remi Award winner for screenwriting at Worldfest Houston in 2023.

Former Artistic Director in New York of The Blockheads, founder of JMPN Productions, and current Executive of Grandson Studios. Silver REMI Winner of "The Opposites" at WorldFest in 2024 for Family/Children Shorts. Recording artist, songwriter, music producer and director based in Galveston, TX. Worked at The Los Angeles Center Studios for Barbizon as their National Coach traveling nationwide mentoring youth in the performing arts. NYCDA Alum & auditor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Jon-Carlos Evans is an award-winning American filmmaker, audiovisual artist, composer and writer. A graduate of Webster-University-St.Louis (BA, Film Production ) and the City College of New York (MFA, Media Arts Production), his cinematic and audiovisual works oscillate between genres/themes of speculative fiction, archival recontextualization, and improvised realities through collisions of analog and digital mediums. He currently works as the Programme Lead for the Creative Production (Film) MA at Catalyst - Institute for Creative Arts & Technology in Berlin.

Mahmoud Salimi is a writer and director whose work casts a compassionate eye on the struggles that shape human lives, exploring the resilient threads of the human condition. He has brought stories to life through fiction and documentary films, each marked by a distinct sensitivity to place and perspective. His work has earned recognition at international film festivals across Asia, Europe, and Americas.

An award-winning film producer, writer, and storyteller, she is recognized for crafting high-impact narratives across short films and internationally acclaimed documentaries. After graduating high school in Houston, Texas, her professional creative journey has spanned the United States, Asia, and Europe, shaping a distinctly global perspective on storytelling. Her work distills complex global themes into compelling narratives that resonate across cultures, spark dialogue, and inspire meaningful change.

MFA in Film from Columbia University, Pedro Coutinho released "All the Reasons to Forget", his first feature, in 2018. Also directed the episode "No Exit" of the TV Show "5x Comedy" (Amazon Original). Directed the second season of the television series "Elmiro Miranda Show" (TBS). Worked in dozens of commercials, directing films for brands like: Coke, Pepsi, McDonald's, Amazon and Heineken. As screenwriter, he was the head writer of the series "Me, Her and 1 Million of Followers" (Multishow) and developed projects for Netflix, HBO and Disney+.

Ajitesh Sharma is a filmmaker, entrepreneur, and former ISRO rocket scientist. His films under Keep Rolling Films have won 350+ awards worldwide. An accredited life & business coach, he also designed the award-winning board game SQUARACE, founded the comics publishing house Cinemics, and serves as President of the Indian Comics Association, blending creativity with innovation across industries.

Originally from Columbus Ohio, Kelly Swinehart is an actor now based in Houston, Texas. She has performed with numerous theaters around Columbus and Houston, included sketch comedy and children’s and senior theater; and in films, including Kufiya directed by Shahd Shahroor, and Ridin Dirty directed by Coby Rich.

Sebaztian Baz is an Argentine filmmaker and creator of the pioneering Sombras Chinas, the first vertical feature film in the Americas to receive a theatrical release. His work blends dark humor, suspense, and drama with audiovisual experimentation, consolidating a distinctive authorial voice. He is currently directing a short documentary between Argentina and the southern United States, and preparing his second feature, exploring themes of loss, obsession, and redemption.

Aihui Dong is an internationally acclaimed producer with nearly two decades of experience connecting Eastern and Western creatives. Named Producer of the Year in 2025, he has produced award-winning films selected by major festivals including Berlinale, Warsaw, Shanghai, and SXSW. His work has received honors such as the NETPAC Award and UNICEF Special Award. Dong also serves as a juror for global awards, championing cross-cultural storytelling and innovation in cinema and digital arts.

Raphael Bittencourt is an award-winning Brazilian filmmaker, director, and cinematographer based in Atlanta. His work has screened internationally and received multiple honors for its visual precision and emotional depth. A Professor of Film and Television at SCAD and an active festival juror, he champions bold cinematic storytelling and is committed to mentoring the next generation of filmmakers.

Oyiza Adaba's work as a journalist and filmmaker has helped to amplify African perspectives. She founded the media platform Africa-Related in 2008 to develop concepts that use media tools to tell authentic stories. Her award-winning feature documentary "DELA: The Making of El Anatsui" (2023) is highly praised globally for bringing African art and culture to international audiences.

Michael-Claude Winfield won a Gold Remi at WorldFest-Houston 56 for Disturbed (2022), a documentary short about disturbance ecology. His sci-fi/heist screenplays have placed at American Zoetrope, Austin Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. He is a qualified wildland firefighter, an FAA-certified part 107 UAV pilot, and a doctoral student at Oregon State University, studying remote sensing and sustainable forest management. He was grateful to review Canadian films!

Vinod Ganatra, 1st Indian filmmaker to receive prestigious 'Nelson Mandela life time achievement Award' in South Africa. He is also the only Indian film maker to receive The “Liv Ullmann Peace Prize, Chicago for his Gujarati film HARUN-ARUN. Widely travelled, he is the only Indian film maker to serve as Jury at more than 101 National & International Film Festivals world over for last three decades.

Lucas Zoppi is an Argentine filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter based in La Plata, Buenos Aires, and a graduate of the Faculty of Arts at the National University of La Plata. His work focuses on science fiction, psychological horror, and character-driven genre storytelling, exploring dark and ambitious themes. His short film Dominion Evolución won the Gold Remi Award at WorldFest Houston, and his debut feature Serán Legión is currently in post-production.

A writer/director based in Houston, TX. University of Houston graduate.

Matthew Principe is an internationally recognized producer and arts innovator. His award-winning shorts, Monsura Is Waiting and Stag, have earned festival recognition for their distinct visual storytelling and emotional depth. He serves as Cultural Partnerships Producer for the documentary VIVA VERDI!, featuring the Oscar-nominated song “Sweet Dreams of Joy.” Beyond film, he has collaborated with the Metropolitan Opera, Detroit Opera, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, and Boston Baroque, bridging performance and screen.

3 time REMI award winner. Writer of the screenplay plays: Home. A Requiem for Harriet and Dirty Work. Creator and producer of the TV pilot Cast Party.

Oğuzhan Kaya was born in Istanbul, 1984. He is graduated from the Kocaeli University Faculty Of Fine Arts Dramatic Writing Department and he has a master' s degree in Radio, Television and Cinema Department from Istanbul University. His experimental short films were awarded and screened by many national and international film festivals. He lives in Istanbul and continues to work for his new projects.

Hakan Ünal is a Turkish screenwriter and director whose work explores themes of memory, repression, and identity through psychologically layered narratives. His films and screenplays have been recognized by international festivals including Cinequest, HollyShorts, Rhode Island Flickers, Tirana International Film Festival, and Sundance.

Miguel Nogueras Jr., is an award-winning creative director with over 20 years of experience shaping brands and storytelling across film, media, and global marketing. A Bronx native who rose to Madison Avenue, he brings a deep understanding of craft, culture, and narrative impact. As a juror for WorldFest Houston, he is committed to recognizing bold creative voices and work that resonates with authenticity and purpose.

Dogus Ozokutan is a Turkish Cypriot filmmaker whose internationally screened films blend dark comedy with existential themes. Her work navigates fate, death, and human absurdity with a sharp and dark humor.

A writer posing as a federal agent for too many years. Loved one woman and four dogs.

Penny LeLeux started in film in 2016 competing 48 hour film races. She wrote her first script in 2018. She is a multi-award winning writer, director, producer and actress. The founder of Barefoot on the Bayou Film Group and the Texas Film Belt Project strives to promote filmmaking in Orange County, Texas and along the I-10 corridor.

Ashish Kumar is a versatile filmmaker with extensive experience across television commercials, digital campaigns, feature films, documentaries, and short films. He has collaborated with leading brands in the advertising space, contributing in key creative and executive roles, while also playing significant responsibilities in feature-length cinema. As a director, he has helmed both short and documentary films, some of which have received recognition at film festivals and digital platforms. His body of work reflects a strong command over storytelling, production design, and on-ground execution, seamlessly balancing creative vision with practical filmmaking expertise across formats.

Veteran Television host Ward W. Bond brings in-depth interviews with the top film directors, producers, screenwriters, editors, composers, actors and more. Learn about the art and beauty of filmmaking. Meet award winning film professionals as they tell their side of the creative journey of movie-making. The ”Bond on Cinema” platform are interviews with filmmakers for filmmakers. Bond on Cinema is also available on Prime Video and YouTube