members of the jury
KAY SUMNER
Kay Sumner is a three-time Emmy-nominated producer and director best known for The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan and the documentary SURVIVORS. She manages the Dog Whisperer® brand and has produced acclaimed films like Shadow Dancing and Lady Out of Lizzy. Her career spans major networks in the U.S. and Canada, with credits on Any Woman Can Fix It, Eye Bet, and The New Quiz Kids. She has also earned two People’s Choice Awards.
WILLIAM MCNAMARA
William McNamara studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and has appeared in over 165 films and TV shows. Early roles include Joel in Dream a Little Dream (1989) and Stella (1990). In the ’90s, he delivered strong performances in Surviving the Game (1994) with F. Murray Abraham and Gary Busey, Chasers (1994), and notably as serial killer Peter Foley in Copycat (1995). He also starred in Stag (1997) and The Brylcreem Boys (1998).
JACQUES THELEMAQUE
Jacques Thelemaque is a writer-director and president of Filmmakers Alliance, which he co-founded in 1993. A USC alum, he also co-leads FA Productions, behind films like The Dogwalker, Shock Television, and Midnight Movie. He served as Chief Community Officer at Withoutabox and has held board roles with LA Film Festival, IFP Emerging Filmmaker Labs, Downtown Film Festival, and Ashland Independent Film Festival.
CAROLE JOYCE
Carole Joyce is VP and Director of From the Heart Productions and the Roy W. Dean Grant, supporting films for 30+ years. Her org fiscally sponsored Emmy-winning I Am Evidence, Belly of the Beast, Cadejo Blanco, and HBO’s A Tree of Life. An award-winning filmmaker and Brooks Institute grad, Carole produced Survivors, Healthstyles, and Filmmakers, and worked with Fincher, Dylan, and Romanek early in their careers.
FREDERICK TABIYUS NAH
Frederick “Tabiyus” Nah IV is a filmmaker, artist, and entrepreneur with 15+ years in entertainment. He’s directed or produced over 120 projects, earning 34+ film festival wins and 30M+ YouTube views. As founder and CEO of Swerve Entertainment, he develops original IP in film and music. He directed the award-winning feature BREATHE and is currently producing BLACK DIAMONDS, a visual album and cinematic experience.
ALLISON MCATTEE
Allison grew up near Lake Erie in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. She moved to NYC, performing Off Broadway before landing TV roles on Rescue Me and Stella. In 2008, she starred with Michael Madsen and Dennis Hopper in Tarantino’s Hell Ride, and appeared in Iron Man with Robert Downey Jr. She starred in cult indie Bloomington, then in Californication with David Duchovny, and The Haves and the Have Nots on OWN.
MARVIN GLOVER
Marvin Glover is an American film producer, director, screenwriter, and composer based in Los Angeles. Raised in the Pacific Northwest, his work focuses on hope and empowerment, spanning drama and comedy. Born in San Antonio, TX, to a teacher and Air Force sergeant, he studied at Washington State, University of Washington, and USC Cinematic Arts. He began directing with music videos for his own music, expanding to other artists.
ABHISHEK SHARMA
Abhishek Sharma is a prominent Indian filmmaker renowned for his versatility across genres. He first gained acclaim with his satirical comedy "Tere Bin Laden" (2010) which earned awards across the globe. His other films include 'Parmanu' and 'Ram Setu' amongst many others.
ALIDA PANTONE
Alida Pantone is a British-Italian actor based in London. She grew up in Italy and Australia, began acting in 1999, and performed in The Wives of Frederick II directed by Pippo Franco. She studied Cinema Acting at Actor Studio International in Rome and earned a degree in Communication at Sapienza University. She has worked as a speaker/editor for Radio Centro Suono 2, Radio Sapienza, and SBS. Fluent in English and Italian, she also works in Spanish and French.
VERNON FOSTER
Vernon, of the Klamath Modoc/Yahooskin Band of Snake Indians, is a human rights advocate for over 40 years. As a motivational speaker and spiritual counselor, he promotes healing and growth across Native and non-Native communities worldwide. Founder of programs like Buffalo Heart and Red Road Journeys, Vernon supports cultural immersion and youth mentoring. He also created the Warrior’s Retreat for men. Widely recognized, he’s featured in major media and honored with awards including Arizona State University’s Outstanding Achievement Award.
MANASVI MAMGAI
Manasvi, an Indian-origin actor and former Miss India, excelled early, winning nearly 50 state and national awards in dance, singing, skating, art, and science by age 15. Discovered by Elite Model Management after high school, she became one of India’s youngest supermodels. With a decade-long career in modeling, pageants, theater, and film, she is a Filmfare nominee, recipient of her state’s Excellence Award, and featured in Times of India’s 50 Most Desirable Women.
SWETA RAI
Sweta Rai is a Hollywood producer, director, and entrepreneur with films shortlisted for the Oscars. She’s worked with Jon Voight, James Caan, and Bo Derek. Awarded ‘Most Innovative Film CEO’ and ‘Woman of Impact’ by Forbes, Sweta leads Indo Holly Films to bridge Bollywood, Asian cinema, and Hollywood. Her co-produced films stream on Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Hallmark. She holds three master’s degrees and is Discovery Channel’s Asia-Pacific Diversity Ambassador.
SANDRA DE CASTRO BUFFINGTON
Sandra de Castro Buffington is a Brazilian-American co-producer of BRAINWASHED: SexCameraPower (Sundance, Berlinale) and a global social impact strategist. Founder of StoryAction and UCLA’s Global Media Center for Social Impact, she guides creators in crafting stories that promote health, justice, and well-being. Named among the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by PODER, she created the UN-backed Conscious Media Award and has worked in 50 countries advancing women and families.
JENN LINDSAY
Jenn Lindsay is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, social scientist, and TED Talk speaker. Since 2005, she has worked in post-production with MTV, Sundance Channel, Atmosphere Pictures, and Swete Films. Her 2020 short Quarantined Faith won multiple festival awards. Jenn holds a Ph.D. in the social science of religion from Boston University and teaches sociology and communications at John Cabot University in Rome.
CATHARINE DADA
Catharine trained at Bristol Old Vic and began her career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing in Stratford and London, later working in repertory theatres across the UK. She teaches unique classes—Breath & Emotion in Performance and Sacred Voice Work—helping actors free their voices and empower themselves. She holds an MA and PhD in Religious Studies from the University of Kent, focusing on embodied spirituality.
MICHAEL FLORES
Michael X. Flores earned an MFA in Cinema-Television Production from USC, where he received the John Frankenheimer Directing Scholarship and the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Scholarship. He was a Film Independent Project:Involve fellow, mentored by Jeffrey Blitz. Michael edited the Student Emmy-winning pilot Cost of Living and wrote/directed the award-winning short film Esperando (Waiting/Hoping).
WILFRED OKICHE
Wilfred Okiche is a Nigerian film critic, journalist, and culture writer based in Lagos, known for his insightful Nollywood and African cinema commentary. He’s contributed to Al Jazeera, Variety, IndieWire, The Guardian, and more. Okiche has participated in international film festivals like Sundance and Berlin, mentoring emerging critics. A trained medic, he balances medicine with cultural journalism and shares his views on Twitter @drwill20.
JIM WARNE
Jim Warne, an Emmy-nominated Oglala Lakota filmmaker, educator, and advocate, is president of Warrior Society Development, LLC. Through WSD Productions, he produced acclaimed films like Pictures of My People, Decade of Dominance, and 7th Generation. A former pro football player, he’s also a motivational speaker, consultant, and longtime SDSU educator. Jim holds degrees from Arizona State and San Diego State University.
JASON DAKS
Jason is an LA native and has a background in both scripted and non-scripted film and television and has had the opportunity to work as a producer on a wide range of projects for several different companies, including ReelzChannel for two TV specials about John F Kennedy. In addition to collaborating on projects with Blue Boots Entertainment, Jason has freelanced in film finance helping to arrange funding and assemble different projects.
CONAL O’HERLIHY
Born in Hollywood and educated in Ireland, Conal O’Herlihy is a veteran producer with work across film, TV, and digital media. His credits include NBC, ABC, National Geographic, Discovery, and the History Channel. He’s produced a Netflix feature and hundreds of podcast hours, including Verdict with Ted Cruz and The Hollywood Interview. He now leads No One Else Media, focused on original, high-impact content.
ERMAN BARADI
Erman Baradi is a storyteller and event producer named by HuffPost as a top Hollywood networker. He founded Ermantourage to connect creatives and support causes like mental health and cancer prevention. Based in LA, he’s produced events in cities worldwide and writes original content managed by Emagine Content. In 2023, he published Bad Times & Goodbyes and launched the Artist Emerged International festival, offering mentorship to emerging filmmakers.
YIFAN FANCY DU
We are thrilled to introduce Yifan Du as a jury member at WCFF 2024. An accomplished editor, director, and producer, Yifan graduated from the Academy of Art University in 2018 and has since made significant contributions to the film industry.
With experience working at TriCoast Worldwide Film Distribution and editing for Hollywood actress Maggie Q, Yifan has directed and edited over twenty films that have garnered international acclaim.
SOPHIA LOUISA LEE
Sophia Louisa Lee is an award-winning screenwriter and Head Judge for screenwriting at WCFF with the ETHOS Film Institute Writer’s Group. She co-wrote WRECKER (2024) and Paralysis. Represented by WGA agent Al Choi, she also co-wrote Susie Bell’s memoir A Piece of Me. A SAG-AFTRA actress, Sophia has produced award-winning shorts, directed East of Lincoln, and hosts the podcast So Zoom In: Where Creativity Meets Innovation.
RÁUL BRIONES
Raúl Briones Carmona, born in Mexico City and raised in Tlaxcala, is an acclaimed actor and UNAM theater graduate. He gained recognition as goalkeeper Pepe in Club de Cuervos. His roles in Asfixia (2019) and A Cop Movie (2021) earned him Ariel Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor, respectively. He also won Best Supporting Performance for Northern Skies Over Empty Space.
MANISH SHAH
Manish Shah, the visionary founder of Goldmines Telefilms, has revolutionized the Indian film industry by making South Indian cinema an Indian phenomenon. With groundbreaking dubbing and strategic distribution, he has bridged linguistic barriers, bringing blockbuster regional films to Hindi-speaking audiences. His Youtube channel is amongst the world's largest.
YIRAN CHEN
Yiran Chen earned a Journalism bachelor’s from Sichuan University and an MFA in Cinematography from Loyola Marymount University, studying under Sundance-winning cinematographer Amy Vincent. She won the Ian Connor Best Cinematography Award at LMU. Chen previously worked with top Chinese filmmakers like Zhang Yimou at Enlight Media. Her cinematography studio collaborates with clients including Beatbot and Lynk & Co, with sponsorships from Cooke Optics, Panavision, and Sony.
NKECHI NWABUDIKE
Nkechi Nwabudike is a Nigerian-American writer, producer, and storyteller with a decade in Nollywood. She’s worked as assistant director, associate producer, and writer on 20+ Nigerian films and TV shows, including Head Producer of Nigeria’s political satire “The Other News.” She co-founded a creative agency, worked with Netflix Africa, and is crowdfunding her directorial debut comedy short, How to Kill a Ge. Her work explores identity, culture, and social issues.
SHUOJIA CHEN
Shuojia Chen is an award-winning filmmaker known for producing, directing, and screenwriting. With 20+ international awards, she brings keen insight into emotional expression, narrative, and social themes. As a jury member, Chen values originality, authenticity, and cultural impact, focusing on how films reflect the human condition and influence audiences through thoughtful cinematic choices.
USAMAKA OLISAKWE
Ukamaka Evelyn Olisakwe (born 24 October 1982) is a Nigerian feminist author, short-story writer, and screenwriter. In 2014 she was chosen as one of 39 of Sub-Saharan Africa's most promising writers under the age of 40, showcased in the Africa39 project[1] and included in the anthology Africa39: New Writing from Africa South of the Sahara (edited by Ellah Allfrey)
IRINA SZODRUCH
Irina Szodruch is an acclaimed producer, dramaturg, and curator known for innovative, socially engaged work across theater, film, and TV. With 15+ years in top European institutions like Schaubühne and Maxim Gorki Theater, her productions have earned major honors, including the European Theatre Prize. She’s collaborated with companies like Beta Film and Sommerhaus, and now brings her global perspective to the World Culture Film Festival jury.
ELA ROTH CAPONE
Ela Roth Capone grew up in East Germany as the wall fell, and has lived in over 30 countries. She earned a master's in Health Economics at the University of Cologne under Prof. Lauterbach, now Germany’s Health Minister. A curator, photographer, and filmmaker, she worked on distributing La Finca Humana in the US and Germany. Her women’s empowerment project in Honduras is featured by Greenpeace, Make SMTHNG, ReFashionReFood, Klimatag, Fairtrade Saarbrücken, and others.
HIMESH MANKAD
Himesh Mankad is a distinguished entertainment journalist with a career spanning over a decade. He has since contributed to prominent media outlets such as Catch News, InUth (Indian Express), Mumbai Mirror, and currently Pinkvilla.
His expertise lies in reviewing films and analyzing box office trends, making him a respected voice in the Indian film industry.
TONG LUO
Tong Luo is an acclaimed international producer, director, and editor based in Los Angeles. He directed and edited the short film In Your Brain, selected by LA Shorts International and awarded Best Editing at the 2024 Poppy Jasper International Film Festival. His work has earned international honors, including Best Director and Best Social Film at the 2024 Nawada International Film Festival, and awards from IMPA, the Chinese American Film Festival, and the Asian Micro Film Festival.
YUCHAN DENG
Yuchan Deng is a Los Angeles–based cinematographer and 2022 AFI graduate. Originally from China, she is passionate about telling stories that connect diverse communities and amplify underrepresented voices. Her narrative films have screened at festivals including Los Angeles Asian Pacific and Urbanworld. Combining technical expertise with cultural sensitivity, Yuchan aims to challenge stereotypes, promote empathy, and deepen understanding among audiences through her impactful cinematography.
SHRUTI AMINDITA
VERMA
Shruti Anindita Verma has been a veteran Director and producer of the television industry. She has created content for social impact that has not only won her national and international awards but has also impacted thousands of lives.
RUBEN IMAZ
Rubén Imaz, born in Mexico City in 1979, is a versatile Mexican filmmaker skilled as director, screenwriter, producer, editor, and cinematographer. He studied at the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (CCC), where he made notable shorts like Juego de pelota and Afuera de la ciudad. His diploma film Familia tortuga (2006) premiered at San Sebastián and won awards including Coup de Coeur at Toulouse and Best Latin American Director at SANFIC.
MURRAY SUMNER
Murray Sumner is a Canadian creative with experience in photography, film, and social advocacy. He started as a freelance photographer and moved into film as a set decorator and art director on projects like Emily’s Hope (IMAX). With his wife, Emmy-nominated Kay Sumner, he co-founded Not One More Time, Inc. to raise opioid crisis awareness after losing their son. Murray executive produced Survivors (2021), a documentary on addiction and recovery.
NATALIE LAWLESS
Natalie Lawless is the executive director of the Diane E. Watson Center for Compassionate Intervention, advocating for our loved ones as they age. She also serves on the board of directors at BAAADU International Fil =m Festival. As a relative of Watson, she cited that because her aunt has always been a strong woman and done so much for the community and the world, people forget that she is 90 years old and people change as they age.
STEVEN CUOCO
Steven Cuoco is a two-time award-winning publicist with over 30 years in Public Relations and Media. He amplifies voices of artists, entrepreneurs, and visionaries with a people-first approach, empowering clients throughout their journeys. As founder and host of Power 98.5 Satellite Radio, Steven connects talent with audiences via engaging interviews. An international best-selling author and producer, he crafts compelling narratives and excels in diverse media. Passionate about authenticity, he mentors emerging talent and supports artists globally.
AIDAN MCHUGH
Aidan McHugh is an actor, model and fitness expert known for his work on countless TV Mini Series, Films and Shows like Power Play (2025) and Vanderpump Villa (2024). He is an advocate for Mental Health and Wellness and lights up the room when you meet him.
P.S. RAMANATHAN
P.S. Ramanathan has been an integral part of the Rajshri Productions, a cornerstone of Indian cinema. He has an expertise in marketing and distribution of films spanning several decades.
P.S. RAMANATHAN
P.S. Ramanathan has been an integral part of the Rajshri Productions, a cornerstone of Indian cinema. He has an expertise in marketing and distribution of films spanning several decades.
