Submission Judges of 2026
Scott Hillier is an Australian Director / Cinematographer / Screenwriter. Scott studied film at New York University and The London Film and Television school as well as literary non-fiction writing at Columbia University. He has taught a Master’s Degree course in Screenwriting as well as journalism at the Centre de Formation des Journaliste (CFJ) in Paris. In addition to serving as President of The European Independent Film Festival, he is also Chief Creative Officer for the Zs2 Media Group in Paris.
Rodrigo Estrada is the Festival Manager of the ÉCU Film Festival Group. Managing four film festivals and working at Zs2 Media group he has produced over 30 videos for clients like the NBA, Netflix, Illumination, General Electric amongst others.
Mark Perez is one of the premiere non-scripted Executive Producers and Directors in the business today, having produced and directed thousands of hours of programming for networks including NBC, Showtime, Discovery, History, ESPN, VH1, and MTV. Mark’s work includes huge hits such as NBC’s Fear Factor, MTV’s Road Rules and Laguna Beach, and two seasons of America’s Next Top Model for UPN.
Lynn Montgomery has been a writer since she was six years old and penned her opus, The Stinko-pottamus. She has written for radio, print, television and film. She won a Writer’s Guild Award and an LA Emmy. Amazing Grace is her feature directorial debut.
Over the past 20 years, Maja Jacob has worked on major studio films with Netflix, Lionsgate, Universal, Disney, and New Line Cinema, both on set and in post-production. Her credits include TRON LEGACY, OBLIVION, FINAL DESTINATION 5, RESIDENT EVIL 5, and GINNY & GEORGIA. Driven by her passion for storytelling, Maja shifted to producing with her feature debut, IN GOD I TRUST, which screened at festivals worldwide, won multiple awards, and is now streaming globally. She’s been selected for top industry programs, including the NSI Business for Producers – Atlantic Women’s Edition, Rotterdam Producers Lab, EFM Producers Without Borders, Screen Nova Scotia’s Emerging Producer Mission to LA, Frontières Platform at Marché du Film, and the Torino TFL Next Feature script workshop. She is a Directors Guild of Canada member, as a Director and Picture Editor. Additionally, she serves as a representative on the board of the Directors Guild of Canada Maritimes for the province of New Brunswick.
Grace Philips is a New York filmmaker with roots in Buffalo and Brooklyn. Fascinated by human behavior, Grace’s stories revolve around interpersonal dynamics that reflect larger issues in the world around us. Her approach to filmmaking is guided by care; it comes from a place of compassion and a practice of radical empathy. As a writer, director, and often editor and producer, Grace approaches her craft from a holistic point of view that prioritizes the artistic cohesion between practical aspects of filmmaking and the creative.
A recent graduate of Columbia’s Film MFA Program for screenwriting and directing, she’s been honored as an Alex Sichel Fellow, and her portfolio film, Georgette in the Garden, was awarded the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Production Grant, and received Jury Honors at the 2024 Columbia University Film Festival. Her feature screenplay Sweet Summer won the Eugene and Eleanor Litwak Award for Screenwriting at the 2024 Columbia University Film Festival. Since graduating, Grace has completed principal photography on her first feature, The Billionaire Who Came to Dinner.
Fabian Marquez is a writer and executive producer on the sci-fi series Spides, currently streaming on Amazon. He also co-wrote (with Paul Davidson) and will produce the indie comedy Gleek! with Tim Heidecker (Tim and Eric) and director Jim Josking (An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn). Other credits include Better Luck Tomorrow (directed by Justin Lin) and the Academy Award-nominated short, Johnny Flynton (directed by Lexi Alexander).
Jorge Kobeh is an Audiovisual producer, VFX artist and film instructor from Mexico City.
Festival Coordinator for the AAIFF Americas’ and Student Liaison for the CECC México.
Carlos Eduardo Osuna Salcido is a Mexican director, writer, and animator mostly known by his film “Estres” which combines several techniques of animation to deliver a wonderful project.
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