2023 Jury
Producer and Film marketing and distribution consultant, born in Panama. Began his career in production companies as production assistant and location manager for TV shows, advertising and movies. He worked as Location Manager for the feature film
Ruta de la Luna (Juan Sebastián Jácome, 2012).
After finishing his studies in Marketing, Distribution and Sales of Film Projects at ESCAC (Barcelona), he moved to the film distribution field, working as Sales Analyst and Trade Marketing Coordinator for Twentieth Century Fox Films, Central America; working for 4 years in the distribution of more than 60 films for the region.
In 2016, he obtained his Master of International Business for Film from the London Film School and the University of Exeter in the UK.
Currently, he leads the development of the feature films Adiós Bárbara directed by Mariel García Spooner and Animal Lluvioso directed by Costa Rican director Laura Astorga Carrera. In addition, he has served as Marketing Consultant and Booker for independent films such as Sin Pepitas en la Lengua (Hnos. García de Paredes, 2018) and Pedro e Inés (Antonio Ferreira, 2018), as well as producing the podcast
“Taquillando” ( https://www.cesar-garrido.com/taquillando-podcast) focused on Film Marketing, Distribution and Sales in Central America.
George Snow
George Snow was trained as a graphic designer and filmmaker at Hornsey College of Art, London. After being thrown out for hitting the Head of Department he returned 10 years later as a teacher. He was among the first photographers to cover the widespread unrest in Northern Ireland after the introduction of Internment Without Trial. His work was widely published in the Left Wing press. He designed all of the early Star Wars books and magazines but abandoned that trade after discovering video and software programming in the mid 80’s.
His most successful videos were ‘I’ve Been Thinkin’ About you’ for London Beat and ‘The Assignation’ for Channel 4 in London. He is a keen sportsman and runs the highly successful Bike Palestine cycle tour. www.bikepalestine.com . He presently lives as a recluse in his castle in Tuscany.
Robin Malinga
Robin is the COO of Creatures Animation, a multi award winning animation studio based in Uganda. He is also the Screenwriter for the 7-time award winning animated short film – A Kalabanda ate my Homework.
Matthew Celestial
Matthew Celestial is the Executive Director of Statement Strategies Ltd., a communications and public strategy firm, specializing in technology, entertainment, and innovative lifestyle brands. Having led multiple campaigns for businesses in technology, entertainment and lifestyle across the globe, Matthew steers senior leadership teams and clients to find the right message for their organizations. He leads national and international brand partnerships, oversees new business development activities, and supports clients with change management.
He has handled PR campaigns for Pixar Animation, DreamWorks Animation, Corus Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, and others. Matthew currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International. He previously served on the Board of Directors of CIUT89.5 FM, a community radio station owned by the University of Toronto, and the Durham Environmental Advisory Committee at the Regional Municipality of Durham. He graduated from the University of Toronto. During his time there, he worked as an Ambassador for the Office of the President and served on the student union.
From securing a story for a client to winning new business, Matthew will help aspiring PR professionals navigate the industry by providing them with insights into the art of pitching, learning how to navigate PR rejection, and finding out how to tap into your creativity to find the big (and little) wins in a world that keeps moving on.
Robert Waldren
Robert has worked in the animation business since the early 1980’s, as an animator, storyboard artist and assistant director. Some of the series he worked on included “Arthur”, “Caillou” and “The Raccoons”.
Denis Hubert & Julie Breton – iFeelvirtuel
Denis Hubert is the creative fuel of iFeelvirtuel inc production. Working in the event industry for many years, he has developed filming techniques and VR conceptualization since 2017.
Julie Breton has joined the iFeelvirtuel venture in 2020 with her business development, marketing and interactive media background. Together they worked on several VR projects as producer, collaborator, storyteller of short movies, documentaries, concerts, events and VRodcast with professional collaborators around the world.
Their passion and understanding of the VR experience challenges the concepts of imaging to its core, bringing valued immersive moments that transport and inspire users. The couple lead a sought after conceptual VR company known for their creative leadership, bringing bigger than life projects to evolutive dimensions.
Pascal Bartschat
Pascal pursued his studies in communications at Concordia, with a specialization in film production, and also served as a teaching assistant for advanced film production courses.
In 2016, he co-founded FIAT LVX Projection Mapping alongside his partner, Madeleine Black. Together, they have worked on numerous projects, installations, and festivals. One of their notable achievements was winning the prestigious “Coup de Coeur” prize at the 2021 MAPP Montreal International Minute Map Competition, an accolade chosen by C2, for their outstanding work titled ‘FACADES’.
Throughout the pandemic, Pascal actively contributed to online productions involving video and sound for various creative organizations, thanks to a digital strategies fund grant.
Notably, he is an accomplished composer and has provided music contributions for significant films such as “Goon” by Jay Baruchel (2011) and “Hors Les Murs” by David Lambert (2012). The latter film won the Grand Golden Rail Award for Best Feature Film (Grand Rail d’Or) at the International Critics’ Week during the 65th Cannes Film Festival.
Presently, Pascal serves as a generative video specialist and producer at Lexigo.io, where he provides consultation, tutoring, and services in generative A.I.
Madeleine Black
Madeleine Black is an interdisciplinary new media artist. Her work has been exhibited at galleries and festivals across Canada.
Having studied Studio Arts at Concordia in Montreal, she co-founded FIAT LVX, a boutique projection mapping and production house, with her partner Pascal Bartschat in 2016. Their cinematic piece ‘FACADES’, won the ‘Coup de Cœur’ prize awarded by C2 at the 2021 MAPP MTL international minute map competition.
She has developed numerous site specific installations in public spaces, stage shows, and immersive art events. In 2021 she designed and created an AR walking tour, animating and bringing to life the work of local street artists in Mile End.
During the pandemic, she was a studio technician in live broadcasting and video production at Anteism Project Space, collaborating with various literary publishers and art collectives.
She is currently a generative AI art and video specialist at Lexigo.io, where she provides consultation, tutoring and concept development services.
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