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Judging Panel
Steven Ticknor
Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer & Re-Recording Mixer
Steven Ticknor began his career as a sound editor at Sony Pictures Studios in 1990. Since then, he has applied his talents to nearly 100 feature films including such box office hits as Bad Boys for Life, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and The Karate Kid. Along the way, he has earned six Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Golden Reel Award nominations. Skilled in all aspects of motion picture sound, Ticknor marks the milestones in his life, not in terms of years, but rather by movie titles. He is a passionate believer in the power of sound as a storytelling tool.
J.J. Geiger
Picture Editor
J.J. Geiger is a Picture Editor who has worked on shows such the CW's "Gossip Girl," Roku's "Most Dangerous Game," and the Amazon Original Series "Reacher." His editing career overall has been quite diverse; from editing documentaries to local programming where his production team won a LA regional Emmy.
Samah Safi Bayazid
Film Director & Producer
Samah Safi Bayazid is an award-winning Jordanian American director and producer based inWashington DC. She co-owns LightArt Media Productions and co-founded LightArt VR. Samah'swork focuses on telling important humanitarian stories such as the struggles of refugees, children of war, women empowerment, fighting Islamophobia and bringing positive representation for Muslims in the western media. She hopes that her work and productions will help bridge audiences from different cultures and backgrounds and will carry the voice for the voiceless. Hoping for her work to change the world, one film at a time.
Ozzie Sutherland
Lead, Audio Workflows, Netflix Creative Technologies
Ozzie Sutherland is the “go-to” guy for Pro-Audio solutions. While being based in Los Angeles, his reputation in the industry is known worldwide. A creative, optimistic and talented visionary with superb technical expertise in audio engineering/mixing/sound editorial/studio design. His amicable persona is evident in his ability to work as a team player and relate to everyone from aspiring students to high profile studio management and creatives. Ozzie joined Netflix in 2018 and is currently Lead, Audio Workflows with the Creative Technologies team.
Kim Roberts
Canadian Actress
Kim Roberts is an internationally renowned Canadian actor with over 200 film, television, theatre and voice credits, including roles in Schitt's Creek, The Handmaid’s Tale, SAW III and SAW IV, and Paw Patrol. Kim is a pioneer in her industry. Not only has she represented Canada on domestic and international screens for the past 30 years, she is one of the first to have paved the way for artists of colour right here at home. Kim was the first Black Woman to speak in a nationally televised Canadian commercial in the early '90s. She is also a co-founder of Canada’s most prominent Black theatre company, “Obsidian”, and has been a mentor to emerging actors throughout her career.
Andrew Jackson
Actor & Voice Artist
The talented actor, Andrew Jackson, loves to shock and surprise his audience with an ever expanding character range. He has worked extensively in Classical Theatre, Film, Television, Commercial Voice and Animation projects, such as: All My Children, Wind At My Back, Kyle XY, Twists of Terror and Sea Wolf. Andrew continues to feel inspired by the endless possibilities of great storytelling and prides himself in being a team player.
Andrea Trentadue
TV Personality, CHIN
It was at a young age that Andrea discovered her love of writing that would become the precursor to her chosen career in Journalism. While studying at Humber College, Andrea volunteered as Producer and Reporter for segments of City Magazine and Plugged In!, a half hour program at Rogers Television. In 2000, Andrea joined CHIN Radio and Television, working many facets of the live show from Floor Director, Production Assistant, Segment Producer and finally, as co-host of the Johnny Lombardi show.
Christopher Lane
Founder, Klic Creative Solutions
Christopher Lane is an award-winning Film and Television writer, director and producer. He is also an Author,
Film Historian, Professor, and a former Film Production Program Coordinator. He now serves as a film and media curriculum developer for Yorkville University, as well as other educational institutions. In addition to his film and education work, Christopher has regularly served as a distinguished judge at the Golden Panda International Film Festival and former Festival director and lead programmer for the TFSFF.
Frank Morrone
Emmy-Winning Sound Mixer
Frank Morrone is a two-time Emmy-winning Hollywood audio professional who has mixed sound for high profile television and movies including The Strain, LOST, Sleepy Hollow, The Kennedys, Copper, Boss, Ransom and Oscar winning When We Were Kings. He has worked with leading directors and producers including JJ Abrams, Guillermo del Toro, Gus Van Sant, Ron Howard, and Tim Burton.
Ellen Dubin
Award Winning, Multi Nominated Actress & Voice Artist
Ellen Dubin has enjoyed a highly unique and diverse career as an actor. Her penchant for landing bizarre and fascinating roles has resulted in Ellen becoming a cult figure in the science fiction world beginning with Lexx. Ellen was nominated for a Gemini Award for her series lead role in The Collector. Favourite recent roles: Bene Gesserit Ancestors (voice over) in the Oscar-winning Dune, opposite Naomi Watts in The Desperate Hour, Pixar's Oscar-nominated Turning Red, the English dub of the Oscar-nominated Le Pupille, and Blumhouse's blockbuster hit M3GAN. She was thrilled to be in the multi-award-winning mega cult classic Sundance Film Festival's Napoleon Dynamite and in the Emmy-nominated animated series as Captain Phasma in Lego Star Wars and Star Wars Resistance and the Netflix series Daniel Spellbound. As a daughter of a veteran, having worked on Midway and the short WWII film Boundless was a dream come true. She is honoured to be a member of Women in Animation, SOVAS, AISFA, Women in Film and Television and a judge for the Annie Awards in Los Angeles, The Ultimate VO Survivor and Ms Wheelchair USA.
Tom McCarthy
Oscar-Winning Sound Editor
Tom McCarthy is a sound editor. He won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing during the 65th Academy Awards, winning for Bram Stoker's Dracula. His Oscar was shared with David Stone. His current position is Executive Vice President of Post-Production Facilities at Sony Pictures Studios. In 2016, he was elected as the new President for the Motion Picture Sound Editors.
Maria Ricossa
Actress
Maria's professional life began in Chicago with The Second City. She then moved to Toronto where she joined The Stratford Festival Company. In Film & TV, Maria is known for her roles in The In-laws, playing the wife of Albert Brooks, Bojangles and The Space Between. She's had recurring roles in The Strain, Designated Survivor, Da Kink in my Hair & Missing. She is currently teaching screen acting at Humber College.
Mark Lanza
Sound Supervisor, President of MPSE
Mark Lanza has been crafting sound for top movies and television for years. His first job in the industry was working for Oliver Stone. Some of his credits include Independence Day, True Lies, Natural Born Killers, JFK (for which he won a BAFTA), Homeland, Empire, and Electric Dreams. He has over 30 Golden Reel nominations to his name. Mark is currently working at Sony Pictures where he creates sound for TV’s top network and streaming shows. He is a past Vice-President of the Motion Picture Sound Editors.
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