“It’s now your duty to sit down and try and separate the facts from the fancy.”
The Judge - 12 Angry Men

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THE JURY

This year we're delighted to be welcoming back people who have been part of our past festivals to form our jury to select both our best feature and best short film awards.

Lily Yasuda

Lily Yasuda is a Japanese American filmmaker from Boise, Idaho.

She wrote, produced and starred in the micro-budget feature film LIKE LOVE, which premiered at the Toronto Independent Film Festival in 2020, and went on to screen at festivals across the U.S. and U.K.

LIKE LOVE is now available to stream on Amazon Prime. She made her directorial debut with the narrative short NICE GUY, which is scheduled to debut on the festival circuit in 2023.

Though she wears many hats, writing is her preferred medium.

Fionn & Toby Watts

Fionn graduated with a Film and Media Degree from The University of Stirling (2009) whilst Toby studied Natural Sciences at Emmanuel College, Cambridge (2010).

Having made countless short films growing up as teenagers together, the Watts brothers went on to found film and video production company Far North Film in 2011.

Since then they have produced hundreds of promotional videos for businesses and charities as well as facilitating youth films school around the UK. Notable film credits include Co-Producing The Selkie’s Lover (2013, Dir. Michael Groom), and Producing and Directing a series of thought-provoking short films entitled Dilemmas in 2014.

In 2019 the brothers wrote, produced and directed their debut feature film Playhouse, a Supernatural Thriller/Horror which received its World Premiere in the Official Selection of FrightFest 2020. Playhouse received a theatrical release in Russia, Mexico and Columbia and VOD distribution in sixteen countries worldwide. The brothers have just wrapped on their second feature film Black Daruma, a POV horror which is set for release later this year.

Josh Overbay

In 2014, Joshua Overbay (MFA) released the award-winning feature film, “As It Is in Heaven.” After playing in theaters across the United States, The NY Times deemed it a “Critic’s Pick,” while The Hollywood Reporter described it as “ominous” and “quietly compelling.”

In 2018, he completed “Luke & Jo,” which received numerous accolades and had its international premiere at the 2019 Spirit of Independence Film Festival. Currently, he is in pre-production on his first horror feature, “The Revelation.”

Before “As It Is in Heaven,” Overbay garnered over 30 awards for his short films. His short film “Transposition” was a 2009 National Finalist for the Student Academy Awards. Joshua is also an Assistant Professor of Film and Television at Western Carolina University, where he teaches directing, screenwriting, and producing.

He is also a Producer at Justice Film Collective.

Andie Morgenlander

Andie Morgenlander (MFA Candidate, she/they) is a director, writer, and producer of short and feature-length narrative films. They co-wrote, executive produced, and acted in the independent feature Luke & Jo which has garnered various awards including "Best Narrative Film" at Full Bloom Film Festival and "Best Feature Film" at Fort Meyers Beach International Film Festival. Luke & Jo is available on DVD/Blu-ray.

Andie co-created a narrative about queer visibility in Appalachia, titled Whistle Down Wind. It has played both nationally and internationally on the festival circuit and is currently being adapted into a feature film. Lastly, Andie is a head creative producer at Justice Film Collective.

They're dedicated to centering equity and care at every stage of the filmmaking process.