Independent media and political consultant. Served as Director of Program Review for the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) responsible for reviewing the news and current affairs programming for MBN’s television networks, Radio Sawa, MBN websites and social media pages. Previously, MR. Sarkisian served as Managing Editor for MBN’s two televisions networks, he was a producer with MBC US, Inc. and an International Radio Broadcaster and Production Specialist for Voice of America.
2027 Grand Jury Photo Album
Monica Albuquerque
Vice President of Original Content The Walt Disney Company
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Monica Albuquerque
Monica Albuquerque serves as Vice President of Original Content for The Walt Disney Company. Recently, she served as the Senior Vice President of Scripted Content and Development of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, leading the content strategy and development for the company’s renowned studios. In this role, she partnered with production, marketing, sales, research, and audience analytics to deliver compelling content for both linear and streaming platforms. With over three decades of experience, Albuquerque is a recognized expert in scripted and unscripted programming, development, casting, talent management, and marketing for Spanish-language programming. She reported directly to Javier Pons, Executive Vice President of Telemundo Studios.
Prior to joining Telemundo, Albuquerque was head of scripted content at Warner Bros. Discovery Latin America (WBDLA), where she drove the development of original scripted projects for HBO Max and pay TV platforms across the region. Before joining WBDLA, Albuquerque spent 21 years at TV Globo, where she held various leadership roles, including seven years as Head of Artistic and Portfolio Development. In this capacity, she was instrumental in advancing the company’s growth.
The recipient of notable industry awards and recognitions, Albuquerque was recognized as the first Brazilian named to Variety’s “50 Most Influential Women in International Entertainment” in the 2019 Women Impact Report.
Béatrice Alquier
Promotion et Direction Artistique des Antennes Direction Promotion opérationnelle France Télévisions
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Béatrice Alquier
Aged 56, Béatrice began her career as a photographer at the Cannes Film Festival with journalist Roger Ebert/for the New York Daily News and as an editor with the Gamma, AFP and Magnum Photos agencies, also assisting photographers Josef Koudelka Bruno Barbey and Jean Gaumy.
She then moved to Italy as a communications officer in the arts, cinema and audiovisual sectors - French Embassy, Festivals France Cinéma & Eurovisioni. She worked as an advisor on film and documentary co-productions for Studio Immagine/Rome and as a voluntary fixer in France for the magazine Porta a Porta/Rai 1.
Since 2000, she has worked for France 3 on various programmes - Sports, TV5 Monde/France 3,regional programmes, Des Racines & des Ailes magazine. She then joined the artistic direction department, where she worked with France Télévisions' creative directors for International artistic direction Festivals.
She has held a press card from the Union Internationale de la Presse Francophone since 2008.
Angeli G. Atienza
Senior Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs GMA Network
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Angeli G. Atienza
Anj Atienza is a television showrunner with twenty years of experience in broadcasting and journalism. She currently serves as an Assistant Vice President for GMA Network’s Public Affairs group in the Philippines. She has led programs and television specials across a wide range of genres and formats: documentary, news magazine, live events, and scripted series. A series creator and screenwriter, Anj currently heads GMA Public Affairs’ newly minted film team.
She is a prize-winning producer of programs recognized by the New York Festivals, the World Television Awards, the US International Film and Video Festival, the Asian Television Awards, the Association for International Broadcasting in London, and URTI in Monte Carlo. Her shows have been recognized for environmental, investigative, and issues-oriented reporting.
Ruth Beni
Co-Founder/Filmmaker/Writer Animage Films
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Ruth Beni
Ruth Beni is an award-winning filmmaker and writer.
Multi-award-winning filmaker Ruth Beni has written, produced, and directed numerous original TV programmes and films for national and international broadcasters, including ITV and Channel 4.
Since 2005, Ruth’s work has focused mainly on creating short films tackling the many forms of social issues, including the many forms of violence against women. Many of the films spearheaded national and International awareness campaigns, reaching a large global audience.
Eric Black
Independent Producer Independent
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Eric Black
Eric Black was previously the Director of Production & Technical Operations for Scholastic Media where he oversaw the final stages of all current productions, as well as the modernization and distribution of Scholastic’s legacy properties. He has written, edited, directed, produced and recorded various promotions and special projects for Scholastic and has been an instrumental part of every Scholastic television and film production since 2002. Prior to his work at Scholastic, Eric held positions at the Jim Henson Company and Oxygen Media. Eric stays current on the state of children’s media through his four children, ranging in age from 8 years to 9 months.
Eduardo Blanco
Creative Manager The Walt Disney Company
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Eduardo Blanco
My name is Eduardo Blanco. Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, I have been part of Media companies for the past 25 years. I joined the Fox Spanish Creative Team in 2009 as copywriter and video producer, working with amazing brands (as National Geographic and the Fox channels) inside an amazing team as well. Later, and during 5 years, I was in charge to give audiovisual support to the launch and distribution of digital products and services across EMEA on Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution. Now, and for the last year two years, I keep dreaming in the EMEA Kid´s Hub for the Disney Channels, as Creative Manager.
Paul Michael Bloodgood
Director/Producer Ballet Austin Inc
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Paul Michael Bloodgood
Paul Michael Bloodgood is a 4x Lone Star EMMY® & CLIO Entertainment Award-winning film and commercial director, SAG-AFTRA stunt performer, virtual production director and movement specialist. Bloodgood’s 20-year career as a professional ballet dancer presented him the opportunity to perform a myriad of principal roles in theaters worldwide. Bloodgood holds a BA in Dance and the Humanities from Saint Edward’s University and is currently earning his master’s degree in Media Producing from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Bloodgood is a 2024 AV Awards finalist in the “AV Freelancer of the Year” category and is a frequent guest speaker, including numerous film festival panels, Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, Holocaust Museum Houston, university classes and InfoComm in Las Vegas.
Behind the camera, Bloodgood directed the feature documentary “Trenches of Rock,” executive produced by Academy Award®-winner James Moll (“Foo Fighters: Back and Forth”). “Trenches” had its world premiere at the Oscar-qualifying Atlanta Film Festival, garnering the attention of 18 festivals worldwide and receiving 14 accolades including multiple “Best Feature Documentary” and “Best Director” awards (available on Apple TV+ • Amazon Prime Video • YouTube • DirecTV • Tubi • Blu-ray).
Bloodgood’s CLIO Entertainment Award and Lone Star EMMY®-winning “POE: A Tale of Madness” was filmed on a virtual production soundstage with a 50-foot curved LED screen utilizing groundbreaking technology known as “The Volume” – combining real props with backgrounds built with Unreal Engine. “POE” stands at the precipice of film industry tech seen in big budget productions such as Star Wars’ “The Mandalorian” and “The Batman,” creating visually stunning and immersive yet realistic environments – perfect for the dark and sinister cinematic dream world of Edgar Allan Poe. In addition to the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards silver trophy, “POE” has also received Hermes Platinum, Marcom Platinum and Davey Gold awards. Additional virtual production projects include Lone Star EMMY®-winning “Love’s Gentle Spring” and “Romeo & Juliet.”
Bloodgood collaborated with choreographer Stephen Mills on the Lone Star EMMY®-winning haunted dance film, “PRELUDES/BEGINNINGS” which premiered on Austin PBS to critical acclaim. Bloodgood’s “FINDING LIGHT” screened its world premiere at the prestigious Miami Jewish Film Festival and is an official selection of 16 film festivals around the globe and the recipient of 14 accolades, including “Best Documentary” awards in Berlin, Rome and Madrid, “Best Historical Film” at Cannes World Film Festival, the “Audience Award” at Film Pittsburgh’s JFilm Festival and a Communitas Award for “Making A Difference in Communities.” In addition to Bloodgood’s feature films, he has over 16 televised commercial credits as director – including Lone Star EMMY®-winner, “The Nutcracker: Clara’s Paperdolls” and Viddy Award-winner, “Cinderella: A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes.”
Bloodgood trained in Tukong Moosul martial arts and fight choreography under Grandmaster Wonik Yi (“Sin City”). Stunt credits include Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Robert Rodriguez’s “Hypnotic,” 20+ episodes of “Fear the Walking Dead,” and “Leverage: Redemption.” Additional appearances include Michael Bay’s “Transformers,” Forest Whitaker’s “First Daughter,” Richard Linklater’s “Bernie” and a supporting role in the Wheatus “Teenage Dirtbag” music video for the feature film “Loser.”
A trained vocalist, Bloodgood toured Europe with the award-winning Columbia Boys Choir in his youth. He is the lead singer, songwriter, and drummer for Floating Pockets. Their song, “Adore” climbed the charts to #3 on MP3.com and their debut album is now streaming on the highly selective Pandora Radio (also available on Spotify • Amazon Music • Apple Music).
Featured in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, ADWEEK, and a 4-time Austin Critics Table Award recipient, Bloodgood’s decades of experience as a professional dancer and creature performer have opened opportunities for him to work in the industry as a movement specialist and dance coach on projects such as ABC Family’s “The Lying Game.” He performed alongside Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy as “Fairground Boy” in an Actor’s Equity live presentation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel at the historic Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas. As a dancer, his principal role credits include “Hamlet,” “Romeo & Juliet,” “Giselle,” “Swan Lake,” “La Sylphide,” “The Sleeping Beauty,” “The Firebird,” “Coppélia,” “Agon,” “Allegro Brillante,” “Light / the Holocaust & Humanity Project,” as well as originating “Beast” in Stephen Mills’ “Belle REDUX / A Tale of Beauty & the Beast” (Austin PBS).
Bloodgood credits his extensive background in film, music and dance for his unique approach to creative storytelling.
Tessa Bryson
Producer Independent
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Tessa Bryson
A graduate of the Falmouth School of Arts, Bryson has over a decade of experience in broadcasting. She has worked exclusively with international broadcaster Al Jazeera since 2007. Her career began at Al Jazeera English in London, later joining Al Jazeera's award-winning Investigative Unit in Qatar whose mission is to not report the news, but to make the news. She is currently independent and was preiously the Unit Manager for the Investigative Journalism Department.
Eduardo Calvet
Editor TV Globo
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Eduardo Calvet
For over 20 years Eduardo Calvet has been a creative trailer and promo editor at TV Globo. He has played a key creative role in sports, drama, and film campaigns, earning over 100 international awards, including New York Festivals, Clio, One Show, and Promax.
He is also a documentary filmmaker and a master’s degree researcher. His works on Brazilian Animation, Movie Palaces, and Virtual Reality have been officially selected by renowned festivals such as the Venice Film Festival, Annecy Animation Festival, Rio International Film Festival, and many others.
Arlene U. Carnay
Vice President, Public Affairs GMA Network
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Arlene U. Carnay
Arlene Carnay is currently GMA Network’s Vice President for Public Affairs. Ms. Carnay earned her Bachelor Arts Degree in Broadcast Communication at the University of the Philippines and began her professional career in 1997, embarking on a now almost 25 year career in the broadcast industry.
She has handled various roles in television production at GMA Network, including Researcher, Segment Producer, and Executive Producer for News and Public Affairs programs. She has also held the positions of Program Manager, Assistant Vice President, and Senior Assistant Vice President of GMA Public Affairs prior to being appointed to her current position.
She has been at the helm of major live and taped productions including GMA Network’s 2016 Presidential Debate, “Debate 2019: The Senatorial Face-Off”, which won the Silver Camera Award in the US International Film and Video Festivals (USIFVF), a number of investigative specials and election forums, as well as all the season finales of Survivor Philippines. She has also led the longest-running morning show in the Philippines, spanning over two decades.
Under her supervision, several Public Affairs documentary programs have also won international awards, including the environmental documentary special “Philippine Seas” which was awarded the Grand Prize in the Science, Technology, and Nature category in the Association of International Broadcasters in London and the Gold Camera Award in the USIFVF in 2018. Additionally, the Atom Araullo Specials’ “Babies for Sale”, one of the most internationally recognized documentaries in the country that won the Best Documentary Program at the Asian Academy Creative Awards and the Silver medal in the New York Festivals in 2020 was also handled by Ms. Carnay. She also
produced two election-related specials, entitled Philippine Agenda: Education, and Philippine Agenda: Health, and these productions won the Gold and Silver Camera Awards in the USIFVF respectively. Her current projects include overseeing the Philippine’s number one program “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” which is part of the of the GMA News and Public Affairs team that receive
Daniel Carriere
Science Reporter Radio-Canada
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Daniel Carriere
World traveler, amateur photographer and science enthusiast; I am a science reporter based in Montreal. I work for the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). I have also worked for science shows at the TSR (Swiss National Televison network). I have done science stories in Paris, Dubai, Geneva and Gibraltar. I have won the New York Festivals Gold World Medal for a sport documentary on the science of rowing solo across the Atlantic. I have also won best documentary at the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television for a science story on the New World Trade Center. I love my work and am honored to be a member of the Grand Jury.
Joan Cartan-Hansen
Producer Independent
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Joan Cartan-Hansen
Joan Cartan-Hansen was the creator of the digital project, Science Trek (sciencetrek.org) for Idaho Public Television. This project teaches science to elementary age students and provides support for educators and parents. She also produces and writes documentaries and occasionally works for the PBS NewsHour. Joan sits on the executive board for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and has won numerous awards including the Kavli Science Journalism Silver Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, several regional Emmys, and New York Festival awards. A champion for Press rights and public access, Joan was honored with a Silver Circle award from NATASNW for her efforts to reform open government laws.
Kevin Chan
Executive Creative Producer Mediacorp Pte Ltd
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Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan is an award-winning Executive Creative Producer at Mediacorp with over 15 years of hands-on experience creating content across entertainment, branded campaigns, and network promotions. Working across English and Chinese, he combines conceptual storytelling, directing, editing and motion graphics to craft distinctive, award-winning work across broadcast and digital platforms.
Jae Un Chin
General Director KNN
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Jae Un Chin
JaeUn Chin is a South Korean documentary director and producer and currently serves as Executive Director of the Blue Planet Futuer Festival in Busan.
For more than 30 years, he worked as a documentary filmmaker at KNN, creating films on nature, ecology, culture, and human life. He now works independently, continuing to explore the relationship between humanity and the natural world through observational and cinematic storytelling.
His latest feature documentary, The Song of Trees, follows an 88-year-old woman in Nicaragua who has devoted her life to planting and protecting a vast forest. The film received two Gold Awards and one Silver Award at the 2026 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, and its television version won the TV Documentary category at the 2026 Prix Italia. It also received major recognition in Korea, including the Korean Broadcasting Awards.
Chin’s work is known for minimal narration, natural sound, long observation, and an emphasis on silence as a universal cinematic language.
He believes documentary can create a space where audiences slow down, listen more deeply, and rediscover their connection with nature and with one another.
Lauren Chomiuk
Executive Director,Program Management FORTUNE Brand Studio
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Lauren Chomiuk
Lauren Chomiuk is Executive Director of Program Management for Fortune Brand Studio, a division of Fortune Media, where she has led program management, client services, and managing editorial since 2017 (previously under Time, Inc., and Meredith Corporation). In her role, Lauren sits at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and operations, overseeing production and client services for award-winning content programs for Fortune 500 companies . Prior to beginning her career in branded content, Lauren worked in marketing, managing editorial, and production roles at Condé Nast and Open Road Integrated Media. Lauren is a graduate of New York University, where she earned her M.S. in Publishing, following a B.A. in Professional Writing: Editing & Publishing from Michigan State University. Lauren was honored as a 2025 Significant Woman in Branded Content by the Native Advertising Institute, and is a judge for the annual Webby Awards, w3 Awards, Telly Awards, Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards, Communicator Awards, Davey Awards, and New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
Pablo Culell
VP Original Content Development & Head of Teleseries de TS Underground Producciones, una División de Telemundo Studios
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Pablo Culell
Argentine audiovisual producer, with a degree in Journalism and Social Communication (USAL). He began his career in 1992 and went on to become executive producer at Canal 13. He served as an advisor to the Artistic Direction at América TV, and as a lecturer, speaker, and co-author of the book Nacidos para contar. In 2001, he joined Sebastián Ortega in a creative partnership and worked as general and creative producer at Ideas del Sur until 2005. Since 2006, he has led content and production at Underground Productions, and today serves as VP of Original Content Development at Telemundo Studios, where he also oversees Underground productions as an executive.
Sofia de Fay
Writer/Director Independent
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Sofia de Fay
Sofia de Fay is a South African freelance writer and director who has worked worldwide on diverse projects, from documentaries to short fiction films to commercials and corporates, as well as TV series for Discovery and Nat Geo and, more recently, EXPO channel.
Born in Liverpool, UK, she has worked in North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, in war zones and developing nations.
She has covered controversial and difficult subjects like forced labor, aids, the emergence of democracy, rhino wars, and breast cancer awareness in the Mena region. She is most proud of her work raising funds for victims of war and natural disasters. She has covered earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes in different parts of the world.
Filming the plight of refugees in different conflict zones, she has worked in campaigns to bring about change in Syria, Iraq, Nepal, Africa, and China.
Her most recent work has involved the UAE space project, and she has followed the astronauts’ preparation and journey to the ISS and a satellite to Mars.
She has won many awards and has showcased her films at many Oscar-qualifying festivals. Sofia is known for her irreverent sense of humor, a passion for aesthetics and visual design, and the ability to construct strong narratives. She is relentlessly curious and brave, always looking for a unique viewpoint and story that is fresh and compelling.
Andres Arturo de Tovar de la Fuente
Video Content Specialist Ria Money Transfer
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Andres Arturo de Tovar de la Fuente
Andrés Arturo de Tovar de la Fuente is a Venezuelan filmmaker and producer based in Madrid. He has spent more than ten years shooting documentaries and brand stories in countries including Malaysia, the Philippines, Senegal and Mexico. Since 2022 he has been the Video Content Specialist at Ria Money Transfer, where he handles customer and employee films from the first pitch to the final cut.
He directed, shot and edited Good Teacher (2025), a short documentary about two teachers made with Save the Children. The film won Gold and Black Dolphins at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards and a Silver Tower at New York Festivals.
Before Ria, he worked in broadcast television as an editor and camera operator, and he taught film analysis to senior students at two universities.
Till Derenbach
CEO & Executive Producer Zeitsprung Pictures
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Till Derenbach
Till Derenbach is a German film and television executive and serves as CEO and Executive Producer at Zeitsprung Pictures and Peak Point Pictures. He is also CEO of the award-winning production company Sperl Film- und Fernsehproduktion.
With extensive experience in the film and television industry, he has been involved in the development and production of numerous acclaimed film and television projects for national and international audiences.
His work is driven by a passion for compelling storytelling, creative excellence and international collaboration, with a strong focus on producing high-quality content across a wide range of genres and formats.
Ella Dobson
Motion Designer & Creative Director Independent
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Ella Dobson
Ella Dobson is an award-winning Motion Designer & Creative Director with a love for storytelling at her core. A New Zealander, she's worked with a range of clients, from The New York Times, Barron’s, and Netflix, through to TED-Ed and Google. She has worked in various markets - New Zealand, Sydney, Los Angeles and New York City, across studios, agencies and production companies.
Concept oriented, she places importance on the details, knowing that storytelling and thoughtful creative are the key to engaging content. Her work has been recognized by D&AD, Cannes Lions, The One Club for Creativity, Motionographer, AGDA, Best Awards and Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI).
Ella holds a Bachelor of Design from Auckland University of Technology. She currently serves on the AIGA NY Board of Directors, championing the future of design for all.
Reim El Houni
CEO & Executive Producer Ti22 FIlms
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Reim El Houni
Reim's career includes working with TV stations like the BBC to being an Executive Producer and Head of Events at Dubai One. Reim launched her own production company Ti22 Films in January 2011, which has won 25 New York Festival Awards & a Cannes Corporate Media and TV Award. Reim has worked with some of the globes largest multinationals such as Amazon, Reebok, Swarovski, LG Electronics, and broadcasters such as National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Times of India and many more. Reim has served on the Jury of the New York Festival and is a speaker and moderator. Reim founded dubai ON demand in 2014, where the world of branded content and influencer marketing collide, which has evolved into a video based personal branding membership community for business owners and thought leaders. She supports organisations as a media consultant and video strategist, developing workshops and training for teams. Expo 2020 was a milestone project for Reim as she Executive Produced the daily live TV show, Studio Expo! The show aired live simultaneously on Expo TV with a global reach and Dubai One with a pan Arab reach featuring a range of guests from dignitaries to celebrities. Reims latest adventure is Executive Producing a new daily lifestyle show on Dubai One called DXB Today ensuring residents of Dubai stay up to date on everything happening in the city.
Claudia Ernst
Assistenz GF Joern Roever Doclights GmbH / NDR Naturfilm
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Claudia Ernst
Claudia is working since 2001 in non fiction and natural history departments.
Today she’s working as assistant for the CEO of Naturfilm/Doclights for the ARD primetime wildlife slot “Erlebnis Erde” and NDR’s “Expeditionen ins Tierreich” as well as for international coproductions (National Geographic Wild, ORF, Terra Mater, ARTE).
Richard Fabb
Creative Director LiveLab / Griffith Film School
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Richard Fabb
Richard Fabb is a BAFTA and Royal Television Society award-winning producer. He is Creative Director of LiveLab, the commercial production studio at Griffith Film School in Brisbane. LiveLab won Gold and Silver medals at the 2018 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
Richard has an eclectic range of credits, having worked in news, documentaries, drama, live events, interview, comedy and entertainment; for broadcasters including Channel 4, the BBC, the ABC and SBS. At LiveLab he is increasingly working in online content; Executive Producing Two Weeks, a 9-part LGBT web series, and co-helming Create Queensland, a unique collaboration with YouTube.
Jeremy JP Fekete
Filmmaker, writer & director ARTE G.E.I.E.
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Jeremy JP Fekete
JEREMY JP FEKETE is an international award winning freelance filmmaker, director & writer: including Bronze, Silver and Gold at the NEW YORK FESTIVALS. For his work he received several international nominations and awards from various TV- and Film Festivals, among others at the WORLDFEST HOUSTON / USA, HOLLYWOOD INTERN. INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY AWARDS / USA, GOLD MOVIE AWARDS / GB(UK), ADOLF GRIMME AWARD / DE, GERMAN CAMERA AWARD / DE, ROSE D’OR / CH, REYKJAVIK INTERN. FILM FESTIVAL / IS and at the INTERN. FILMMAKER FESTIVALS OF WORLD CINEMA in MILAN, NICE and LONDON.
He startet his career as a visual artist with exhibitions at ART BASEL, KUNSTMUSEUM LUZERN, KUNSTHAUS AARGAU and KUNSTMUSEUM BASEL in Switzerland. 1993 he changed into the TV- and Film Business. Since then he is working as a filmmaker for documentary series, Biopics and documentary films for international broadcasters, like the german-french culture channel ARTE or for german channels like ARD and ZDF. His filmic handwriting is strongly influenced by his artistic education.
Walter Fernandez
Editor-in-Chief CNA & Chief Sustainability Officer Mediacorp
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Walter Fernandez
Walter has been a journalist and editor for 30 years, during which he has held senior leadership roles in television, radio, print and digital newsrooms. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of CNA (Channel NewsAsia), a position he has held since 2013. Since then, CNA has won more than 550 international awards for outstanding content. In 2020, Walter led CNA to the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) Channel of the Year award. In 2022, CNA was named Global Winner of the Best News Website by the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). CNA has also been ranked the most trusted news source in Singapore by the Reuters Institute for Journalism at Oxford University for six consecutive years.In 2024, as part of CNA’s Silver Jubilee, Walter led the launch of a new CNA documentary-centric channel in North America and Europe; and has expanded CNA’s presence across China.
Valeria Fiñana
Founder DayDream Entertainment
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Valeria Fiñana
Currently, I am channeling my extensive experience into founding and leading DayDreamEntertainment. This new venture focuses on developing innovative content for modern media platforms. My goal is to bring fresh perspectives and opportunities to streaming platforms, including movies, series, and VOD channels, to meet the evolving needs of today’s media landscape
From 2021 to 2023, Valeria Fiñana served as Vice President of Production & Development for Telemundo Streaming Studios at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. In this role, Fiñana led the creation and development of entertainment content in short and long format series, films and documentaries across markets including the U.S., Europe and LATAM. As a producer and creative leader, Fiñana was responsible for managing partnerships with third-party production services, as well as producers, showrunners and talent. In addition, she has overseen the budget, strategy, content decisions and internal communications for projects in the Telemundo Streaming Studios division. She reported directly to Juan Ponce, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Telemundo Streaming Studios.
With nearly two decades of professional experience and thousands of hours of primetime experience in the U.S. Hispanic market, Fiñana has worked on award-winning global hit series such as “El Señor de los Cielos” (The Lord of the Skies), “Buscando a Frida” (Looking for Frida), “100 Dias para Enamorarnos” (100 Days to Fall in Love), “Armas de Mujer” (‘Til Jail Do Us Part), “El Secreto de la Familia Greco” (The Secret of the Greco Family), “Diario de un Gigolo” (Diary of a Gigolo), and “La Reina del Sur” (The Queen of the South). Fiñana worked as the Executive Producer for the music documentary for the third season of La Reina Del Sur: “La Reina Del Sur 3: Un Viaje Inolvidable, Banda Sonora” (La Reina del Sur 3 – An Unforgettable Voyage, Soundtrack Production) which was honored at the 2023 Telly Awards.
From 2019 to 2021, Fiñana held a role as Vice President of Production Design for Telemundo Global Studios, leading all aspects of conceptualization, design and production across areas such as set design, makeup, wardrobe and scenery for all studio productions. Prior to joining NBC Universal/Telemundo Studios in 2009 as a production designer, Fiñana worked as a Freelancer Producer and Production Designer for numerous production companies.
Fiñana received her degree from La Universidad Nacional de las Artes in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Jim Fitzpatrick
Director, Writer, Producer Fitzpatrick Productions
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Jim Fitzpatrick
A Toronto-based director, writer, and producer. Jim is a multi-award winner with over twenty years of experience developing content globally and bringing stories to life in the broadcast and digital space. A passionate and recognized leader, Jim excels at managing diverse creative teams and nurturing emerging talent. He leads all aspects of production from strategy development through concept to final production and post-production. Jim directs content strategies across multiple platforms, focused on brand marketing while consistently driving viewership, engagement, and revenue growth.
Robert E. Frye
Managing Director Whistling Communications
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Robert E. Frye
With four decades of experience in documentaries and network news programs, Mr. Frye has been an independent documentary producer and director since 1988. Since that time he has completed more than 20 documentaries. Previously, during his 14-year career at ABC News, he was the founding executive producer of "ABC World News Tonight" with Peter Jennings, the executive producer of “Good Morning America” and the creator of “World News This Morning.”
Frye was producer of the ABC Evening News while at ABC News in Washington D.C. with Barbara Walters and Harry Reasoner from 1976 to 1978 prior to his being assigned to the London bureau. As Washington Bureau Chief, he helped establish a news syndication service Television News Inc (TVN) which was a forerunner of CNN. The bureau was responsible for breaking stories related to Watergate, the resignation of Vice President Spiro, and the resignation of Richard Nixon.
He began his network career as a page at NBC and moved on to NBC News as the researcher to Frank McGee and the NBC Instant Specials unit, covering such stories as the assassination of JFK and the overthrow of Nikita Khrushchev.
Frye’s documentary “In My Lifetime: A presentation of The Nuclear World Project,” was an official selection of the Global Peace Film Festival, telling the story of the sixty five year struggle to find solutions on how to dispose of and reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world. “In My Lifetime” earned a Silver World Medal in the 2013 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
His other documentaries deal with complex international subjects and include “Freedom without Walls” (2009) commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall; “The Berlin Trilogy” (2006) exploring 20th century Germany in “Kristallnacht: The Journey from 1938 to 1988”; “Journey of a City”; and “The Berlin Airlift.” Frye also produced and directed “The Journey of Butterfly,” a story of the Nazi ghetto at Terezin in Czechoslovakia, and “Russia: Facing the Future” (2001).
Throughout his career, Mr. Frye’s body of work has received numerous industry accolades - the Emmy Award, two duPont-Columbia University Silver Batons, the Peabody Award, the George Polk Award, the Christopher Award, a Rockie Award from the Banff Film Festival, a Golden Hugo from The Chicago International Film Festival, a Headliner, the IRE (Investigative Reporters) and a CINE Golden Eagles, as well as Gold and Silver Plaques from the Chicago International Film Festival’s INTERCOM.
Reshma Ghosh
Filmmaker & Founder Blue Petal Films
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Reshma Ghosh
Reshma Ghosh is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Blue Petal Films (www.bluepetalfilms.com), a boutique production house based in India. Writer, director and producer her career spans over two decades of creating content for broadcasters like BBC, CNN, Star Plus, Sony Television, AXN, National Geographic and Channel NewsAsia. She has an extensive repertoire of work that includes travel, lifestyle, fashion, branded content and all genres of documentaries.
Films produced by her company, Blue Petal Films, have won accolades in prestigious film festivals around the world including New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, World Media Festival, ContentAsia Awards and Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) Awards.
With her passion for humane storytelling, she loves to explore stories from around the world. Her recent works include deep dives into the terrifying world of AI cyber-scams, the epidemic of unnecessary C-sections in India and the illegal trade of sea-cucumbers which is stripping the oceans of its most prized possession.
She loves watching and judging documentaries and was on the jury panel of the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, The Jackson Wild Media Awards, the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, Realscreen Awards, Asian Academy of Creative Awards and Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) Awards in 2025.
Zhenmei Gong
Deputy Director, CGTN Planning Department CGTN
ABOUT
Zhenmei Gong
Zhenmei has nearly 20 years of experience in international journalism and global communication. She previously served as Executive Producer for general news programs and then a chief editor of CGTN English Channel. She is currently the Deputy Director of CGTN Planning Department, which oversees and coordinates CGTN’s global production.
Her portfolio of productions has earned accolades including the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, Telly Awards, W3 Awards and MUSE Creative Awards. She also coordinates CGTN’s awards submission program. Over the past three years, CGTN has secured more than 500 major international honors such as ABU Prizes, Telly Awards, the Olympic Golden Rings Awards, New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, Cairo International Film Festival awards, etc.
Michael Gray
Series/Executive Producer BBC
ABOUT
Michael Gray
Television and Digital Series / Executive Producer and Commissioner, creating Music, Entertainment, Comedy and Factual content, from 'Glastonbury' to '50 Years Of Hip Hop' to 'Children In Need', with over 20 years of experience in the media industry. Loving the programming I make and the productions I manage, I am a versatile and creative producer and commissioner, creating engaging and diverse output across TV, on-demand and digital platforms for different audiences. I have a passion for music, culture and charity production, equally at home self-shooting and editing, or managing crews of 50+, enjoying working with talented artists, performers, and presenters to produce high-quality and impactful shows that showcase stories and the variety of all walks of life.
Mathew Greenfeld
Director of Photography, Editor Visuals By Mathew Greenfeld LLC
ABOUT
Mathew Greenfeld
Mathew Greenfeld is an award-winning cinematographer, editor, and colorist whose visual storytelling expertise has earned multiple prestigious industry accolades, including several Telly Awards and a recent short-form documentary award at Hatch for his work with Travelers Insurance.
With over a decade of experience in professional video production, he brings masterful technical precision and creative vision to every project. His comprehensive skill set encompasses advanced cinematography, professional color grading, and FAA-certified drone operations, allowing him to deliver sophisticated visual solutions across multiple platforms and channels.
As a versatile Director of Photography, Mathew specializes in translating complex client objectives into compelling visual narratives while maintaining stringent technical standards and project parameters. His collaborative approach, combined with deep technical expertise, has established him as a trusted creative partner for agencies and brands seeking premium video content.
Mathew maintains a commitment to technical innovation and creative excellence, consistently advancing his craft through emerging technologies and contemporary storytelling techniques for clients including LEGO, Soapbox, McDonalds, The State of CT and Travelers Insurance.
Marie-Claude Guay
Head of Innovation Centre, Industry Expertise and Market intelligence Business Consulting, CGI Mtl
ABOUT
Marie-Claude Guay
Recognized as an agent of change, Marie-Claude has 20 years experience in story production across different mediums and audiences, from journalistic reporting to corporate communications. Prior to co-founding 2 organisations, she was an award-winning journalist who spent 14-years producing and telling stories from over 30 countries as a Radio-Canada reporter and through Cpasifou, her independent multimedia project documenting her family’s year-long around-the-world journey. Driven by innovation, she believes that the spread of technology offers transformative opportunities to positively inform our society.
Melanie Haft
Managing Director & Head of Production nautilusfilm GmbH
ABOUT
Melanie Haft
Studied Media & Communications in Augsburg, Germany
Owner of NautilusLizenzen GbR. Head of filmmaker´s trainee program @nautilusfilm GmbH since 2019
Awards: nautilusfilm productions have so far received 41x „Best of festival“ Awards, 3 Panda Awards (Wildscreen),
2 Awards at Jackson Wild, and over 250 Awards worldwide
nautilusfilms full productions are here
Alex Hahn
Electronic Media Artist Ludlow Arts
ABOUT
Alex Hahn
Alexander Hahn is an artist working with video, photography, computer imaging, and AI-assisted processes. His practice examines memory, perception, and the way images migrate between mediums—especially the translation of light into signal, and signal back into material form. Since his early moving-image works, he has pursued a “cinema of attention,” often built from simple observations, duration, and subtle transformations. Recent projects extend this approach through generative tools, where latent-space imagery becomes a contemporary analogue to dream and recollection: images are not merely produced, but reconstructed—with their gaps, errors, and confabulations left visible. Hahn’s work spans single-channel pieces, installations, and hybrid print/video objects, frequently linking the everyday to larger cultural and literary references.
Asef Hamidi
Managing Director Al Jazeera Arabic Channel
ABOUT
Asef Hamidi
Asef Hamidi is the Managing Director of Al Jazeera Arabic, a position he took up in September 2025. His appointment came after twenty years with the channel and a broadcasting career in which he has worked across the full range of newsroom roles, from reporting in the field to leading editorial teams.
Alongside his editorial career, Hamidi has made a sustained contribution to journalism education. He is the author of several books on the craft of broadcast journalism. He has also passed on his experience to fellow journalists as a trainer at the Al Jazeera Media Institute.
Throughout his career, Hamidi has taken part in numerous international media events, forums and conferences, keeping pace with the changes reshaping the profession, particularly in artificial intelligence, digital media, modern media practice and he is a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
Jacob Hickey
Head of Factual/Producer Blackfella Films
ABOUT
Jacob Hickey
Jacob Hickey started his career in BBC Current Affairs and Documentary and after ten years moved to Australia. In 2009 Jacob wrote and directed the feature documentary Inside the Firestorm (Winner 2010 AFI Award for Best Direction in a Documentary) He worked as writer and series producer on Immigration Nation, Once Upon a Time in Cabramatta and Dirty Business – How Mining Made Australia.
In 2013 Jacob joined Blackfella Films in Melbourne as Head of Factual. He was the writer and series producer of both seasons of the acclaimed First Contact (2015 TV Week Logie Award-Most Outstanding Factual Program). Other projects as writer and series producer include three seasons of Filthy Rich and Homeless, How ‘Mad’ Are You? and Addicted Australia. Jacob was co-writer of feature length documentaries The Dark Emu Story, (Walkley Award for Excellence in Journalism) Deep Water: The Real Story and Step Into Paradise.
Jacob was a writer on the historical series The Australian Wars for SBS, 2023 (TV Week Logie - Most Outstanding Factual or Documentary Program, winner AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program) He was executive producer and co-director on Never Let Him Go, a true crime series for ABC News Studios/Hulu/Disney+
Jacob’s most recent work includes the 4-part history series The Idea of Australia. He is currently in production for two true crime series, for an Australian network and international streamer.
Cheng Hsin-mei
Showrunner Taiwan PlusWalter Ingrassia
Head, Marketing & Promotion Unit, Rai Fiction Rai Radiotelevisione italiana
ABOUT
Walter Ingrassia
Walter is a senior executive with over 20 years of experience in the global audiovisual industry and currently heads the Marketing and Promotion unit at Rai Fiction. He is recognised for his strategic leadership in editorial development, content production and the promotion of scripted programming across broadcast and digital platforms. Holding a PhD in Text Sciences and teaching at university level, he combines an industrial perspective with academic expertise.
He is also a member of the EBU Fiction Experts Group and has consolidated experience in European and international markets. In addition, he serves as a juror in several international festivals, contributing to the evaluation and advancement of high-quality audiovisual works.
Andrei Jiro
Art Director/Design Manager Globo Group
ABOUT
Andrei Jiro
Andrei Jiro is a design manager whose primary goal is to create expectation for the audience. His specialty is designing solutions for news, sports and entertainment at Globo Group, largest commercial TV network in Latin America and one of the largest media companies in the world. With over 30 years of experience in this segment, Andrei has experience in team building, strategic management and implementation, leadership, create and enhance the content value. Andrei has worked on successful projects that have enhanced television content through scenic and graphic innovation. Among several awards won, the NYF Awards stand out: “JH / JG” and “Jornal Nacional” projects.
When Andrei was still in college, he was interested in two things: design and economics. When he learned about the potential of design in order to change our lives creating all kinds of expectation, he knew this is where his professional future would take him, and television would be a field full of opportunities.
He holds an MBA from IBMEC Institute(Sao Paulo-Brazil ) and degree in Industrial Design at FAAP Institution (Sao Paulo-Brazil). He currently lives in Sao Paulo with his wife and two kids.
Natalie Jowett
Managing Director JusticeAid
ABOUT
Natalie Jowett
Natalie Jowett is a writer, producer, director and visual artist who started her media career in the New York bureau of The Baltimore Sun newspaper while attending Columbia University. An opening at a sports television network guided her unexpectedly away from print and toward a film and television career that has taken her around the world, telling stories on topics that include racism, secular religious conflict, gender inequity and civil rights. During 12 years as a Senior Features Producer at ABC Sports Natalie wrote and directed an Emmy-winningdocumentary on the tragedy of the 1972 Munich Olympics. Work on Oprah's Legends Ball marked a departure from sports, and Marvel's Hero Project was an opportunity to tell the stories of amazing kids who are doing heroic work solving real world problems. Natalie serves as Managing Director for JusticeAid, a non-profit that promotes justice through the arts. Natalie lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters.
David Kao
Producer ZeroDay Cultural & Creative Company Limited
ABOUT
David Kao
An award-winning Taiwanese producer who helped launch TaiwanPlus, the nation’s first public English-language media platform, in 2020. He led the program planning team for years, producing original documentaries and expanding international co-productions. Starting July 2025, he served as international strategy & marketing consultant for Zeroday Cultural & Creative and Ina Taiwan Film Production.
HIs experience includes International Strategy Consultant, Ina Taiwan Film Production & Zero Day; Attack (a Taiwanese TV Series) (July 2025 - present); Adjunct Instructor, Department of Adult and Continuing Education, National Taiwan Normal University (Fall Semester, 2025); Producer & Head of Program Planning Team, TaiwanPlus (2020 - 2025); Planner, International Department, Taiwan’s Public Television Service (2016 -2020)
His work has been recognized by the Asian Academy Creative Awards, New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, ContentAsia Awards, and The Webby Awards. Among them are: That’s so Asian: Martial Law Best Entertainment Program: Educational/Instructional (Silver Award),2026 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards; Deep Current: Architecture of Taiwan Best Factual Programme Made in Asia for Multiple Asian and/or International Markets ContentAsia Awards 2025; Broken News Best News/Current Affairs Program, 2024 Asian Academy Creative Awards; Our Ocean: the Fight for Sustainability Best Documentary: Climate Change & Sustainability (Silver Award), 2024 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards; The Pursuit of a Cinematic Dream: Tsai Ming-Liang Best Documentary: BIOGRAPHY/PROFILES (Bronze Award), 2024 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards.
Sayuri Kato
Journalist/TV Reporter Kansai Television
ABOUT
Sayuri Kato
Sayuri Kato entered Kansai Television in 2006 and has 20 years of journalistic experience. She was currently a commentator for the evening news.
After experience covering the Osaka administration, the Osaka Prefectural Police, and medical care matters, she was assigned as the FNN (Fuji News Network) foreign correspondent in Berlin, Germany for 3 years from 2013 to 2016. During her tenure she covered IS terrorism attacks in Paris, the euro crisis in Greece, refugee problems, and COP meetings.
After returning to Japan, she was posted as Kobe Bureau Chief after which she oversaw News program production. She then took maternity leave and has two children.
She has covered issues such as baby abandonment. The main themes she covers are: support for pregnant women in need of help, such as those needing to use “baby boxes” or pregnancy SOS and poverty and isolation in women (including young people).
Recently, she has been doing interviews about assisted reproductive technology.
Sven-Erik Knoff
Director/Cinematographer/Photographer FotoKnoff AS
ABOUT
Sven-Erik Knoff
Sven-Erik Knoff is an award-winning director, cinematographer, and photographer based in Trondheim, Norway. He is the founder of FotoKnoff AS and DREYMA®, where he develops visually driven stories for brands, destinations, and broadcasters.
With more than a decade of professional experience in film and photography — following over 25 years in the culinary, wine, and travel industries — Sven-Erik works across documentary, branded content, tourism, and culinary storytelling. He has contributed to international productions for broadcasters such as NRK, BBC and Apple TV+, and most recently worked as a drone operator and set photographer for a British feature film directed by a renowned filmmaker.
Sven-Erik is a licensed drone cinematographer and a member of the Grand Jury for the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards. He has received multiple international recognitions for his visual storytelling, including the Black Dolphin Award at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards in 2017. His earlier experience as a trained chef with sixteen years in first-class kitchens gives him a distinctive visual and sensory understanding of food and wine on screen.
Through FotoKnoff AS and DREYMA®, Sven-Erik combines strategic brand thinking with cinematic craftsmanship and Scandinavian aesthetics — helping clients build strong, authentic narratives across film, photography, and digital platforms.
Douglas Lan
Commissioning Editor
ABOUT
Douglas Lan
Douglas Lan is a Commissioning Editor, and an award-winning Supervising Producer and Director with over 10 years of experience in the media industry. He has had the privilege of creating and overseeing many successful and well-received programmes for audience at the highest level. Throughout his career, Douglas has directed, produced, written, and developed over 40 hours of original Unscripted and Scripted content that have travelled globally. Collaborating with notable international and regional broadcasters and streaming platforms including National Geographic, Discovery, HBO, Tencent, BBC, NBCUniversal, CCTV, and Channel NewsAsia, among others. Some of my works have garnered millions of views and have been honoured with international awards.
Matthew Lazzarini
Senior Producer Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
ABOUT
Matthew Lazzarini
Matthew Lazzarini is an award-winning Creative Senior Producer, Director, and Writer with more than 15 years of experience creating film, television, and digital media campaigns for one of Canada’s leading public broadcasters. His work spans Olympic Games, national sports, documentaries, news, and entertainment, with a focus on cinematic storytelling that connects audiences to Canadian culture.
A recipient of multiple international marketing and creative awards, Matthew has led cross-functional productions from concept to delivery, collaborating with filmmakers, agencies, broadcasters, and creative talent across Canada and abroad. He brings a deep understanding of audience engagement, brand strategy, and the evolving media landscape.
Passionate about championing great stories, Matthew is committed to a creative first approach by supporting outside the box thinking, emerging talent, and innovation across film, television, and digital media.
June-ho Lee
Investigative Reporter & Documentary Director MBC East-Gangwon
ABOUT
June-ho Lee
June-ho Lee is an investigative reporter and documentary director at MBC East-Gangwon, part of South Korea's MBC network. He covers the country's northeastern coast, from fishing harbors to the waters off the inter-Korean border.
Few broadcast journalists in the country dive to report; he does. His underwater investigation into shellfish die-offs off Naksan Beach aired nationally on MBC News Desk. On land, his exclusive series on county land development rested on records requests, legal review and on-the-ground verification.
His documentary Saury Seaweed: Whisper of the Sea tracks a cold-water seaweed forgotten for decades across 15 months and 200 kilometers of coast, to its last colony near the DMZ. It won a Silver Tower at the 2026 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards. At home, it became the only program in 2026 to take both the Program Award at the 53rd Korea Broadcasting Awards and the 17th Korea Broadcast Journalist Award in Regional In-Depth Reporting. It was also an Official Selection at SCINEMA 2026, the largest science film festival in the Southern Hemisphere, and at the 9th Korea International Ocean Film Festival.
He works by one motto: news that stays true to the basics and principles.
Dr. Patrick Lehn
Senior Manager Group External Communications dormakaba International Holding AG
ABOUT
Dr. Patrick Lehn
Patrick Lehn has been working in corporate communications for over 20 years. One key aspect of his work is storytelling. He was the project manager of a film series and PR campaign that won over 40 awards at international competitions. He joined the dormakaba Group in April 2022 as Senior Manager, Group External Communications.
Ivan Llopis
Sound Art Director Banjo Soundscapes
ABOUT
Ivan Llopis
Iván Llopis is a composer, pianist, producer and sound art director. He co-founded Banjo Soundscapes in Barcelona in 2007.
At Banjo, Iván leads creative and artistic direction. He works as a strategist and composer, designing sonic identities, original music and sound design for brands, installations and site-specific projects. Alongside brands’ strategy departments, he helps design and uncover the way each brand presents itself through sound. His work follows The Branded Soundscape, the studio’s own methodology, built on one principle: a brand’s sound should grow from the brand itself, not be applied on top of it. His clients include leading national and international brands.
Self-taught, he followed his own path outside academic convention, learning by listening closely to the environments around him and by studying the scores and music from Bach to Ligeti, alongside the records of Radiohead and Aphex Twin. His work has been recognised at Cannes, New York Festivals, the Music+Sound Awards and the ISA Awards. He has served on festival juries and spoken at OFFF. He also lectures on specialised postgraduate programmes.
I-LI Lo
Host & Producer Hakka TV
ABOUT
I-LI Lo
I-Li Lo has been working in the production of TV programs of various kinds for more than 15 years. She has won several awards for her contributions to these programs; the major ones are described as follows:
"Under the sun-Hakka showcase" the best Education and Culture Program award in Golden Bell Award, Taiwan, 2008.
"Flavor of My Hometown"the best Lifestyle Program award in Golden Bell Award, Taiwan, 2012.
"The TV Music Feature" the finalist for Performing Arts in New York Festival’s TV & Film Awards, US, 2018.
Brian Lockhart
Senior Vice President, Original Content ESPN
ABOUT
Brian Lockhart
Brian Lockhart serves as senior vice president of Original Content, responsible for overseeing strategy and development of all original programming initiatives under the ESPN Films umbrella and the award-winning E60 series, as well as original series and studio shows on ESPN+, ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service.
Lockhart also oversees Business Affairs, a function which handles deal-making, co-production, Content business negotiation and talent relations. In addition, he oversees ESPN’s award-winning Features group. He previously served as vice president and executive producer of Original Content for ESPN+.
Prior to his role at ESPN, Lockhart was vice president and executive producer of Original Content for NFL Media. He was responsible for overseeing the development and production of a wide array of content on multiple platforms, from long-form documentary series to digital media ventures and features. His responsibilities also extended beyond storytelling to include production, business development, and strategic leadership across several divisions. Lockhart developed, produced, and launched the NFL Network Originals series Undrafted and Football Town, and the digital series NFL Life. He was also the driving creative force behind the development of the original NFL Network documentary series The Timeline, highlighted by the critically acclaimed installment “America’s Game” and “The Iran Hostage Crisis.”
He began his NFL tenure in 2007 as coordinating producer for the network’s Features group. There he helped construct and develop the short form unit that would grow to service multiple news, information/studio shows, and social platforms, and he steered the division’s embrace of digital storytelling outlets. Among the highlights of his tenure were digital/broadcast hybrid projects that earned him three of his eight career Emmy Awards: the groundbreaking multiplatform experience JFK: The Untold Story of That Day in Dallas and the digital series The NFL Season: A Biography. His impact on the NFL Media Group extended beyond the successful content itself. As one of the highest-ranking executives of color, he served as a member of the National Football League Diversity Council, and his work as co-chair of the Black Engagement Network earned him the 2018 Commissioner’s Award for Teamwork.
Prior to his NFL tenure, Lockhart spent six years as a features and replay producer for HBO Sports from 2001 to 2007. There he produced and developed nonfiction, news, and live event programs including Inside the NFL, World Championship Boxing and Costas Now.
Pedro Lopes
General Director of Content at SPTV Group & Chief Creative & Strategy Officer at SPi SP Televisão
ABOUT
Pedro Lopes
Pedro Lopes is a Portuguese writer, creator, executive producer, and Chief Creative & Strategy Officer at SPi. He is the creator of Glória (2021), the first Portuguese Netflix Original, and an International Emmy Award winner for Laços de Sangue (2011). His work spans television drama, streaming and international co-productions, including Cold Haven (2026), a Portugal–Iceland production for which he was executive producer. He is a member of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, a professor at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, and former President of APAD, the Portuguese Association of Screenwriters and Playwrights. Pedro focuses on character-driven storytelling, original IP and stories rooted in local identity with international potential.
Molby Low Kian Chye
CEO/Founder WaWa Pictures Pte Ltd
ABOUT
Molby Low Kian Chye
A TV veteran of more than twenty years. Molby Low started his career with Singapore’s local TV stations and established his own independent production company WaWa Pictures Pte Ltd in 2007.
Under Molby’s steady leadership & unwavering passion for the local entertainment industry, WaWa Pictures have since grown to become a leading content provider in Singapore. Many of WaWa’s content is distributed in Asia.
Molby is in a constant process of grooming and mentoring new creative talents. He continually pushes to produce content that will not only intrigue the local & regional audiences but also resonate with the global viewers
Lok Lui
Producer RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONGMichael Maack
Marketing Producer ZDF - Zweites Deutsches FernsehenMatthias Martens
Founder/Managing Director & Executive Producer M-art-ens Media GmbH
ABOUT
Matthias Martens
Founder, Managing Director and Executive Producer of Timecode Production GERMANY Matthias Martens has gathered more than 18 years of experiences in the TV-Business. He worked for ProSiebenSat1 (one of the biggest private media companies in Germany) as “Teamleader and Coordinator German Fiction” as well as an Executive Producer for the ARD (largest German Public TV Group in Germany) - and for ARTE and ZDF.
He produced a large spectrum of films and docudramas, for example “A Blind Hero – The Love Of Otto Weidt”, „The Good Göring“ or „Mata Hari – Dancing With The Death“ . His Films won several international awards including the World Gold and Silver Medal at the New York Festivals. Further more he produced documentaries of all genres, shows and other media formats, for example more than 300 episodes of “Menschen bei Maischberger”, which is one of the highest ranking and longest running talkshows for the ARD.
Maribel Martinez
Founder & Creative Director Diecinueve36
ABOUT
Maribel Martinez
Maribel Martinez is creative director in México City. Over the last few years, her work has been acknowledged by many international festivals and awards such as: New York Festivals, Promax World Gold, Promax Latino, Broadcast Design Asociation, Animacor in Spain, Circulo Creativo and Caracol de Plata Mexico. Her work as creative director includes animated series as: Imaginantes* for Televisa. Maribel founded 19+36”, an independent studio focused on title sequence design for films.
Jodain Massad
Director, Development & Innovation, NFL Films National Football League
ABOUT
Jodain Massad
Jodain Massad is Director, Development & Innovation, NFL Films for the National Football League. A seasoned executive producer, he brings 15+ years of experience as a brand champion, innovation agent, and story maker to the 2023 NYF Advisory Board.
Prior to his current role with the NFL, Jodain served as Executive Producer, Innovation | Design for the University of Notre Dame. During his tenure he reset the vision and rebuilt culture for Norte Dame production, debuted the one hour awards show format on NBC Sports, rebranded the series “Onward Notre Dame” on NBC Sports, produced recruiting content to national acclaim, founded the subscription virtual experience Rally House, led the recruiting presentation strategy on Brand and NIL, and initiated the FightingIrishTV.com int’l subscription.
He began his production career in 2007 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Throughout his years with the organization, Jodain was promoted into a variety of leadership production roles including Director of Production. While in his role as Director of Production he produced an ESPN 30for30 short with Grant Curtis. During his8-year tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs, Jodain led the team in documentary, telecast design, and ad campaign production and served as a content contributor for online, broadcast and event entertainment.
An award-winning content creator, industry innovator, and sought after speaker, Jodain has earned numerous high-profile industry accolades including 27 Emmy® Awards, 6 New York Festivals International Film & TV Awards, and 5 Sports Video Group College Sports Media Awards.
Bill McCullough
Director & Executive Producer Independent
ABOUT
Bill McCullough
Bill McCullough is a visionary senior executive, Emmy-winning director, and content strategist with over 30 years of experience in content creation, including more than a decade in the digital space. As Chief Content Officer and EVP of Content, he has successfully built digital ecosystems that drive revenue and foster audience engagement. His expertise spans documentary storytelling, original content development, intellectual property creation, and brand marketing, with a consistent focus on innovation and growth.
Bill's career highlights showcase his ability to deliver impactful results across platforms. At the XFL, he generated over 1 billion impressions, and his direction of HBO Sports' Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel cemented his status as a leader in the industry. He developed and produced Faze Clan's 15-day livestream event, yielding over 750 million impressions, and GoPro’s Hala Madrid series for Facebook Watch, which attracted more than 30 million views. His NFL collaboration with Dude Perfect for the Super Bowl Trick Shot campaign earned 27 million views in a single week, and his award-winning 2018 NFL Draft campaign set record viewership milestones. Recently, he launched a YouTube channel with former NFL coach Jon Gruden, amassing over 100,000 subscribers and 50 million impressions in just two weeks. His digital successes demonstrate his ability to architect cohesive content strategies that connect platforms, engage audiences, and maximize revenue potential.
With 11 Emmy Awards—nine in the documentary space—Bill's creative acumen extends to directing, creative direction, composing, and editing. His leadership, combined with a passion for storytelling, continues to produce high-quality, engaging content that captivates audiences and elevates brands worldwide.
Kelly McKeown
Executive Producer, VP Content Independent
ABOUT
Kelly McKeown
Kelly McKeown is a show creator, director and executive producer, who specializes in ambitious, factual entertainment for global audiences. She is a proven leader in co-productions with more than 20 years experience.
As Director of Exploration Productions, Kelly led the editorial vision for Discovery Canada and Bell Media Studios’ in-house production company. By the end of 2020, EPI delivered 5,440 hours in the form of series, specials, and a daily science magazine show to more than 160 countries.
Kelly created and Executive Produced the award winning series Disasters at Sea. She also is the Executive Producer of the Mighty Franchise; Mighty Ships, Mighty Cruise Ships, Mighty Trains and Mighty Planes.
One of her biggest passions is documenting firsts in human endeavour through quick turnaround, high end prime time specials. She has Executive Produced numerous award-winning specials, including Saturn Inside the Rings, Pluto First Encounter, Jupiter Close Encounter, Landing on a Comet, Hunt for a Super Comet, Mars Landing, One Giant Leap, and Fire in the Sky.
She won a Canadian Screen Award and New York Festival for Best Science and Tech Series for her work on the world’s only daily science show DAILY PLANET. She has also created and led original series MegaWorld, Invent This! Taken Abroad, Year In Sci Tech and Shark World.
Adam Miller
Vice President, On-Air Talent Strategy & Development TEGNA
ABOUT
Adam Miller
Adam Miller is a television executive and content strategist with nearly two decades of experience developing talent, shaping programming, and producing compelling stories for national and local audiences.
As Vice President of On-Air Talent Strategy & Development at TEGNA, Miller leads talent strategy across 64 television stations nationwide. He works closely with local station leaders to identify and develop on-air talent, strengthen audience connections, and support compelling storytelling across platforms.
Miller began his career at NBC News’ TODAY, spending a decade developing and producing stories, segments, and special broadcasts, most recently as Senior Producer of the show’s fourth hour with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. He later served as Director of Content at Cleveland’s WKYC-TV, overseeing editorial vision, programming strategy, and newsroom talent development.
At NBC News, Miller produced talent and coverage for major events, including the Olympic Games and the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. He took the program around the world with Kathie Lee and Hoda, producing special broadcasts that showcased the hosts’ signature chemistry and connection with audiences.
A previous judge for the Emmy Awards and Edward R. Murrow Awards, Miller brings extensive production and storytelling experience to the 2027 TV & Film Grand Jury.
Elodie Moncelet
Creative Producer IndependentKam Man Ng
Head of Video Editing RTHK
ABOUT
Kam Man Ng
Ng Kam Man is Head of the Video Editing Section at Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). With over 28 years of experience in television production and broadcasting, he has led numerous innovative projects and contributed significantly to the advancement of editorial and post-production practices.
Ng has a strong passion for video editing and a keen interest in artificial intelligence. His work explores how AI tools can enhance content creation, streamline production workflows, and support creative storytelling in broadcasting. He closely follows emerging technologies and industry trends, with a particular focus on personalisation, audience engagement, and the future of media production.
Tracey O'Halloran
Creative Executive Producer Independent
ABOUT
Tracey O'Halloran
Tracey O’Halloran is a London based, multi-award winning Creative Executive Producer, filmmaker and scriptwriter who has worked across television, commercials, brand and corporate films.
Winner of over 50 international film awards, Tracey has produced, written and directed content across genres including drama, documentary, animation, interactive cinematic adventures and comedy. In 2018 she won the Grand Award and Best Direction at the New York Festivals Film and TV awards, and in 2018 she was the first British filmmaker to win the Cannes Grand Prix at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards.
Nick Olle
Senior Supervising Producer, 101 East Al Jazeera
ABOUT
Nick Olle
Nick Olle has been a professional journalist for 20 years. He has worked across print, radio, television and online media for outlets in Australia, South America, North America, Europe and Asia.
He is presently the Senior Supervising Producer at Al Jazeera International’s flagship Asia Documentary Programme 101 East. Before taking that role, he worked for Australia’s international current affairs programme, SBS Dateline and Network Ten’s The Project.
Previously, he was a foreign correspondent based in Buenos Aires, Argentina for The Global Mail, ABC Australia, NPR and other outlets.
His work has been recognised with numerous prestigious journalism awards.
Louis Paltnoi
Co-Founder & Executive Creative Director Inspired Films
ABOUT
Louis Paltnoi
Louis Paltnoi is an award-winning producer and creative entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience spanning film, television, branded content and digital storytelling.
As Co-Founder and Executive Creative Director of Inspired Films, a multi-award-winning content creation agency and full-service production company, Louis has helped build an internationally recognised creative business, producing compelling, story-driven content for some of the world's leading brands and organisations, including Nike, Barclays, Pernod Ricard and the NHS.
Under his creative leadership, Inspired Films has earned numerous international industry accolades, including Gold at the New York Festivals Film & TV Awards, recognising its work across branded content, documentary, brand films and digital production.
Louis is also Co-Founder of Moonshot Films, an investor-backed feature film production and IP development company, developing an ambitious slate of film and television projects. His feature film credits include The Amazing Maurice, the Sky Cinema animated adaptation of Sir Terry Pratchett's bestselling novel.
A passionate advocate for authentic, impactful storytelling, Louis combines creative vision, commercial insight and a deep understanding of what connects stories with audiences.'
Yu-Ling Pan
Manager of the Marketing and Planning Department Hakka TV
ABOUT
Yu-Ling Pan
Currently serving as Manager of Marketing and Planning Department at Hakka TV, she brings over 30 years of expertise in integrated marketing and cross- media communication. She is recognized for her strengths in brand strategy, content promotion, and digital media innovation. She has played a pivotal role in strengthening the Hakka TV brand through cross-platform distribution, original digital content creation, and narrative- driven multimedia campaigns- significantly expanding the reach and visibility of Hakka-language programming. Her promotional short film “Carrying On the Voice of the Hakka People” received the Golden Bell Award for Channel Promotion and was nominated for multiple national awards in program marketing and broadcast promotion.
Michael Pearce
Producer Independent
ABOUT
Michael Pearce
Michael Pearce is the former Head of Global Initiatives for Yahoo Studios in charge of major events coverage and global video production.
In his previous role as Head of Sports for Yahoo Studios, Mr. Pearce directed coverage of five Olympics and two World Cups for Yahoo and created and launched award-winning series such as Memorable Moments, Elite Athlete Workouts, Fantasy Football Live and the Yahoo Sports Minute.
Mr. Pearce spent 20 years in television news as a reporter, producer and executive producer before joining Yahoo in 2005.
Shineil Persad
Director, Pre-Sale Strategy FORTUNE Brand Studio
ABOUT
Shineil Persad
Shineil Persad is a leader in creative strategy and storytelling, with experience spanning leading media brands, including New York Magazine, Vox Media, and Fortune Media.
Throughout her career, she has collaborated with designers, writers, and fellow strategists to develop multi-layered creative campaigns for organizations ranging from cultural institutions and nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies. Her work spans industries including technology, healthcare, finance, and lifestyle, bridging business objectives with thoughtful, impactful storytelling.
Shaped by her multi-cultural background and deep appreciation for the arts, Shineil brings a fresh perspective to every organization she works with, uncovering meaningful connections between brands, businesses, and the people they serve.
Judy Plavnick Kiley
Executive Producer & Director of Production DCTV
ABOUT
Judy Plavnick Kiley
Judy Plavnick Kiley is a five-time Emmy award-winning producer, having produced programming for networks including PBS, Discovery, ESPN and NFL Films. She began her television career covering politics, for both local and national broadcast outlets, and then moved to sports broadcasting, covering the NFL for seven years. She then joined the non-fiction world, spending six years at Discovery Channel and rising to the position of Senior Executive Producer before transitioning back to sports as Executive Producer for ESPN Classic. Judy formed her own production company in 2013 and is currently developing several series as well as working with corporate clients.
Moritz Polter
Managing Director & Executive Producer Windlight Pictures GmbH
ABOUT
Moritz Polter
Moritz Polter is Managing Director and Executive Producer at Windlight Pictures, the Munich-based premium scripted label he launched in 2021 as part of the ITV Studios Group.
Windlight Pictures produced the high-end drama series Night in Paradise (Canal+ / MagentaTV) nominated for Grimme Preis and One Hundred and Thirteen (ARD / ORF), which premiered in 2025 and won the Grand Tower at NYF 2026 and the German TV Award 2026 for Best Drama Series. The company is currently in post-production on the drama series Death of a Horse, a German-Icelandic co-production for ZDF, RÚV and New8.
Previously Moritz served as Executive Producer International Television Series at Bavaria Fiction, where he created acclaimed dramas such as Freud (Netflix/ORF), Arctic Circle (Elisa Viihde/ZDF) and Das Boot (Sky, Hulu).
He regularly serves as a juror for the International Emmy Awards and frequently speaks at international industry events.
Duncan Preston
Head of Global Creative Services Al Jazeera Media Network
ABOUT
Duncan Preston
Duncan Preston is the Head of Global Creative Services of Al Jazeera English Creative, a multi-award winning creative professional with over 20 years experience in design across all media.
He joined Al Jazeera English in 2005 as a designer working on the launch of the channel and, now as the head of the Creative department, defining the brand and creative direction of the channel.
His team is responsible for all the channel's creative content; channel and program branding, graphic packaging, promos, daily news and information graphics, winning over 60 international broadcast design and promo awards.
Judith Pyke
Executive Producer/President Curious Features Inc
ABOUT
Judith Pyke
Judith is executive producer/president of Curious Features. Also a showrunner, director, and writer of unscripted series and specials, her work has been recognized with awards and nominations and aired on networks in Canada, the US and all over the world. She loves collaborating with talented professionals to make absorbing television and films.
Regina Reyes
Journalist/Mentor/Advisor Independent
ABOUT
Regina Reyes
Ma. Regina Reyes was responsible for all newsgathering, content and strategic direction of the Integrated News Division of ABS-CBN Corporation. She has over 20 years of solid experience as a broadcast journalist. During her leadership, all news platforms of ABS-CBN – free-to-air, UHF and cable channels, digital, mobile and social media, radio and global became integrated. Reyes also established a Futures, Standards and Practices Group that aims to ensure the accuracy, balance and fairness of ABS-CBN News content.
Reyes joined ABS-CBN in 1986 as a Production Assistant, rose from the ranks to become Executive Producer and Head Writer of the award-winning late night newscast, The World Tonight. She supervised and produced live coverage of many special events, including the 2000 Impeachment Trial of former President Estrada. She was appointed News Director in 2001.
Prior to her promotion as SVP of Integrated News, Reyes was the network’s North America News Bureau Chief from 2002 to 2010. A premier news personality in the Filipino-American community, Reyes established and expanded ABS-CBN’s news operations in the US and Canada.
She covered issues on Philippine-US relations, Filipino-American community concerns and US politics, including the historic 2008 US presidential campaign and elections.
Reyes also helped in the community-building efforts of The Filipino Channel in North America. In 2007, she was named by the Filipina Women’s Network as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipino Women in the U.S.
Follow Reyes on Twitter @gingreyes and on Facebook/ging reyes
Hugo Roberge
Producer & Creator +1 Maison de production Inc.
ABOUT
Hugo Roberge
Hugo Roberge is passionate about culture, media, discovery, and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Renowned for his creativity and enthusiasm, he excels at developing ideas, bringing projects to life, and building strong teams.
Since 2005, Hugo has produced a wide range of successful Quebec television programs, including talk shows, cultural and magazine programs, music and variety shows, comedies, and documentaries.
In 2021, he co-founded +1 Maison de production with longtime professional partner and co-producer Amélie Vachon. Through their company, they continue to create content across multiple formats, including documentary series, feature documentaries, fiction series, and socio-cultural magazine programs.
Gustavo Gama Rodrigues
Founder & Executive Producer MEDIAetc
ABOUT
Gustavo Gama Rodrigues
Gustavo Gama Rodrigues is an award-winning Brazilian documentary filmmaker, director, and executive producer with three decades of experience developing non-fiction content for global audiences. A Primetime Emmy Award nominee for his work on CBS’s The Amazing Race, he holds an MA in Screen Documentary from Goldsmiths College, University of London.
Since 1996, Gustavo has developed and led documentary projects in partnership with major international networks and platforms, including HBO, BBC, Channel 4 (UK), National Geographic, History Channel, Warner Bros. Discovery, ARTE France, and Globoplay. His work spans human journeys, culture, environment, and social dynamics, held in over 70 countries.
His executive producer credits include acclaimed feature documentaries such as B1 - Tenório em Pequim (TV Globo/SporTV), Democracia em Preto e Branco (ESPN Brasil / FIFA TV), and Primeiro Bailarino (HBO Max), alongside docuseries like Creators Spotlight (YouTube Originals). As director, his credits include Bernardes (APCA Award winner) and Linha de Frente (GloboNews/Globoplay).
A regular honoree at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, his recognized productions include Gold Tower winner The Arctic Labyrinth (O Labirinto do Ártico), Woeld Medal winner Secret Spots, Bronze Medal winners Mundo Inexplorado, and the music docuseries Vamos Tocar.
John Roque
Senior Writer GMA Network
ABOUT
John Roque
John Roque has served on multiple international jury panels, among them the International Emmy Awards, Banff Media Festival, and New York Festivals. His Head writer credits include drama series, weekly anthologies, daily soap operas, romance sports dramas, and action dramas as well as Senior Wrriter series on GMA Network. He also was Head Writer. Creative Manager, Episode Writer and Senior Writer for daily soap operas on ABS-CBN.
Peter Schels
Managing Director Al Dente Entertainment GmbH
ABOUT
Peter Schels
Former Acquisition executive of RTL television for films & series, producer and director of various entertainment programs in Germany.
Winner of more than 35 national and international awards for corporate and/or pr movies. Member of different international juries
Speaker on various events and high schools. Producer of, the “mother of all corporate movies/die Mutter aller Imagefilme” , Europe´s most successful corporate movie ever.
Meanwhile producing corporate movies in more than 50 countries worldwide.
Chris Schueler
President Christopher Productions
ABOUT
Chris Schueler
Chris Schueler has created over 100 television programs in the past 25 years that have garnered 24 Emmy® Awards and have been broadcast throughout the country and around the world. Winner of a Bronze, Silver, Gold and Grand Award from the New York Festivals, his focus is on educational and social issues. Mr. Schueler creates youth programming and social issue documentaries that are “Television to Touch the Heart.” His clients have included the United Nations, the National Institute of Mental Health, the PBS network, the CBS Network Foundation as well as networks and governments in 35 countries around the globe.
German Sela
Head of Brand Movistar Plus +
ABOUT
German Sela
Since 1997 always involved in branding and promo.
His early days were in the cinema business where he was involved in the production, marketing and distribution strategy of more than 50 feature films as Head of Marketing. In those days he also worked as Music Supervisor for several of them
After that he moved, to pay TV at CANAL+ Spain where he was Creative Services Director (2004-2011) and Brand Director (2011-2015) running a DTH and OTT platforms and a portfolio of more than 20 channels.
His promos and branding works have received distinctions and awards at NY Festival, PROMAX, D&AD, ADCE Awards, LAUS...
Since 2015 he’s running and developing Movistar+, the new brand that results from the merge of CANAL+ Spain and Movistar (Telefonica Group). CONVERGENCE is the Sign of the Times….
Hang Shao
Founder & Sound Sirector Beijing 20K Miles Culture Communications Co.,Ltd
ABOUT
Hang Shao
Born from pure passion for sound, we believe in its power to evoke unconscious emotions. Guided by unbounded creativity, we deconstruct audio with wild imagination, capture storyteling essence through keen aesthetics, and redefine narratives at the intersection of sound and image. When unique soundscapes meet epic stories, new life emerges-beyond any single medium.
A visonary in the field of sonic art, Hang Shao has spent over a decade refining the boudnaries of audio post-producrtion. With a methodology that bridges between the seen and the felt, Hang challenges the binary of music and sound design treating them as a single fluid continuum.
Under his direction, 20K Miles has evolved from a boutique studio to a globally recognized creative force, garnering accolades from the Golden Trailer Awards for its ability to breathe life into static images. Hang believes that in the age of digital noise, the most powerful sound is the one that speaks directly to the soul.
Robin Siteneski
Producer Independent
ABOUT
Robin Siteneski
New York-based journalist turned documentary producer Robin Siteneski has spent more than a decade finding stories and figuring out how best to tell them. He began in investigative reporting and live broadcast news before moving into documentaries for HBO Max, CNN Brasil and Globo. His recent work earned him six Telly Awards and placed him among the 2026 New York Festivals finalists.
Working in both English and Portuguese, Robin builds projects that connect audiences across cultures. Off the clock, Robin is a voracious consumer of news, TV and film, always curious what makes a story stick.
Abram Sitzer
Head Of Content Beach House Productions
ABOUT
Abram Sitzer
Abram has spent the last 20 years in Asia producing and showrunning some of the most successful docs and series in the region. As Head of Content, Abram works with Donovan, Jocelyn and the other heads of department to oversee BHP’s slate. Prior to joining Beach House Pictures, Abram was Head of Content at Relay Video, where he led an international team in the conceptualization and execution of unscripted series like MAROONED WITH ED STAFFORD, docs like RETURN OF THE CHEETAH, VR projects like SURVIVING AFRICA, and award-winning branded projects like FINDING LIGHT IN THE DARK.
Preceding this Abram was the Director of Content at Discovery Networks, overseeing a portfolio of brands across both linear television and digital platforms, assisting in the network's digital transformation through streaming partnerships and co-productions with Europe, and America. In 2015, Sitzer moved to Shanghai to open the regional contet hub for R/GA, a leading New York advertising agency, where he led the APAC team to complete projects for clients including: Beats by Dre, Nike, Converse, Coca-Cola, and General Electric.
In the last decade Abram has produced over 200 documentaries and his work has been recognized receiving six best documentary awards, and over 25 nominations for best documentary. He holds a Master’s degree in History, and is fluent in Mandarin, and Spanish.
Jessica Soho
Broadcast Journalist GMA Networks
ABOUT
Jessica Soho
Jessica Soho is the most awarded broadcast journalist in the Philippines with more than two hundred fifty (250) local awards and more than thirty (30) international awards to date. She is the first Filipina to receive a George Foster Peabody Award for her documentaries on the illegal trade of kidneys and the harrowing plight of Filipino boxers. Her coverage of Super Typhoon Haiyan(local name:Yolanda) in 2013 was instrumental in winning the fourth (4th) George Foster Peabody Award for GMA News and Public Affairs.
Soho is also a Hall of Fame recipient of Reader’s Digest Asia "Most Trusted News Presenter” award, having been bestowed with it for eight consecutive times. In August 2018, she received the UP Gawad Plaridel, the highest honor given by the University of the Philippines system to a media practitioner. She has interviewed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, former US President Jimmy Carter, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Filipino immunologist Dr. Katherine Luzuriaga, one of the Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2013, among many others.
Her overseas assignments include the coverage of the conflict in Afghanistan ( where she and her team survived a landmine) and Pakistan, the exile of the Marcoses in Hawaii, the Hongkong Handover in 1997, the traditional Christmas Tree Lighting at the Whitehouse in 2005 with former US First Lady Laura Bush, the inauguration of United State President Barack Obama in 2008, the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 and the canonization of Pope John Paul II in 2014.
With a career spanning more than three decades from the fall of the Marcos dictatorship to the restoration of democracy in the Philippines, she started covering the military and defense beats in 1985. In 1991, her report on the hostage crisis in northern Philippines earned a Bronze Award in the New York Film and Television Festival.
Soho served as First Vice President for News Programs of GMA Network until 2014. Under herleadership, the network soared to be the country's leading and most credible broadcast news organization. Soho was the driving force behind the creation of I-Witness, the highly-acclaimed documentary series of GMA-7. She also pioneered the Special Assignments Team which produces investigative and enterprise stories. She has also served as juror for the International Emmy Awards since 2010.
Currently, Soho is the anchor of GMA News TV's flagship newscast. State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, host of top-rating magazine show, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, and chief correspondent/ host of the investigative news magazine program, Brigada. Her premium on in-depth analysis is once again showcased in her live remote anchoring and coverage duties from Itogon, Benguet, where a massive landslide killed over 50 people. She continues to engage reporters on a wide range of timely news events, such as monsoon flooding, Mayon Volcano’s restive activity, Chinese intrusion in Philippine waters, and boxer Manny Pacquiao’s victory, to name a few. Soho graduated from the University of the Philippinesin Diliman, Quezon City with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism.
Jay Soo
Chief Commercial & Creative Officer | APAC Casual FIlms
ABOUT
Jay Soo
Jay Soo is the Chief Commercial & Creative Officer | APAC for Casual FIlms. He is founder and leader of Moving Bits, a renowned creative production agency based in Singapore. With over two decades of experience, Jay is a Cannes Lion-nominated and New York Festival award-winning director whose work spans many high-profile clients. Under his leadership, Moving Bits has earned accolades for its storytelling prowess, being recognized by the Smithsonian Channel as one of the world’s best non-fiction producers. Jay’s expertise in brand building, creative strategy, and his unique perspective as The IMPROVISATIONAL ENTREPRENEUR make him a valued voice on the Grand Jury of the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards
Vanda Tan
General Manager Wawa Pictures Pte Ltd
ABOUT
Vanda Tan
Vanda Tan, a co-founder at WaWa Pictures Singapore, is currently helming the role of General Manager & Business Development. A media veteran of more than 2 decades, Vanda is instrumental in grooming WaWa from a 2 person outfit into one of Singapore’s top Chinese content producer. Besides producing award winning content for local terrestrial channels, the company is now working on strategic co-production partnerships with regional players to produce content for the regional audiences.
Chih Chong Tan
Executive Producer Sitting in Pictures Pte Ltd
ABOUT
Chih Chong Tan
With 25 years of experience in the local film and television industry behind him, Chih Chong brings along with him both depth and breadth gained over a broad spectrum of works in factual entertainment, magazine, comedy, drama and feature film projects. Since graduating with a B.Sc in film production from the University of Texas at Austin, Chih Chong has proved his mettle in this extremely volatile and competitive industry in Singapore having done work for companies as diverse as MediaCorp, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel, Fremantle Media, Voom Networks, AETN, CTN, RTM, and many others. Chih Chong also dabbled in feature films and was a producer on the highly successful Singapore film, Forever Fever.
Aitor Tapia Pulido
Head, Creative Development Original Content Movistar Plus +
ABOUT
Aitor Tapia Pulido
Aitor Tapia holds a Diploma in Film Editing from ECAM (Escuela de Cinematografía y del Audiovisual de la Comunidad de Madrid). After collaborating with major industry brands such as Universal and Fox, he joined Canal+ Spain, where he worked in the on-air promotions department.
In 2017, he became part of Movistar Plus+ Originals, editing trailers for some of the platform’s most acclaimed series, including La Peste, Antidisturbios and Hierro. In 2021, he was appointed Head of Trailers for the brand, and in 2024 became Creative Development Lead for Original Projects.
Over the years, he has received several national and international awards, including a Gold Medal at New York Festivals for the trailer of La Mesías, a Gold GEMA Award for Best Programme Trailer for Los Años Nuevos, and a Feroz Award for Best Trailer for Sirât.
Francis B. Toral
Head of Integrated News Division ABS-CBN Corporation
ABOUT
Francis B. Toral
Francis Toral has been a journalist since 1998 and is currently the Head of the Integrated News Division of ABS-CBN Corporation, one of the Philippines’ leading media organizations.
Toral is responsible for the overall strategic direction and news agenda of the company’s various TV and digital programs and platforms, including TV PATROL, one of the longest-running and most watched newscasts in the country.
On the digital sphere, ABSCBNnews.com is currently one of the top news websites in the Philippines and among the biggest Facebook publishers in the world. Its YouTube channel has over 14.5 million subscribers and almost 10 billion views, while its Twitter account has 8.8 million followers.
Prior to her appointment, Toral was Head of News Production, and has been spearheading coverage of national elections and presidential debates. She also led the News Desk, and Docu Central, the documentary unit of ABS-CBN News. This group produced several award-winning documentaries, including “’Di Ka Pasisiil”, a documentary on the War in Marawi, which won a Gold in the New York Festival in 2018.
Starting as a news writer for the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) in 1998, Toral was eventually promoted as Executive Producer of various news programs, including “The World Tonight”, the country’s premiere English newscast.
Toral graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines in 1998.
In 2009, she was awarded the Benigno and Corazon Aquino Fellowship by the United States Embassy in Manila.
Nessa S. Valdellon
Executive Vice President & Senior Vice President GMA Pictures & GMA Public Affairs
ABOUT
Nessa S. Valdellon
Nessa S. Valdellon has worked in television for over two decades as a producer, an executive producer, and a production manager of documentaries, magazine shows, reality TV programs and historical dramas. She is now Executive Vice President, GMA Pictures and Senior Vice President for GMA Public Affairs, which produces 27 of the most awarded television programs in the Philippines.
Valdellon began her career as a producer for the investigative news magazine program The Probe Team. She would later pioneer in the reality genre in the Philippines with several hit programs such as Wish and Extra Challenge. She produced Out! the first show in a primarily Catholic nation to focus on gay, lesbian and transgender rights. She co-wrote and produced social realist dramas My Hometown (Bayan Ko) and Teacher (Titser). She supervised historical dramas on Philippine heroes for primetime television. Her work has won various international awards for GMA Network.
Patrícia Vasconcellos
Journalist/TV Correspondent SBT - Sistema Brasileiro de Televisao
ABOUT
Patrícia Vasconcellos
Patrícia Vasconcellos is a Brazilian journalist and an award-winning documentarist. She is the US correspondent for Brazilian TV network SBT - Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão. Patrícia began her career as an anchor in 2001 before joining SBT in 2008. As Latin American correspondent, she covered South and Central America for six years. Now based in New York City and Washington DC, Patrícia covers the White House, politics, economy and American culture. Her documentary about the 2020 BLM protests and police response “Curfew in NYC” received multiple awards including best short film from New York Film Awards and best director for short films from New York International Film Awards. In 2021 she won the Professional Excellence Prize Award from the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in the U.S. Patrícia is a recipient of the Chevening Award, a scholarship funded by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office to outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world. She gained her master´s in TV Journalism from University of London.
Echo WAI
Assistant Director (TV & Corporate Businesses) RTHK
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Echo WAI
Echo WAI is the Controller of Production Services at Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) currently. She began her career at RTHK in 1993, gaining experience as both a programme producer and presenter.
Throughout her career, Echo has held various positions, including serving as a deputy in the New Media Unit and overseeing Corporate Communications and Standard Unit. She also served as Controller of TV from 2021 to 2023.
With a strong interest in broadcasting technology, Echo has recently contributed to the launch of the RTHK AI Lab and the development of Smart Broadcasting initiatives, enhancing the efficiency and productivity of both television and radio at RTHK.
Megan G Wells
Director/Filmmaker Independent
ABOUT
Megan G Wells
Megan G Wells is a branded entertainment futurist, award-winning filmmaker, showrunner, and executive producer redefining how brands harness the power of culture and entertainment. She has built and scaled world-class studios, and partnered with global brands such as Red Bull, Under Armour, the NBA, Sony, Google, Rolex, Johnson & Johnson, LEGO, Dell, and the Olympic Games to deliver groundbreaking formats that reach audiences worldwide. As a creative and strategic leader, Wells has helmed dozens of multi-episodic series and documentaries and, as a Chief Content Officer and development executive, has pioneered new models of development, distribution, and measurement that are reshaping how branded entertainment delivers value. She is also the co-founder of EVOKE, a measurement framework that validates brand investment in entertainment through neuroscience and human emotion. A frequent speaker and internationally recognized thought leader, Wells has appeared at SXSW, Sundance, TribecaX, AdWeek, and MIPCOM, where she explores the evolving relationship between storytelling, audience behavior, and brand participation in entertainment. Her work and commentary have been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, CampaignUS, Glamour UK, Cosmopolitan, Yahoo!, and Digital Spy, amongst others.
Cathy Yang
Founder & Host, The Yang Exchange / Head of Programs, Cignal
ABOUT
Cathy Yang
Cathy Yang is an award-winning business journalist and international broadcaster with more than three decades of experience covering Asian economies, markets, business and public policy. She is Founder & Host of The Yang Exchange, a YouTube-first interview platform connecting regional and global developments to the everyday concerns of Filipino audiences. Concurrently, she is Head of Programs at Cignal.
Her 15-year international career took her to Tokyo and Hong Kong with Bloomberg Television Asia-Pacific, Reuters TV Asia-Pacific and CCTV English (now CGTN). She later served as Anchor & Managing Editor at ABS-CBN News Channel, then spent more than four years as Group Head of Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart, winning the Gold Stevie® Award for Executive of the Year – Communication Technology in 2024.
A five-time Asian Television Awards winner, including Best Talk Show Host in 2023, Cathy became the first Filipino journalist named Best News or Current Affairs Presenter/Anchor at the 2019 Asian Academy Creative Awards. She has served as an AACA juror since 2020 and returns for a fourth year on the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards Grand Jury.
Zhao Yang
Producer China Global Television Network
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Zhao Yang
YANG Zhao is an award-winning journalist, producer, and filmmaker from China Global Television Network (CGTN) of China Media Group. He founded CGTN’s science reporting unit, Tech It Out Studio, producing and hosting the original series Tech It Out, covering scientific and technological breakthroughs across China and world. He has also written and produced many science feature-length films and documentary shorts, including Behind the Virus, Land of Diversity, and Human Carbon Footprint. Yang is an Asian Television Awards and New York Festivals TV & Film Awards recipient, as well as a winner at the Beijing International Film Festival.
Donghun Yi
Director & International Awards Programmer SBS
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Donghun Yi
Donghun Li is currently International Awards Programmer at SBS Review & Revolution Team, managing international program submissions and global award entries.
His Directorial credits include the following: Big Issue (SBS TV Drama Series, 2019), The Ten Deadly Sins (十宗罪, Youku Original Web Crime Series, 2016), God's Gift: 14 Days (SBS TV Drama Series, 2014); Jang Ok-jung, Living by Love (SBS TV Drama Series, Co-directed, 2013); Foolish Mom (SBS TV Drama Series, 2012); Protect the Boss (SBS TV Drama Series, Co-directed, 2011); Daring Women (SBS TV Drama Series, 2010); Tazza (SBS TV Drama Series, Co-directed, 2008)
Toshie Yoshida
President TI ComNet Japan
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Toshie Yoshida
Toshie Yoshida's career in the broadcasting industry spans more than 30 years. Prior to establishing TI ComNet, she worked as an announcer in Japan and the U.S. After returning to Japan, she worked as a producer on a number of programs.
In 2001, she established TI ComNet Japan, which specializes in translation, dubbing, film coordination, and program sales for broadcast content. In recent years, she has been lecturing and writing about the overseas development of local content.
Li Zhang
Deputy Director of Chief Editor ’s Office Phoenix Satellite Television
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Li Zhang
Li ZHANG, Deputy Director of Chief Editor ’s Office at Phoenix Satellite Television, based in Hong Kong. With 20 years of experience in television production, she specializes in news and feature program production. She oversees documentary acquisition and festival programming, and serves on juries for multiple international documentary festivals. She draws on deep production and content evaluation experience, with a focus on authentic storytelling.