2022 Jury

INTERNATIONAL JURY

VICTORIA WHARFE MCINTYRE

Victoria Wharfe McIntyre (International Jury)

Victoria is a writer/director/producer. Her short films have screened in over 200 festivals and won over 70 International awards including BAFTA and AACTA. Her Flickerfest film MIRO was nominated for Best Short Film in the 2017 AACTA awards and in 2020 the Academy listed it as one of the best short films of the decade. Acknowledged as a film of national significance, MIRO is held by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

Victoria’s directorial debut feature THE FLOOD began a theatrical run December 2020 and appeared in David Stratton’s Best Films of 2020 piece for The Australian newspaper.

“An ambitious slice of Australian history… A formidable debut for director Victoria Wharfe McIntyre …Beautifully photographed by Kevin Scott …THE FLOOD is, in many ways spectacular…With her cartridge belt slung over her shoulder Jarah (Alexis Lane) is a formidable heroine indeed ….All the production values, including the beautifully illustrated credit titles, are first class…an ambitiously conceived epic”

THE FLOOD was released across all VOD platforms in Australia 6th January 2020 and held the number one spot on STAN across several weeks of its release. THE FLOOD released in US and UK late 2021.

MICHAEL PONTIN

Michael Pontin (International Jury)

Michael is the head of Ticket To Ride, a subsidiary of Australian production company See Pictures. Michael produced the feature films: JUNE AGAIN (Noni Hazlehurst) which was theatrically released in Australia in May 2021 by Studio Canal and won an AACTA for Best Score in 2021, LONG STORY SHORT for writer/director Josh Lawson which was distributed in Nth America by Saban in 2021 and sold in all major territories around the world, OTHERLIFE for writer/director Ben C Lucas, which is available worldwide after premiering at the Sydney Film Festival, 1% (aka OUTLAWS) , which premiered at TIFF and was acquired for Nth America by A24, STANDING UP FOR SUNNY (RJ Mitte) for writer/director Steve Vidler which premiered at the Sydney Film Festival and won the ‘Best Indie Film’ AACTA in 2020, and the short film MARTHA THE MONSTER (Rose Byrne) for blacklist winning writer/director Chris Weekes which opened Flickerfest in 2018.

Michael has been a Co-Producer on feature films THE LITTLE DEATH which premiered at TIFF and won the audience award at SxSW, an Associate Producer on BACKTRACK (Adrien Brody, Sam Neill), and Executive Producer on GO! (Richard Roxburgh) released by Village Roadshow in Australia in January 2020 and now available worldwide on Netflix.

LIBBY SHARPE

Libby Sharpe (International Jury)

Libby has been with See-Saw Films for 4 years working as the Head Of Production.

In that time has overseen and co-produced films, The Power Of The Dog, FOE and The Unknown Man as well as TV shows The End and Firebite. 

Prior to joining See-Saw, Libby Produced Jewboy which premiered Un Certain Regard at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, as well as official selection in the 2006 Sundance Film Festival as well as Producing Jane Campion’s series Top Of The Lake: China Girl starring Elisabeth Moss and Nicole Kidman, also screening at Cannes.

Libby has worked in the Australian Film Industry for over 20 years as one of the most experienced Line Producers with numerous credits including Lion (directed by Garth Davis), the Academy Award nominated Animal Kingdom (directed by David Michod), Somersault (directed by Cate Shortland), The Rover (directed by David Michod), Baz Luhrmann’s Australia, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, Candy and Burning Man.

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AUSTRALIAN JURY

PENNY SMALLACOMBE

Penny Smallacombe (Australian Jury & FlickerLab Producer)Penny is a Member of the Maramanindji people, from the Northern Territory in Australia. She has completed a cadetship with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and has a Masters of Arts (Documentary Producing) from the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in Sydney.

Between 2004 and 2005 Penny worked in the Indigenous Programs Unit at the ABC. She was selected for Screen Australia’s Indigenous Department’s Producers Initiative in 2011, and also worked as a Senior Programmer for NITV, National Indigenous Television, a division of SBS. Most recently Head of the First Nations Department at Screen Australia, Penny managed the department for 6 years overseeing a large slate of successful film and television including Total Control, Spear, She Who Must Be Loved, Sweet Country, We Don’t Need a Map, Grace Beside Me and Little J and Big Cuz.

She also created numerous special initiatives which have provided development opportunities for some of Australia’s newest rising writing, directing and producing talents. In June she began her new role as a Producer at Bunya Productions, and has been a producer on the SBS Mini Series, True Colours, along with Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey.

GUY GROSS

Guy Gross (Australian Jury)

Guy Gross is a multi-award winning Australian film and television composer, APRA Ambassador, recipient of the APRA/AGSC International Achievement Award, past President of the Australian Guild of Screen Composers and founding member of the creative collective Church Street Studios. Son of animation producers Yoram and Sandra Gross, Guy scored most of the families’ movies and tv series’ including the famous Blinky Bill and also developed and directed a number of projects for the family business.

He is best known for his scores for iconic The Adventure of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and the US Sci-Fi hit Farscape. His latest feature score is due for release this year. ‘How To Please a Woman’. more: www.guygross.com

NISRINE AMINE

Nisrine Amine (Australian Jury & FlickerLab Writer)

Nisrine is a Lebanese-Australian actress, writer, and director who has made appearances on both stage and screen. She has had supporting roles on well-known Australian TV including Australian Gangster, Home and Away, Amazing Grace, Mr Inbetween, Frayed, and Here Come the Habibs as well as lead roles in the short film Maya and the stage play The Girl/The Woman.

Her stage credits include Shaz and Tina: Waiting for Uber (Sydney Fringe Festival 2019), Lady Tabouli (Green Door/Apocalypse/Griffin Theatre Company, 2019), The Girl/The Woman (NTOP/Riverside Theatre 2018), Alex and Eve: The Complete Story (Factory Theatre, 2013) where she played the title role of Eve, The Colour Blind Project (Tap Gallery, 2011), and Arabian Nights (New Theatre, 2012) and has acted in countless playwriting development workshops.

Nisrine was nominated for an AWGIE for her writing on the feature film Here Out West which opened the Sydney Film Festival 2021 and will be released cinematically across Australia in 2022. Her short film Apricot (ABC, 2018) received funding by Screen NSW as part of their SEED: Regional Funding initiative and premiered at Flickerfest 2018, as well as various other national and international film festivals including the Citizen Jane Film Festival in Missouri USA.

As a director, Nisrine directed alongside Warwick Thornton and Lucy Clements for the 2021 and 2019 Martin Lysicrates Prizeat Riverside Theatres Parramatta.

Nisrine is also a curator and producer with her most recent project being the curation of the Liverpool hubof the Sydney Fringe Festival 2018 as well as the City of Parramatta Council’s Youth Week Comedy Night at Riverside Theatres. In 2012, Nisrine produced and co-directed The Young Creatives Festival of Shorts, a short-play festival for young people from Western Sydney as well Ave Maria College Presents The Wiz (Darebin Arts Centre, 2015).

In 2018, Nisrine became the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Parramatta Actors Centre.

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DOCUMENTARY JURY

MARCUS GILLEZEAU

Marcus Gillezeau (Documentary Jury)

Marcus Gillezeau [Jillezo] is best known for creating and producing high profile projects for film, TV and digital media. Specialising in all-media development, production and delivery across all platforms, he has built a reputation for being at the forefront of digital innovation, production and distribution.

Marcus has won some of the industries’ most prestigious awards including the AACTA Award (Australian Academy of Cinema Television Arts), Best Feature Documentary for “STORM SURFERS 3D” and the International Digital Emmy® Award and Australian Directors Guild Award for the all-media drama “SCORCHED”. He was twice honored by Screen Producers Australia for Best New Media and Interactive Producer of the Year.

Recently, he produced theatrical feature documentaries Own the Sky and Living Universe and was EP on Motorkite Dreaming. He executive produced NERVE that screened at Sydney Film Festival and Shanghai Film Festival. He has written, directed and produced prime time television in Australia and for major international networks in Asia, North America and Europe.

Marcus is also a successful author of two books “Hands On – Tips and Experiences in All Media Producing”, and “Hands On – A guide to production and technologies for film, TV and new media.”.

SASCHA ETTINGER EPSTEIN

Sascha Ettinger Epstein (Documentary Jury)

Sascha Ettinger Epstein is a documentary director/shooter known for raw, observational character-driven Australian stories. Her first film Painting with Light in a Dark World about underbelly street photographer Peter Darren Moyle, which collected various accolades, was the beginning of an exploration of beauty in darkness which has preoccupied Sascha throughout her artistic career.

Her following films The Oasis, a longitudinal observational study of an inner-city youth refuge, the ten-years-later sequel Life After the Oasis, Playing in the Shadows, about an after dark basketball tournament for kids from a notorious housing estate in Woolloomooloo, and Destination Arnold, following two female Aboriginal bodybuilders, have continued the same theme. Sascha’s documentary The Pink House, about the last original brothel in Kalgoorlie won Best Documentary at the Sydney Film Festival 2017.

Her latest film, a glimpse inside child protection in NSW, The Department, is the culmination of many years observation and interest in young people experiencing social inequality and the systems around them. She is also a passionate environmentalist and has made probono videos for various enviro orgs.

MATTHEW WALKER

Matthew Walker (Documentary Jury)

Matthew Walker is the director of I’m Wanita, which won Best Feature Documentary at the 2021 Sydney Film Festival and Best Music Documentary at London’s Raindance Festival.

He is also an ASE and Walkley Award winning Documentary/Factual and Drama editor.

His short documentary Heart Of The Queen premiered in the Academy Qualifying Documentary competition at Flickerfest in 2014 and received a Special Mention..

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RAINBOW SHORTS  JURY

CRAIG BOREHAM (Curator)

Craig Boreham (Rainbow curator)

Craig Boreham is an award-winning Sydney based writer and director.

Boreham’s films have screened at over 200 international festivals: including the Berlin International Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Cannes, Palm Springs, Frameline and Outfest.

Craig’s debut feature film Teenage Kicks premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in 2016 to critical acclaim.

Craig is currently in post-production of his new feature film Lonesome.
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JULIE KALCEFF

Julie Kalceff (Rainbow Shorts Jury)

Julie Kalceff is an Emmy award-winning Australian writer, director and producer best known for writing, directing and co-producing the television series First Day. The ground-breaking story of a 12 year-old transgender girl starting high school was the first Australian series to star a transgender actor in the lead role and sold to multiple territories worldwide including Hulu (US) and CBBC (UK).

In 2021, the series won the International Emmy Award for Best Kids Live Action Series and a GLAAD Media Award. Julie first gained international attention when she created, wrote, directed and produced the global hit digital drama series Starting From Now, one of the most watched web series in the world – amassing over 170 million views in 230 countries and was later broadcast on television in Australia.

DANIEL GABRIEL

Daniel Gabriel (Rainbow Shorts Jury)

Daniel Gabriel is a queer Sudanese/Egyptian performer based in Sydney.

A graduate of QUT’s Acting course, their repertoire includes the performance and study of classic texts and development of new and experimental works for stage including Belvoir, Queensland, and Griffin Theatre Companies.

On screen, Daniel has appeared in Stan’s ‘The Other Guy’ and stars in the up-coming feature film ‘Lonesome’ (2022).
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PAUL STRUTHERS

Paul Struthers (Rainbow Shorts Jury)

Paul Struthers was the Director of Exhibition and Programming for Frameline from 2017 to 2020, the media arts non-profit behind the largest and longest running LGBTQ+ Film Festival in the World.

He has worked in Marketing at the Sydney Film Festival and served as the Festival Director for Queer Screen’s Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival from 2014 to 2017. In 2019 he co-founded The Programmers of Color Collective.

Currently he continues to work in programming and is an Associate Programmer for International Features at Tribeca and a Program Consultant for Sydney Film Festival.

Paul is an Independent Producer, and is currently working across three feature films projects including Down The Hume (Producer) and We Are Still Here (Associate Producer).

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FLiCKERUP JURY

PRISCILLA DOUEIHY

Priscilla Doueihy (FlickerUp Jury)

Priscilla Doueihy is a Lebanese-Australian actor. After moving to Australia from Lebanon at the age of 13, Priscilla trained at the Actors College of Theatre & Television in Sydney then onto the MET film school in London. Her theatre credits include the lead role in Samah Sabawi’s ‘Them’ which attracted a number of wins and nominations including Best Ensemble Cast at the Greenroom Awards. She has also starred on one of Australia’s premiere theatres, Belvoir St in David Finningan’s ’44 Sex Acts In One Week’ and most recently the gender swapped role of Petya Trofimov in the Artistic Director’s adaptation of Chekhov’s ‘The Cherry Orchard’.

Her screen credits include a leading support role in ‘On The Ropes’ for SBS and Crackle TV, directed by Shannon Murphy which also attracted a number of nominations including Best Ensemble Cast at the Equity Foundation. Priscilla has also starred in several Award nominated and winning Online Series’ including ‘Back in the Game’, ‘The Out There’ and ‘Love Bug’ and most recently played the role of Gina in the Stan Original and Spectrum Originals Series, ‘Eden‘.

Priscilla made her feature film debut in the AFTRS award winning feature film, ‘Surburban Wildlife’ Directed by Imogen McCluskey; starred in director, Shannon Murphy’s debut feature film, ‘Babyteeth’ alongside Eliza Scanlen and Ben Mendelsohn, and featured in the blockbuster ‘Godzilla Vs Kong‘, directed by Adam Wingard. Her other film credits include Award Nominated short films such as ‘Atomic Love’ directed by Imogen McClusky, ‘Occupied’ directed by Ruby Lennon, ‘Sugar‘ directed by Tine Jensen, ‘Cleaning Process‘ directed by Tim Kent and the TV movie ‘A Good Family‘ directed by Fadia Abboud.

Priscilla will next be seen in a leading role in Daniel Askill’s debut feature film ‘Lunacy’ alongside Isabel Lucas, Lily Sullivan, Hunter Page-Lochard and Bobbi Salvor Menuez.
She is fluent in English, French, Arabic and Spanish.

ABHI PARASHER

Abhi Parasher (FlickerUp Jury)

Abhishek is a filmmaker based in Sydney. He is currently completing his Masters in Directing at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS).

In previous years, Abhishek has worked as an actor, appearing in Neighbours and The Taverna. Furthermore, he has completed his Bachelor in Film from SAE Melbourne. His graduating film has screened around the world, most recently premiering at Flickerfest 2022.

Abhishek is passionate about exploring the human condition when it is put under pressures placed by larger world influences such as culture, religion & politics.

RENEE BRACK

Renee Brack (FlickerUp Jury)

Storyteller. Filmmaker. Educator.

Renee is a storyteller for screen and and the traditional printed page print.

She is currently immersed in post production on a feature documentary due for release 2021 and developing a small slate of female-centric stories for screen and immersive platforms.

One of her most rewarding pursuits is nurturing emerging filmmakers at SAE Creative Media Institute. To balance the work-out her fingers get on a keyboard each day, she hits the yoga mat and chats with a sleepy possum living in a plant pot on her deck.