jury & Industry Speakers

Technical Philosopher
 Recognized by his peers as a creative and technical polymath, this Australian born serial entrepreneur got an early start with digital media technology and storytelling as a self-taught teenage computer hacker in London, England, who now communicates his messages with Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Game Engines.

Well known in sound and music, he got his first taste of success – under his MECHAGEN moniker – as an electronic dance music world record holder, composer/songwriter and sound recordist.

Academic, Filmmaker, Photographer
Dr Vikrant Kishore is an academic, filmmaker, photographer, author and a journalist; he has more than 25 documentaries and corporate films to his credit. Currently working at Deakin University, Australia as Course Director for Film, Television and Animation, he is a Senior Lecturer in Screen & Design. Dr Kishore’s focus is to bring due attention required to the study of Indian cinema in Australia. He has organized various international conferences, film festivals and seminars
on Indian cinema.

Storyteller
Bec is a multi-hyphenate producer specialising in audience centred story-telling. She’s passionate about recycling story formats for multiple platforms and has worked in film and media for twelve years, most recently as the Partnership Executive at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation where she worked with International travelling broadcasters from Asia Pacific for Window on Australia Events including Channel News Asia, Chengdu TV, Guangdong Radio and Television and Shanghai Media Group. In 2017 Bec co-founded the new media production company, Cockatoo CoLab, in partnership with Marius Foley, Head of Design Futures at RMIT University.

Children’s Author & Illustrator
Tina has worked as a puppet maker, on set puppet doctor and writer for children’s theatre and television Bananas in Pyjamas, The Ferals, (ABC TV) Labyrinth (Jim Henson) and The Upside Down Show (Sesame Street/Nickelodeon Junior). For many years she worked for The Marionette Theatre of Australia with director Richard Bradshaw. Since 1992 Tina has taught puppet construction and manipulation at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. She writes and illustrates picture books is a visiting author and artist in schools/libraries and designed and produced the best selling Black and White Baby Mobile for
newborn babies.

Partner Manager, Google
Anna Kamasz is an award-winning digital producer with a passion for telling engaging stories using new technologies. She is currently the partner manager for Google Arts and Culture for Australia and New Zealand.

Founder Of Nurobodi
Cy Gorman is the founder and director of Nurobodi. His focus with individuals and couples with Nurobodi is in the customised application of light and sound frequencies for therapy and wellbeing. In 2019 Nurobodi is an official program partner with Melbourne WebFest focused on innovative wellbeing experiences for cinema and immersive installation environments, Knox City Council Immerse Festival content designer providing consultation and creative installation of light and sound within Mountain High shopping centre and a keynote presenter at the Association for Visual Pedagogies International Conference ‘Ocular becomings in dangerous times: The politics of ‘seeing’.

https://nurobodi.com/

Axis Of Awesome & Screen Australia

Lee Naimo works at Screen Australia as Investment Manager for Online Production. Lee is a comedian, improviser, musician and artist best known as one-third of musical comedy trio The Axis of Awesome, who have over 200 million views online and an army of fans worldwide. Lee was also Creative Producer for Insert Coin, a sketch comedy series about video games that was part of the 2017 Melbourne WebFest Selection.

Founder of xGrowth

Shahin is the Founder of xGrowth, an agency helping B2B technology firms build and maintain predictable, revenue-focused growth engines. Shahin and his team work with brands like VicRoads, Byte and Village Roadshow, maximising their marketing efforts with great results.

XYZ Films

In 1985, in a small community cinema in a quiet suburb to the east of Melbourne, a 6-year-old Simon de Bruyn sat enraptured in a screening of The Neverending Story, imagining himself doing everything from flying Falkor the Luck Dragon to eating sandwiches in the attic with Bastian. And when the wolf Gmork finally caught up with Atreyu, Simon ran terrified out of the cinema. All these years later, Simon is still channelling that 6-year-old boy; still enraptured by the movies, and still terrified by the scary ones. In 2011, Simon joined XYZ Films to do professionally what he had previously done for fun, and since then his role has expanded into project development plus acquisitions for XYZ-GFC, the financing, production and sales joint venture that XYZ Films formed in 2015 with NZ production company,
General Film Corporation.

Producer

Paul Walton started life in the UK as a child actor but soon realized just turning up wasn’t enough, you had to have acting talent too! With this in mind, Paul moved to the other side of the camera and found his true calling – seeing the potential in ideas and working with talent to bring their projects to life. Paul is a passionate producer, loves creative people, and relishes the chance to challenge traditional creative parameters. He has a large list of credits that span over thirty years working in feature films, sketch comedy, television drama, narrative TV comedy, light entertainment, live television and news. Paul has a keen eye for discovering remarkable talent and ideas. It is this journey of discovery which stimulates his desire to push boundaries and challenge the status quo in order to embrace the rapidly evolving and disruptive current creative boom.

Audio Professional

Talia Raso is an audio professional, enthralled by the effects of audio-visual cohesion in multi-sensory experiences. She has been working in audio engineering and production capacities since 2012. In 2017 she completed a Bachelor of Design at RMIT, majoring in Sound Design and the psychophysiological effects of multi-sensory Experiences. Mentored by award winning sound designers Adam Hunt and Ryan Granger, she has worked on feature and short films, animations, virtual reality games and corporate campaigns for
Suncorp, Breville, Dulux, Optus, and
T2 to name a few.

Co-Founder, Ozflix
An accomplished writer, director, producer, cameraman and editor Brown began his career working in television, for companies such as ATN-7, ABC-2, ATV-0, Transmedia and Crawford Productions, and working on independent Australian feature films, including Mad Max and In Search of Anna. With partner Ruth Brown, he has produced and co-directed several feature films including Let Me Not (Nine Network), Suite For Fleur (coming to Ozflix), and No Two Snowflakes (coming to Ozflix). His fourth feature A Holly Wood Wedding is currently in pre-production. For television his cooking/travel programs have been broadcast internationally and include Elizabeth Chong’s Tiny Delights, Chefs of the Great Hotels of the World (SBS TV) and the 26 part series Cooking With Kurma (SBS TV).

Co-CEO – Harvest Pictures China
Tony is a co-founder of East West Media Capital and Harvest Pictures Group. He is an experienced media executive who has worked across numerous roles in the industry, gaining a strong cross-section of skills over 15 years. He started his career with brand funded television across several companies, including global Brand New Media, where he was an Executive Project Manager and has developed, produced shows which included his own intellectual property. With countless programs airing on free to air and pay TV in Australia, Tony has further experience in China working with Burma Road Productions, Soniq, Guangzhou TV and the Australian Academy Of Cinema Television & Arts (AACTA). Tony has now ventured into film, where currently, Tony has written and will produce the ‘Girl Of Ashima’ animation feature. In addition, Tony is a board member of the ‘Co-Star’ fan engagement app.

Producer
Chris Thompson is the founder of Sydney based production company Four Leg Films as well as an award-winning producer, director, cinematographer and editor. In 2018 Chris produced the web series Patricia Moore, which won multiple awards world-wide and placed third in the Web Series World Cup. Chris has produced short films, viral content and music videos, while also crafting branded content for some of the world’s largest and leading brands. He is excited about what the explosion in streaming platforms means for Australian content creators.

Managing Director of Blinxel
Tuck is the Managing Director of Blinxel, a global leader in Augmented Reality technology. He has worked in the computer graphics industry since the mid 90’s in studios and as a freelancer around the world in theatre, games, advertising, movies and Anime. Working in Studio Easter in Tokyo, building and leading their 3D team, teaching Augmented Reality in Norway, and on many TVCs and a PC game in Melbourne. Prior to working in CG, he crewed and produced many live events, including working in the US as a producer for world-famous comedians and musicians. He brings his experience in computer graphics and live / recorded entertainment to the new media of Augmented Reality.

Filmmaker
Marc Gallagher is an up and coming filmmaker, whose work and influence spans multiple platforms. He’s best known for writing, developing and acting in Nickelodeon’s digital first series Supa Phresh. After which he launched a successful career as the taller half of the Melbourne based comedy duo Goodall and Gallagher. Their work together has received millions of views, critical acclaim and been featured on various news outlets across the country. Recently Marc acted in a cute little short called Lost & Found, which went on to win numerous prestigious awards – Including: Best Animated Short at Austin Film Festival and the AACTA. The short was so successful that it was even shortlisted for the oscars. He also writes and creates content for major brands, including the iconic and much beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Filmmaker
With over 15 million views to his name, Luke Goodall knows how to engage with an audience. He is one half of the comedy duo ‘Goodall & Gallagher’ and their razor sharp comedy sketches have garnered fans all around the world. Not only did their latest series attract national news coverage it has also been described as rivalling anything you’ll see on ‘Funny or Die’ or ‘Key & Peele’. He also is the lead creative for Priceless Productions, a Director for Monster & Bear, the face of Carlton Draught’s latest sketch comedy campaign and was the digital content

producer on Foxtel’s Wentworth and
Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Production Executive, Film Victoria
Alicia Brown started in media as a journalist and producer on documentary and music programs for the ABC in Sydney and BBC in London. Her most recent credits include Executive/Co-Executive Producer on THE SOUND OF SILENCE (Sundance 2019), BEFORE YOU KNOW IT (Sundance 2019) and BUOYANCY (Berlinale 2019). She produced her first feature HONEYMOONER in 2010 and it premiered at Edinburgh International Film Festival. As Co-founder and Producer at Optimism Film she produced the feature documentary, GRACEFUL GIRLS (People’s Choice award, Best Documentary Melbourne International Film Festival) and the narrative feature, The DEATH & LIFE OF OTTO BLOOM (opened the 2016 Melbourne International Film Festival). Alicia is currently a Production Executive with Film Victoria working across production investment and talent development.

Producer, Director
Laura Clelland is a Producer and Director, passionate about creating entertaining and engaging content. Laura has been freelancing in production for nearly two decades on TVC’s, TV series and Features. Her passion for crew and production is evident in her ownership of Queensland’s crew booking agency, Essential Crew, and guest lecturing at Universities and Film Schools, speaking engagements, panels and moderating Q & A’s. Laura’s most recent work as Director, Co-Producer, Co-Writer and Editor on the Screen Australia funded teen dramedy series ‘Life of Jess’ has received an Award of Excellence from Indie Film Fest, Best Web Series Promo award at the New Media Film Festival and Best Dramedy
award at the Asia Web Awards.

Creative Director

Sarah Hickey is a writer/director and a co-founder of Melbourne-based production company Monster & Bear. In 2018, Sarah made her series debut with the acclaimed web series Dee-Brief, which was swiftly acquired by Network 10 and can still be found on Tenplay today. She is currently in development for a few future series concepts, including a concept for Stan called Bulldog’s Alley, and has just completed her first Director’s Attachment on Network 10 drama, My Life Is Murder (starring Lucy Lawless). Across all works, commercial and narrative, Sarah considers her strengths to be in grounded performances across the drama and comedy space.

Founder of unko

Belinda Dean is a Sydney based creative producer and founder of independent production company unko. Her work spans TV, film and advertising, and reflects her passion for comedy as well as inclusive and diverse storytelling. She started her career with crew roles on several high-profile feature films including The Matrix Trilogy, and in 2007 she production managed the BAFTA nominated comedy short, ‘The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island’. Through unko, Belinda produced the multi-award winning Create NSW & SBS funded short film ‘Joy Boy’, which recently has its international premiere at Palm Springs Shortfest. She conceived and produced the documentary ‘The Funny Ones’ for ABC ME celebrating aspiring young female comedians, and produced a series of comedy sketches for The Bondi Hipsters and Trent From Punchy, for the Princess Pictures/Foxtel show ‘The Slot’. Belinda’s latest project, the provocative short form series ‘Cloudy River’ is premiering at Melbourne WebFest and received post-production funding from Screen Australia and Queer Screen. She has a slate of TV projects in development, including the Screen Australia supported murder mystery comedy ‘Avenge My Death’ and the Sundance Lab shortlisted queer comedy drama ‘The Bigger Woman’.

Supervising Producer, VICE

Jess is a creative producer with a decade’s experience in the film & media industry. Her work stretches from producing TVCs, music videos and branded content, to film distribution and festivals. Jess is passionate about finding new talent, telling stories with diverse collaborators, and working in new and innovative ways. She is currently the Supervising Producer – Branded Content for VICE Australia.

Lecturer & Co-Director, Screen & Sound Cultures research group, RMIT University

Dr Patrick Kelly is a Lecturer in Media in RMIT University’s School of Media & Communication, and a Co-Director of the Screen & Sound Cultures research group. He is a screen production scholar whose research focuses on documentary film, emerging technologies, digital self-representation, new identities, and queer creative practice.

Executive Producer

Film Producer & Digital Marketing Professional with extensive work experience of content creation and project management in film, advertising, media, and marketing in Australia, China, France and Germany. Wang is the Founder of Steinbock Pictures, and previously directed French 24 hours’ telivision Mandarin TV. Nominated for the 2017 Cannes International Film Festival & 2017 Shanghai Film Festival, Wang produced ‘Saline Lake Project and has also assisted on major short films and TV networks.

Filmmaker

Luke is a filmmaker and content creator from Melbourne who spent many years working abroad – predominantly in mainland China, where he worked for a range of agencies and production houses in an art direction and creative capacity. Luke has produced ads and content for many foreign brands operating within the Chinese market, such as Nike, Intel, Mini Cooper and Mercedes. While in China, Luke also had the opportunity to work on several short and feature length films for Chinese audiences. Luke found success with the YouTube channel Arf, a joke project that rapidly gained viral notoriety with over 80 million video views, leading to new collaboration opportunities with other creators and brands. Since returning to Melbourne, Luke works as an in-house filmmaker for The Royals, and divides his time between contributing to existing web series, particularly political series aimed at young people and personal film and art projects with friends and collaborators. He is currently working on a short film that deals with women’s representation in sport.

Executive Producer Entertainment & Specialist, ABC TV

An RMIT Screenwriting graduate, Brett’s background includes four seasons in the script department of Blue Heelers and writing and performing in numerous comedy festivals, including the Edinburgh Fringe. Since joining the ABC, Brett has worked across the development and production of over 30 drama and comedy titles including; The Slap, Please Like Me, Jack Irish, The Katering Show 2, Sammy J and Randy in Ricketts Lane, Riot, Rosehaven, Get Krack!n’ & Glitch.

Producer & Director

Kate Whitbread is a producer of feature films, television series, television commercials, live theatre and events. Her company KWFilms develops and produces content with a focus on female audiences worldwide. Kate is Executive Producer on the Australian premiere of HAND TO GOD at Alex Theatre. the black Comedy that was nominated for 5 Tony awards. Kate has also produced a number of short films including OUT OF ORDER, which she also directed. Kate is currently producing the psychological thriller feature film THE UNLIT from a screenplay by Daren Markey, which she has also directed. In 2020 she will produce THE WOLF OF ROSTOV by George Viscas, and MAXWELL by Sandra Sciberras. She is also developing for television BEFORE SUMMER, an 8 part contemporary thriller set on the Morning Peninsula, GIRLS IN THE STREET, the moving 2 part story of the Australian artist Joy Hester and is currently Executive Producer on the independent sci-fi/thriller LIFE ON EARTH: RESURRECTION, the debut feature film from writer and director Kieran King. Kate is a member of Women in Film and TV Victoria and an advocate for White Ribbon Australia. Kate is also Industry Liaison and initiated the Screenwriters competition for the Lorne Film festival to encourage new writers.

Producer

Mike is currently a Producer at Princess Pictures. Prior to that, Mike worked at Screen Australia since it was founded in 2008 and before that with predecessor agency the Australian Film Commission since 2005. In his role as Investment Manager at the Federal Government’s key screen agency, Mike managed many award-winning projects including online content, TV series, feature films, apps, interactive drama & documentary, and video games, and conceived and ran many initiatives, conferences, and training opportunities. Mike had special responsibility for innovative digital production, exploring new platforms, finance, and revenue models. Amongst several special programs, Mike initiated and managed SKIP AHEAD with Google/YouTube to support content creators to grow online subscribers, and FRESH BLOOD with ABC TV/iview to find the next wave of comedy filmmaking talent. Prior to joining the agency, Mike held positions with the UK Film Council and the South Australian Film Corporation, and worked with production companies Picture Palace North (UK) and Monkeystack. Mike’s commitment to unique and remarkable talent, coupled with his creative judgement and enviable knowledge of current trends in international production make him an invaluable asset at Princess Pictures.

Actor, Producer, Writer & Director

Clayton Jacobson is a highly experienced award winning Director whose work spans across commercials, documentaries, online content, music videos and feature films. After directing many award winning short films and episodes from John Safran’s AFI winning Music Jamboree for the ABC, Clayton created Kenny, the Australian box office and critically acclaimed feature film hit of 2006. The following year Clayton completed Kenny’s World a Comedy series for the Ten Network based on the same loveable character. Clayton then developed the award winning ground breaking World War 2 comedy spoof online/web-series Mordy Koots. Clayton then stepped into helming two episodes of the ABC Comedy/Drama series Phryne Fisher Murder mystery and a recent pilot for the ABC comedy showroom Moonman starring Lawrence Mooney. Throughout Clayton’s directing career he has always taken the opportunity to step before the cameras wherever possible. Clayton has appeared in a number of productions including the acclaimed Animal Kingdom and in Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake season 2. Clayton released his latest black comedy film Brothers’ Nest, co-staring with his brother Shane Jacobson. Clayton directed and co-produced the movie.

Senior Immersive Experience Designer, PHORIA

Samuel is a mixed reality producer, designer and developer based in Melbourne. He leads teams building experiences for virtual and augmented reality, incorporating haptics and motion capture. His studio, TSRCT, is currently working on Overworld, a VR adventure game. TSRCT also experiments with new interfaces and input types and creates bespoke mixed reality experiences for clients using Unity3D.

Manager, Fiction Development, Film Victoria

Katherine is currently the Manager, Fiction Development at Film Victoria. She has worked as an Actor, Script Developer, Development Executive and Producer. As an actor, Katherine starred in the AFI and Logie award winning mini-series’ The Road From Coorain and Changi. She has worked as a Development Executive at Screen NSW and Screen Australia, working across a slate of feature, documentary and television projects including developing and identifying new talent. She was the Head of Development and Planning at Arenamedia/Footprint Films, when the company optioned and developed the highly successful feature films The Turning, Paper Planes, and the television series The Warriors, produced the feature film Balibo and distributed four feature films including the Camera d’Or winning film Samson and Delilah.