JURY
MEET THE JURORS
(Everyman) Coretta Bedsole is a passionate lover of films and the arts. When she’s not traveling with her retired husband, she works as a part-time consultant specializing in effective communications and messaging to consumers and elected officials. Coretta retired in 2017 after a 30-year career as a lobbyist, representing nonprofits, professional, and trade associations, with one of her favorite clients being IATSE Local 491. A graduate of Winthrop University, she is also the proud mother of musician Derrick Lee Johnson. Coretta and her husband, George Johnson, live in Chapin, South Carolina, where they volunteer, enjoy walks, and spend time with friends.
Coretta Bedsole
Michael Cusack
(Waltzing Matilda) Michael Cusack is a renowned director based in Adelaide, South Australia, with a career spanning television commercials and successful short films. He won his first major award, an Australian Film Institute Award, in 1985 for Waltzing Matilda. Michael has received the prestigious Master’s Chair Award from the Adelaide Advertising and Design Club a record six times and the President’s Award from The Adelaide Art Directors. In 2002, he was made an Honorary Member of the Australian Cinematographer’s Society. His 2006 film Gargoyle won an AFI for Best Short Animation, and his film Sleight of Hand earned over 35 international awards and was eligible for the 2014 Academy Awards. Michael is also a sought-after speaker and judge at major film festivals.
(Misadventures of an Urban Nerd) Charles Easley is a creative visionary with over a decade of experience in digital media, video production, and storytelling. Specializing in graphic design, motion graphics, and social media engagement, he crafts compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. As a skilled video editor and multimedia producer, Charles elevates digital campaigns through innovative content and special effects. His background as an Education and Media Consultant allows him to develop impactful content strategies for organizations and businesses. A published author, Charles's book series Misadventures of an Urban Nerd explores his experiences as a Black nerd in Houston. charleseasley.carrd.co
Charles Easley
(Artist, Production Designer) "I have always been an artist." Josie Fife was born in New Mexico in 1958 and graduated and received a BFA in Drawing and Painting from the University of Utah in 1991. Upon graduation, she began working in the film industry mostly as a lead scenic artist. During her film career, she also has worked in props, set dressing and served briefly as production designer at New Mexico State. She continued to pursue her art with shows in Utah, Wyoming, Seattle, and Montana where she lived off and on. Josie is mostly retired now unless something special comes along, but continues to draw and paint in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Josie Fife
(Peepers Puppet) Hobey Ford has performed on stages around the world. He is also the creator of Peepers Puppet. The winner of two Citations of Excellence from Union International de la Marionette USA, and recipient of three Jim Henson Foundation Grants, Ford is also a Kennedy Center Teaching Artist and hails from Weaverville NC.
Hobey Ford
(When We Last Spoke) Joanne Hock is a versatile writer, director, and cinematographer with over 30 years in the film industry. Starting as a copywriter and producer in advertising, she became one of the few women cinematographers in the 90s, working with Kodak Films. Joanne has directed seven films, working with stars like Cloris Leachman and Brian Dennehy, and helped shape the careers of emerging talent. With a passion for storytelling, she has also directed 8 documentaries and 30+ true crime TV shows. Her screenplay When We Last Spoke won the Austin Film Festival Audience Favorite Award. She’s currently developing a limited series based on Child of the Forest.
Joanne Hock
(James Horgan Prize, Galway Film Festival) Cashell Horgan, born in Ireland, is a multi-award-winning filmmaker renowned for his expertise in stop-motion animation. He studied media at the College of Marketing and Design in Dublin and won the prestigious James Horgan Prize at the Galway Film Festival with his first film. Cashell has produced and directed short films and television inserts, while also teaching animation and film at the European School of Animation and the National Film Television School Ireland. With experience as a Director and Editor, he has appeared on television and served as a Jury member for Fantasporto, Malta Short TV Festival, and Amarcort Film.
Cashell Horgan
(Pinchpot, Annecy Cristal) Greg Holfeld, a dynamic force in animation, has built an impressive career since dropping out of Vancouver’s Emily Carr College of Art in the mid-80s. Over the years, he’s directed numerous commercials, animated and storyboarded for film and TV, and created short films that have been featured in global competitions. Greg’s achievements include winning an Annecy Cristal for a toilet training film in 2002 and earning Best Animated Short of 2019 by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts for Pinchpot. Greg also lectures in animation and illustration at CDW and the University of South Australia, while cultivating edible vegetables in his Adelaide garden. gregholfeld.com
Greg Holfeld
(Amaterasu, Team America: World Police) Christine Papalexis discovered her passion for puppetry at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater in Los Angeles and has since created puppets and costumes for film, television, videos, and commercials. Her work includes hand, cable, animatronic, and hydraulic puppets, with highlights such as puppeteering a giant cockroach on a Roger Corman film. Christine has performed and crafted various creatures, from aliens to marionette sex scenes. Her directorial debut, Amaterasu, a short marionette film based on a Japanese folk tale, was supported by Heather Henson’s Handmade Puppet Dreams. A past president of the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry, she also contributes to puppet publications. christinepapalexis.com
Christine Papalexis
(Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas, Set It Off) Dale M. Pollock, a Cleveland native, is a renowned film critic, producer, and educator. After earning a BA in Anthropology from Brandeis University and an MS in Communications from San Jose State University, he became the head film critic for Daily Variety and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Pollock authored Skywalking: The Life and Films of George Lucas, which sold over 150,000 copies. As a development executive at David Geffen’s company, he discovered the scripts for Beetlejuice, The Burbs, and Universal Soldier. Pollock later served as president of A&M Films and Dean at UNC's School of Filmmaking.
Dale Pollock
(Everyman) Michael Rivers is a film enthusiast who served in the United States military, Rivers has worked as a Senior Systems Engineer for Atrium Health for the last 11 years. He resides with his family in Rock Hill.
Michael Rivers
(Homeless at the End, The Gerda That Remains) Sally is a producer and director with over three decades of experience at PBS Utah. She focuses on stories that highlight social justice and the underserved, fostering empathy and compassion. Sally has produced and directed documentaries on Utah’s children, refugee youth, war veterans, the Southern Paiutes, and the homeless. Notable works include Homeless at the End, which explores the challenges faced by Utah’s homeless, and The Gerda That Remains. She has also directed and produced several short stories showcasing Utah’s unique people and creative spaces. Sally is a recipient of NETA, SPJ, and multiple Rocky Mountain Emmy awards for production excellence.
Sally Shaum
(Visual Artist and Director) J. Michael Simpson, an artist and educator, holds a B.A. from Western Illinois University and an M.F.A. from Illinois State University. His work, influenced by childhood experiences of awe and wonder, explores the Sublime through painting, drawing, and video. After discovering the power of digital video to capture river turbulence, Simpson began integrating video with traditional media, creating mixed media installations and video short productions. His work has been exhibited in over 200 exhibitions, including international festivals in India and Italy. Simpson taught at Auburn University, Eastern Michigan University, Winthrop University, and retired from UNC Charlotte. He now maintains a studio in Rock Hill, South Carolina. jmichaelsimpson.org
J. Michael Simpson
(Winthrop University) Stock began teaching at Winthrop in 2004. Her specialty is modern and contemporary European art. She guest-curated an exhibition at Winthrop titled Performing Gender and investigates gender issues in her scholarship. Stock also received a Fulbright teaching scholarship and spent six months teaching art history in Beijing, China.
Karen Stock
(Going to the Devil: The Impeachment of 1868, The Forgotten War) David is a senior producer/editor at Healthy Directions and a filmmaker with over 20 years of experience. He directed the feature-length documentary Going to the Devil: The Impeachment of 1868 and the short documentary The Forgotten War: The Lasting Legacy of World War I, both streaming on The Great Courses. David previously served as the supervising producer for digital content at The Great Courses, curating educational non-fiction programming. He is also the creative director at g14 Productions, producing narrative films with his partner Matthew Balthrop. g14 Productions won the Terry Roueche Audience Choice Award at UFFyc 2017. David has also performed sketch comedy with Stone Cold Fox at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre NY.
David C. White
(Winthrop University) David Wohl, Ph.D., retired in 2017 after a distinguished career as Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Winthrop University. Holding a Ph.D. in Theatre from Kent State University, he previously held leadership roles at West Virginia State University and founded the Charleston Stage Company. An accomplished director and actor, David contributed to over 100 productions and published in notable journals. Recognized for his service to the arts, he received the Suzanne Davis Award and led significant initiatives supporting West Virginia’s arts community. David is married to Sherry and enjoys family time with their two children and three grandchildren.
David Wohl