2025 Festival Jury
Our Jury comprises filmmakers, actors, and academic and industry leaders who are committed to recognizing and supporting the best in innovative, diverse, and artistically excellent film for young audiences throughout the globe.
Jurors select the winners of the Festival’s Best Animated Short, Best Live Action Short (Narrative), and Best Live Action Short (Documentary). The Festival is an Academy®-qualifying event. Winners of our juried awards are eligible for Academy® consideration in the Best Live Action and Best Animated Short Film categories.
Jurors select the winners of the Festival’s Best Animated Short, Best Live Action Short (Narrative), and Best Live Action Short (Documentary). The Festival is an Academy®-qualifying event. Winners of our juried awards are eligible for Academy® consideration in the Best Live Action and Best Animated Short Film categories.
to be announced...
Jarelle Dampier
animator and director, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story
Ilana Glazer
Emmy® nominated writer, producer, and actor, Broad City
Guillermo Martinez
director and Head of Story at Sony Pictures Animation
Matthew Modine
Emmy® nominated actor, Oppenheimer
Chris Nee
Emmy® Award-winning writer, producer, and creator, Doc McStuffins
Peter Ramsey
Oscar®-winning director, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Benjamin Renner
Oscar® nominated and NYICFF Award-winning director, Ernest & Celestine, Migration
Ira Sachs
award-winning director, Passages
Phillipa Soo
Grammy® Award-winning actor, singer, and author
Ellen Su
producer, director, and head of artistic recruiting at Titmouse Animation
Uma Thurman
Oscar® nominated actor, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2; founding board member, Room to Grow