Michael Brown
Executive Director
1. Blade Runner
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey
3. Omega Man
4. Silent Running
5. Dark Star
Vincent Keane
Creative Director, Producer
1. Delicatessen
2. 12 Monkeys
3. The Fifth Element
4. Wall-e
5. MIB
Hiroshi Kono
Outreach Director
1. Planet of the Apes
2. A Clockwork Orange
3. Back to the Future
4. The Fly
5. Cube
Sato Yamamoto
Social Media Coordinator
1. Godzilla (1954)
2. Evangelion
3. Akira
4. Ghost in the Shell
5. Spirited Away
Hiroshi Kono
New York Japan CineFest
1. Planet of the Apes
2. A Clockwork Orange
3. Back to the Future
4. The Fly
5. Cube
Laura Phillips
Producer / Writer Director
1. Alien
2. Mama
3. The Ring (2002 - U.S. remake)
4. The Thing (Carpenter's, '72)
5. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Kaufman's, '78)
Vincent Keane
Creative Director / Producer
1. Star Wars
2. Men in Black
3. The Fifth Element
4. Stargate
5. The Terminator
Jerald Miller
NuJazz Entertaiment
1. Return of the Jedi
2. The Wrath of Khan
3. The Blob
4. Creature from the Black Lagoon
5. The Birds
Travis Aitken
Director / Producer
My career began as an editor at the legendary Mad River Post in Los Angeles and New York. I moved out of the editing suite and into the director’s chair joining Liberal Media Films in 2006. I have written, directed, and produced many award-winning short films. Now as a producer at Deepwater Productions, working in development, I am focused on discovering, supporting, and bringing great stories to life.
Peter Bolte
Filmmaker
Peter Bolte is an award winning artist and filmmaker who has exhibited his work internationally. With a background in painting, he went on to work in the film industry for over two decades. He has directed the features All Roads Lead and Dandelion Man, several short films and music videos. Notable credits include being cinematographer on The Booksellers (Greenwich Entertainment) and the Emmy nominated documentary Casting By (HBO Documentaries).
Melissa Rodriguez
NY Writer / Director
Melissa Rodriguez is a Latinx Writer/Director whose films put a focus on marginalized stories dedicated to social justice. Originally from the Bronx, she now claims the lost borough of NYC, Yonkers, as her home. She is an MFA graduate from Brooklyn College, a BAFTA scholar and former national chess champion. Her documentary thesis film, "The Sambodi Project", was featured at various film festivals including the 30 Under 30 Film Festival which partnered with the U.N. for topics surrounding social justice.
Brady O'Sullivan
Filmmaker
I'm a 19 year old film student from Sydney, Australia. I've been interested in making films since I was around 9 years old, and have formed major interests in writing, directing and cinematography. I had the pleasure of having my short film 'Sydney 2078' selected last year; and go on to win best student film amongst many other fantastic submissions. I am very excited to be on board as juror this year, and I'm keen to watch all the fantastic and creative films that come through!
Michael Catalano
Writer/Author
I've written film reviews, essays, and worked on cult film blu ray/dvd special features as well as write/produce other material including the doc feature BOILED ANGELS: THE TRIAL OF MIKE DIANA.
Damaris Perez Pizarro
Journalist/Press/Blogger
I've been a juror for 5 years or more and I enjoyed to the fullest seen so many talented people producing and acting. I have an Associate degree in Tv Production and Multimedia and a Bachelor degree in Communications. I have done some short documentaries as well as video record weddings. I enjoy SciFi series, SciFi movies and among my favorites movies I love Star Wars, The Fifth Element, Men In Black among others.
Daniel Christophersen
Filmmaker / BSFFF Alumni
Daniel Christophersen is a Scottish/Norwegian writer, director and producer who graduated with a masters from The London Film School. His comedy and drama films, produced through his production company Far Away Films, have played at international and Academy Award Qualifying festivals.
Patrick Terry
Producer - First Time Caller
I got to know the festival when I attended last year with First Time Caller - and it was a thrill to win an award!
Sato Yamamoto
Social Media Coordinator
Sato Yamamoto is a Japanese bilingual artist inspired by culture and diversity. Born in Meguro, Tokyo – currently living in Brooklyn, New York. She facilitates workshops with Teachers and Writers Collaborative, New York Public Library, Manhattan Graphics Center, Poster House, and Japan Society. Sato is National Advisory Committee (NAC) member of Teaching Artists Guild.
Pedro Jaen R.
2022 Filmmaker - Winner
Filmmaker and writer, with short films like "Mbyja rapégüyto (Map to the stars)", "Adam In Aeternum" and "Orpheize", selected and awarded at hundreds of international festivals.
Farnoosh Abedi
2022 Filmmaker - Winner
Farnoosh Abedi was born in 1985 in Isfahan/ Iran. He has made more than 20 short animated films and TV series, documentaries and one Feature Animated. His films was presented and screened in more than 700 domestic and international film festivals and received 240 awards.
Eleanor Forman
Journalist, Writer
I discovered SF/F in 4th grade and never looked back. I'm a copyeditor/proofreader whose literary chocolate is Speculative Fiction. Contact me at AndreaBeatriceReed@yahoo.com & EEFWWW@yahoo.com. I was also a journalist when I was on WBAI in NY, 99.5 FM Pacifica Radio.
Zachary Engel
Composer/Sound Design
Zak Engel is a recording and visual artist, composer, and music producer. In addition to many film and television scores, he is known for his solo albums as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His short film, "Mi" was awarded the Silver "Best in Brooklyn" prize at last year's Brooklyn SciFi.