We are very happy to share that this group of documentary experts will be judging this year’s selection of documentary shorts. We are honoured to have their participation!
Lydia Matata
Based in Nairobi, Kenya, Lydia Matata is a writer on the series Country Queen, streaming on Netflix and Igiza, on Showmax. Her short film Sungura was selected at Shorts Not Pants in 2021 and recently won the Best Women In Film Award at the Black Star International Film Festival and the Best Extended Cinema Award at the Malatesta Short Film Festival. She directed and produced the documentary Utapata Mwingine, winner of the Best Emerging Filmmaker Award at the UN Women’s Global Voices Film Festival.
Elad Dekel
Elad Dekel is a student at the University of Toronto, studying Cinema Studies, Criminology and History. Apart from being the Vice President Internal of the Cinema Studies Student Union, he has also worked in the industry as a script coverage intern, and volunteered at a multitude of events. He focuses on writing short stories and screenplays, and is passionate about photography and videography. Currently, he is studying changes in the use of music in American animated films from the late 80s hand-drawn animation era to the present day computer-generated animation era.
Carly Florentine
Carly Florentine is an actress and interdisciplinary artist of mixed media. Her photography has been exhibited in the UK, Italy and online and she has performed poetry in Barcelona, Paris and regularly in London. She studied directing and documentary filmmaking and is working for Demetera International Short Film Festival. She has previously been on the jury of a poetry and live music competition.