NARRATIVE JURY MEMBER

Spencer Folmar is a producer, director, and writer. He has been making independent feature films for over 15 years. Folmar is an award winning film director and writer. He is represented at APA and Zero Gravity Management. His 2017 theatrical debut “Generational Sins” made worldwide news with his new Hard Faith™ genre. His films and entrepreneurial endeavors have been featured in Variety, New York Times, New York Post, Newsweek, LA Times, Deadline, Hollywood Reporter, and more. Spencer has written & directed 4 feature films and produced 8 feature films. Spencer’s life motto in art is “Telling Stories That Liberate”.

www.SpencerFolmar.com

NARRATIVE JURY MEMBER

Christopher W. Graham studied film directing at Biola University. After college, he began shooting music documentaries, commercials and comedy sketches. Graham co-produced two seasons of a live-music series for PBS called Open Mic TV (05,06)-which highlighted Southern California bands. In 2012 he co-wrote and co-directed Noble Fir (his first feature film), which had its World Premier at the 2014 Cinequest Film Festival. In 2014 he co-produced the documentary My Name Is Water with legendary actress Sharon Stone. My Name Is Water premiered at the 2015 Hollywood Film Festival . In 2019, Graham wrote and directed the short film Aida-which which received several accolades, including Best Dramatic Film at the 2020 Austin Under the Stars Film Festival.

DOCUMENTARY JURY MEMBER

Brent Gudgel is one of documentary world’s faithful optimists. His films typically pass through places that seem hopeless only to emerge into experiences of supernatural beauty. His credits include the #1 theatrical documentary of 2020, Free Burma Rangers, about a former special forces soldier that saw miracles unfold while raising his family on the frontlines of war. Brent also directed the feature doc Dear Francis (Showtime television), the comedy docu-series Lovin’ Lakin (Hulu - Kristen Bell, Seth McFarlin), and over 300 short documentaries with organizations such as Toyota, LA Clippers, Union Rescue Mission, Deidox, IJM, and World Relief. He recently they relocated from Texas back to California, near Yosemite where he makes films through Gudge Films.

NARRATIVE JURY MEMBER

Nadhege Ptah is a one-of-a-kind artist with a truly diverse background. As an award-winning actor, writer, producer, film director, and dancer, she had the unique opportunity to experiment with various media and create a diverse portfolio of astonishing creative works across different forms of expression and platforms. Whether it's a dance choreography, a visual project, or some of her acting career, it's pertinent for Nadhege to tell compelling stories that depict the human condition to connect with the audience.

Her outstanding work was acknowledged and praised in her teens by The United Nations, marking the utmost importance of her artistic contribution to the world. Nadhege co-starred in SHOWTIME television series City on a Hill and won best actress of the year for her performance by the American Music Awards. Television audiences might recognize Nadhege as a producer and featured lead in her short films appearing on CBS, PBS, ABC, NBC, and FOX, just to name a few.

Her performances have been well received, with critical praise appearing on globally recognized publications, including The Huffington Post, PBS, Backstage, and many other outlets. What makes Nadhege's performances unique is that her work feels authentic and inspiring, with the deeper goal of portraying the truth of the human experience and exploring its depth and nuances. With every character study, she is not afraid to go deep and take it to the next level to add a more genuine flair to her roles and creative works.

DOCUMENTARY JURY MEMBER

Tracy is a freelance editor and director with a passion to create compelling stories that enrich and inspire audiences. After graduating from Brooks Institute in 2008 with a B.A. in Film Production, she began a career in film and video editing. For four years she worked for lynda.com (now LinkedIn Learning) as an editor on the company's documentary team before becoming self-employed. Most recently, she directed and edited the award-winning documentary film The Matter of Life, which premiered in theaters nationwide in May of 2022. In her free time, she enjoys adventures with friends in her hometown of San Diego.