Meet The Judges
Meet our distinguished panel of judges from across Film, TV, and Theatre,
bringing expertise in Media Law, Producing, Acting, Directing, Teaching, Casting, Screenwriting, and more.
Tina
A Seeker of Adventure and an Author
A magnet for mishaps Tina has written seven entertaining books sharing her experiences from a ten year adventure around the globe.
She has been a civil servant, a pig farmer and a Sausage Shop entrepreneur, turning down an offer from the BBC to appear with Chris Evans on the Big Breakfast and featuring in The Times, Good Housekeeping, Harper & Queen and Boys Toys!
Hobbies include – tarot reading, book club and Earth Mystery meetings.
Discarded hobbies – the ukulele, knitting and line dancing.
Passionate about travelling, renovating derelict homes, gardening and pork pies.
A. D. Cooper
Writer and Director
A.D. Cooper is a multi-award-winning British writer, director , journalist and copywriter. She brings a sharp eye for narrative detail and a passion for storytelling across genres—from social drama to psychological horror. She is also an accomplished theatre writer, audio dramatist, and educator.
Her short films have received dozens of international awards and festival selections, recognised for strong performances, inventive direction, and fearless exploration of timely themes.
Alice’s monologues have appeared on London fringes stages and online theatre, while her short film “Put Away” won Best Monologue at the Monologue & Poetry International Festival – one of 17 festival awards.
Tim John
Award Winning Screenwriter
Tim John is best-known for writing A Street Cat Named Bob, which won Best British Film at the 2017 National Film Awards.
Before that, following British television success as one of the original writers for The Max Headroom Show, and a spell writing for George Harrison’s HandMade Films, Tim pursued a seven-year career in Hollywood, writing screenplays for nearly all the major studios plus network and cable television.
He has also rewritten scripts for stars including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Murray. His latest project is adapting The Boy at the Back of the Class, to be directed by Stephen Herek.
Mel Payne
Hangover Hill Studio & Event Organiser
Mel Payne is part of Hangover Hill, an award-winning recording studio and events company based in the heart of Dorset.
Mel works alongside Matt Black who produces music across all areas of the industry while Mel oversees a vibrant programme of live events with a strong focus on original music.
Previously, she spent ten years working in a primary school setting, and now looks forward to watching this year’s children’s short film entries.
She brings creativity, organisation and a deep commitment to supporting emerging talent and grassroots music within the South West creative scene and live performance opportunities for artists alike.
Paul Draper
Writer and Producer
Paul Draper is an English writer and producer. He has written screenplays across a wide range of genres and produced film and audio content with his company Blackgate Media.
In addition to commissioned feature screenplay work for private commissioning producers as well as agency content for BBC Educational, he has published a successful collection of short folk horror stories ‘Black Gate Tales’, and is an academic assessor for undergraduate screenplay work at Salford University.
Luke English
Media Lawyer
Luke is a media lawyer. Luke has worked as a lawyer for such companies as BBC, Disney, and Sony. Luke now runs his own law firm English Media.
Luke supports individuals and companies in the TV and film industry, locally and nationally, from actors to scriptwriters, to composers to directors.
Jean Maye
Screenwriter/Producer/ Author/Lyricist
Jean is a multi-award-winning screenwriter and producer. One of her first awards was Best Film for the LA Film Festival. She is the company director of Mouse Chased Cat Productions Limited.
She is also an international best-selling author of children’s books. She writes fiction and non-fiction.
In recent years, she has also collaborated with two musicians, producing her lyrics and the songs they have composed. under the group name of SABLE RIVERS, found on BANDCAMP.
Mike Coggan
Documentary Film Maker
Mike Coggan the founder of an award-winning production company, Grizzly, which has produced a number of feature length documentaries, short films and animations.
He has also produced branded content all over the world. He is very hands on with writing, shooting, directing and producing the projects we take on.
Ishani Roy
Cinematographer
Ishani Roy is an award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer with eight years of experience, having shot over 100 branded videos and specialising in documentary content.
Her debut documentary feature as cinematographer, Bhangar/Obsolete, premiered at True/False Festival and won Best Documentary Feature at Tasveer Film Festival, earning selection across twelve international festivals.
Now directing her first feature on human-animal friendships, selected for Visions du Réel Development Lab and NFDC Film Bazaar.
A winner of the 36-hour Doc in a Day Challenge in London, she brings technical mastery and deep empathy to every story. She holds an M.A. in Cinematography from Bournemouth University.
Mandy Steele
Casting Director (CDA)
Mandy Steele is a London-based Casting Director with over 20 years’ experience across indie
features and shorts.
Her feature credits include The Estate (with Vanessa Redgrave, Franco Nero and Paul Hilton), No
Way Home (with Hayley Squires, Josh Herdman, Goran Bogdan and Renu Setna), Bilby (with Clive
Russell, Sue Johnston, Louis Emerick and Laura Checkley), alongside the BAFTA-nominated short
Talking With Angels.
A member of BAFTA and a former Board Member of the Casting Directors Association (CDA).
Mandy is recognised for her considered approach, offering practical guidance and industry insight
Tristan Tull
Course Leader BA Film and Screen Production, Regent’s University London
Tristan Tull is an academic and filmmaker with a diverse broadcast background spanning factual television, advertising, features, and short films.
A graduate of Bournemouth Media School, he serves as Course Leader for BA (Hons) Film and Screen Production at Regent’s University London.
He previously worked as a Screen Academy Associate and coordinated the EU MEDIA–funded Four Corners programme, supporting emerging screenwriters, producers, and directors on debut features.
His recent producing credits include Between Heaven and Earth, about mountaineer George Mallory and his wife Ruth, and the forthcoming Lovecraftian horror Moryow. He curates the annual Regent’s Short Film Festival with students.
Matt Black
Musician. Producer and Composer
Matt Black is musician, record producer, and composer, with piano keyboards as his primary instruments.
He runs Hangover Hill, recording studio in the Dorset countryside, where wide range of artists record across genres including film soundtracks, heavy metal, and folk.
His production approach is artist-led, focusing on understanding and supporting the creator’s vision, similar to art studio that frames rather than reshapes the work.
He believes the music business, not the music itself, is broken, and values the strength of grassroots artists outside major labels.
Matt lives on narrowboat with his wife Mel and their two border collies.
Michael Walters
Composer
Michael is a UK-based composer for Film, TV & Media. His feature and short film scores have underpinned productions receiving BFI awards, RTS nominations and numerous official selections and wins on the festival circuit, including several for Best Original Score.
His catalogue of production music is available to industry through numerous labels published by Warner (US), BMG & APM, and can regularly be heard across all major streaming platforms & HETV, including BAFTA nominated and Emmy award winning productions.
David Coleman
Executive Producers
Following successful careers in the City of London, husband and wife team David and Lynn Coleman have been developing film and tv projects for a number of years.
DAL Productions focus on real life events and contemporary world issues that play a key role in the creation and development of their scripts and/or characters. They are also currently working on film projects inspired by the Bournemouth-Lucerne 40 year+ Twinning relationship and exploring the potential of a stage play for a comedy/drama.
DAL Productions are also keen to explore opportunities where they can add value and expand their ever growing network in the creative industry. Lynn is proud to be a member of BAFTA through the Connect membership scheme.
Julia Savill
Actress / Voice Over
Julia Savill is a actress with 40 years’ experience across theatre, television, film, commercials, voiceover, and e-learning.
After three years’ drama training in Manchester, she moved to Bristol, undertaking work to gain her Equity Card, then essential for employment. She later relocated to Australia, work and appearing in a TV series, building a career across the UK and Australia.
Now in Wimborne, Dorset, she on stage and screen. For 12 years she co-ran Dramatic Productions, playing lead roles. Films include Maggie & Ted and Idiots Anonymous. She founded Grass Roots Theatre Company, championing accessible theatre, and remains passionate about storytelling.
Lyn Coleman
Executive Producers
Following successful careers in the City of London, husband and wife team David and Lynn Coleman have been developing film and tv projects for a number of years.
DAL Productions focus on real life events and contemporary world issues that play a key role in the creation and development of their scripts and/or characters. They are also currently working on film projects inspired by the Bournemouth-Lucerne 40 year+ Twinning relationship and exploring the potential of a stage play for a comedy/drama.
DAL Productions are also keen to explore opportunities where they can add value and expand their ever growing network in the creative industry. Lynn is proud to be a member of BAFTA through the Connect membership scheme.
Annie East
Dr / Principal Academic and 1st Asst. Director
Annie East is a Principal Academic in Media Production and an experienced filmmaker whose professional credits span location management, production management, and assistant directing.
Her IMDb-listed work includes To England With Love (First Assistant Director, 2024) Future TX (First Assistant Director, 2022), Who Killed Nelson Nutmeg? (Production Consultant, 2015) alongside numerous TV credits such as EastEnders and Casualty.
She is also known for her leadership in sustainable and inclusive production education (BAFTA Albert), her doctoral research reflects her commitment to safer, more equitable practices in the screen industries.
John Foster
Playwright & Screenwriter
John Foster is a playwright and screenwriter with extensive credits across television, film, and theatre. His TV work includes Z-Cars, Juliet Bravo, The Bill, and Crown Court, and he created the Granada tv-series The Practice.
He wrote the feature film Letters from a Killer starring Patrick Swayze, and a BAFTA award-winning Omnibus on Raymond Chandler.
His theatre work has toured widely with Arts Council support, earning multiple OFFIE nominations for Chummy at the White Bear Theatre, London.
A co-founder of Doppelganger Productions, John continues to develop new writing, with recent international productions and new touring projects in the UK and Europe.