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Jury

 

Peter Caranicas is Managing Editor, Features at Variety. He leads the team thatcreates the magazine’s feature sections, which are published within Weekly Variety, or as extra editions, more than 250 times a year. These specials cover film festivals, celebrate industry anniversaries, provide in-depth analysis of awards such as the Oscars and the Emmys, identify up-and-coming talent; and list key players among youth, women, lawyers and financiers in entertainment. “His experience in covering film and TV production and the global TV arena provides Variety with an internationally respected journalist who has a vast list of contacts inside these key business sectors,” said Steven Gaydos, Variety‘s Executive Editor, Features, when Caranicas joined the staff. Previously, Caranicas was editor of Below the Line, Shoot, Film&Video, and other industry publications. He is a frequent moderator at industry panels and has freelanced for such outlets as TV News Check, World Screen, The Hollywood Reporter, and the New York Times Encyclopedia of Television.
Larry Karaszewski is a writer and producer, best known for ED WOOD (1994), 1408 (2007), and MAN ON THE MOON (1999). Along with his writing/directing/producing partner Scott Alexander, Larry won Best Screenplay Golden Globe for THE PEOPLE vs. LARRY FLYNT (1996), and was nominated by the Writers Guild of America for his cult movie ED WOOD. Without a doubt, his collaborations with the two brilliant directors Tim Burton and Milos Forman were a magnificent feather in his cap. Karaszewski also adapted Stephen King’s 1408 and produced Paul Schrader’s AUTO FOCUS (2002) too. Larry is one of the most active cineastes in Los Angeles: serves as a member of the Board of Advisors for the Cinefamily, and hosts a long-running film series for the American Cinematheque. His funny commentaries about cult films can be seen on Joe Dante’s website ‘Trailers From Hell’. Last, but surely not least, Larry wrote a biography of the Marx Brothers.
Christopher Kikis started his career as a creative producer of theatrical spectacles in New York, Europe, and India. Chris capitalized on his talents for producing and deal making by co-founding Ovie Entertainment. It’s there that he oversaw the production of the award-winning documentary DARKON (2006), currently being developed as a scripted feature by Plan B Entertainment, among other indie projects. Chris has been involved in many films, including the South-by-Southwest award-winning BOOSTER (2012); HAPPY CHRISTMAS (2014), just sold to Paramount at Sundance; and MINE GAMES (2012) releasing on DVD. His production company, Emerald Peak, also participated in the Broadway musical Nice Work If You Can Get It, starring Mathew Broderick, which garnered two Tony Awards. Chris is now in production on a children’s TV show – based on a renowned brand – developing a digital-first family entertainment company.
Athena Nash works as an International Sales and Acquisitions Coordinator at Arclight Films, one of the world’s leading international sales companies for theatrical, television, and home video. Arclight Films has sold over 130 motion pictures including the 2004 Best Picture Oscar winner CRASH, and 2007 Golden Globe Best Picture Nominee BOBBY. Athena first served as Director of Digital Marketing for a number of select independent films, where she was responsible for the development and execution of a variety of successful online campaigns. She then relocated to Los Angeles, and accepted a full-time position at Arclight Films.
Katerina Zacharia is a Professor of Classics at Loyola Marymount University. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Athens, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Classics from University College London. She is the author of “Converging Truths: Euripides’ Ion and the Athenian Quest for Self-Definition”, and the editor and major contributor on “Hellenisms: Culture, Identity and Ethnicity from Antiquity to Modernity”. In 2010-11, she received two consecutive resident Research Fellowships in Athens, the first by the Initiative for Heritage Conservancy, and the second (an Onassis Senior Foreign Fellowship) as a result of her work on Greek tourism in the interwar years. Professor Zacharia is also an experienced organizer of theatrical performances, as well as of workshops, artistic events, and film retrospectives. She serves as a consultant on matters of Letters and Arts for the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation in Athens and the film industry in L.A.