2024 Jury Panel
Running a film festival is a lot of work, but watching and evaluating all of the films that are submitted is even MORE work, so I have to give a huge THANK YOU to this year's panel of judges for all of their efforts.
Sanjeev Surati
Sanjeev Surati is a Seattle transplant who has been living in Philly since 2001. He is one of the co-founders of Small Basket Studios and has written, produced, directed, run sound, edited, acted, created practical effects and even been kicked in the nuts all in the name of filmmaking. He’s known for Zombie Casserole, Spammer, Kaishakunin and participating as both cast and crew in Theatre of Terror’s The Gift. He’s currently focusing on his martial arts training and getting various joints replaced.
Sanjeev Surati is a Seattle transplant who has been living in Philly since 2001. He is one of the co-founders of Small Basket Studios and has written, produced, directed, run sound, edited, acted, created practical effects and even been kicked in the nuts all in the name of filmmaking. He’s known for Zombie Casserole, Spammer, Kaishakunin and participating as both cast and crew in Theatre of Terror’s The Gift. He’s currently focusing on his martial arts training and getting various joints replaced.
Sarah Gandolfo
Sarah has been a fan and supporter of independent film for many years, and has been involved with Grindhouse Nights Film Festival since the beginning! She enjoys horror and sci-fi, reading, and cooking. Sarah brings a true horror fan's perspective to her role as a judge.
Sarah has been a fan and supporter of independent film for many years, and has been involved with Grindhouse Nights Film Festival since the beginning! She enjoys horror and sci-fi, reading, and cooking. Sarah brings a true horror fan's perspective to her role as a judge.
Scott Colbert
This is Scott Colbert's second year judging for Grindhouse nights, a task he truly enjoys. In addition to hosting The Imaginarium podcast for the last 9 years, Scott is the author of three novels, and four collections of film essays. He resides in Phoenix,AZ with his all too perky cat, London.
This is Scott Colbert's second year judging for Grindhouse nights, a task he truly enjoys. In addition to hosting The Imaginarium podcast for the last 9 years, Scott is the author of three novels, and four collections of film essays. He resides in Phoenix,AZ with his all too perky cat, London.
John Iwasz
John Iwasz is a cinematographer, writer, and producer for numerous short films. He channeled his love for horror and horror comedy into his filmmaking efforts along with Sanj Surati. Together, they wrote, filmed, directed, edited and produced Zombie Casserole, Spammer, and Blobageddon. John has been an active participant in the film community in both Philadelphia and New York as cinematographer and sound engineer on numerous projects.
John Iwasz is a cinematographer, writer, and producer for numerous short films. He channeled his love for horror and horror comedy into his filmmaking efforts along with Sanj Surati. Together, they wrote, filmed, directed, edited and produced Zombie Casserole, Spammer, and Blobageddon. John has been an active participant in the film community in both Philadelphia and New York as cinematographer and sound engineer on numerous projects.
Paul Gmitter
Paul Gmitter is a character actor, voice over artist, and indie horror actor who is well known throughout the horror community in the Northeast. Some of you may have had the pleasure of meeting Paul's original character "Isaac The Living Doll" at past conventions or events. Paul has been a professional character actor for 9 years and has appeared at various conventions as Freddy Krueger, Jack Nicholsan"s Joker and his other original character Cyphon.
Paul Gmitter is a character actor, voice over artist, and indie horror actor who is well known throughout the horror community in the Northeast. Some of you may have had the pleasure of meeting Paul's original character "Isaac The Living Doll" at past conventions or events. Paul has been a professional character actor for 9 years and has appeared at various conventions as Freddy Krueger, Jack Nicholsan"s Joker and his other original character Cyphon.
Gareth Tidball
Gareth Tidball is an award-winning actress and screenwriter with a romantic affinity for the macabre. She typically plays young, tough women with a strong sense of justice and an air of quiet mystery. Gareth first made waves in the indie film scene with her performance in the hard-hitting thriller 'My Autopsy' - currently available on Amazon Prime. Since then, she has made appearances in several feature films: wacky horror-comedy 'Obstacle Corpse' (MaddWolf Productions), neo-noir horror 'Casting Kill' (Raya Films), and Tom Ryan's epic horror anthology 'Return to the Theatre of Terror' (Theatre of Terror Productions.) Coming up, Gareth will be leading the cast in 'Foxglove Candy,' a female-driven thriller from the mind of Daniel Emery Taylor (Debtor Entertainment.) Gareth is originally from Oakland, California, and is a proud dual citizen of both the US and UK.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gareth Tidball
Gareth Tidball is an award-winning actress and screenwriter with a romantic affinity for the macabre. She typically plays young, tough women with a strong sense of justice and an air of quiet mystery. Gareth first made waves in the indie film scene with her performance in the hard-hitting thriller 'My Autopsy' - currently available on Amazon Prime. Since then, she has made appearances in several feature films: wacky horror-comedy 'Obstacle Corpse' (MaddWolf Productions), neo-noir horror 'Casting Kill' (Raya Films), and Tom Ryan's epic horror anthology 'Return to the Theatre of Terror' (Theatre of Terror Productions.) Coming up, Gareth will be leading the cast in 'Foxglove Candy,' a female-driven thriller from the mind of Daniel Emery Taylor (Debtor Entertainment.) Gareth is originally from Oakland, California, and is a proud dual citizen of both the US and UK.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Gareth Tidball
Mark Boutros
Mark Boutros grew up in Queens, NY. He is the founder and festival director for the First Contact Film Festival, a festival of sci-fi, fantasy, horror and the strange. He studied broadcast production at Brooklyn College where he received a MFA in TV and Radio Productions. Mark has worked on numerous genre films in the NY/NJ area as a cinematographer, producer, writer and director.
Mark Boutros grew up in Queens, NY. He is the founder and festival director for the First Contact Film Festival, a festival of sci-fi, fantasy, horror and the strange. He studied broadcast production at Brooklyn College where he received a MFA in TV and Radio Productions. Mark has worked on numerous genre films in the NY/NJ area as a cinematographer, producer, writer and director.