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Our Judges 

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Kym Wilson is an award winning Australian actress known for her work in Film, Television and Theatre. Her career began in the Australian Film Institute Awarded Best Film, "Flirting" alongside Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts and later that same year in the mini series "Brides of Christ" starring opposite Naomi Watts and Russell Crowe for which she received a Logie (Australian Emmy) for New Talent. Wilson then appeared in the Sydney Theatre Company's production of "The Crucible" before undertaking a series regular role on beloved Australian drama "A Country Practice" for which she received several Logie and People's Choice Award Nominations for Best Actress in a Series.

Kym returned to the stage where she originated the role of Rachel in the Sydney Theatre Company's "Blackrock". A national tour as Janet in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" followed.

Numerous other stage roles and Australian film and TV movies followed before she returned to series TV in the role of Sam on "Heartbreak High". She then originated the role of Tess McLeod in the television movie "McLeod's Daughters" opposite Jack Thomspon.

Kym is a recipient of the Winston Churchill Fellowship which took her to the US to study with Shakespeare & Company and with the Moscow Art Theatre Company at Harvard. She stayed in the US after meeting her husband, Writer/Producer Sean O'Byrne, and taking a break from acting, successfully launched the Australian fashion label, Leona Edmiston, in the US, Europe & Asia.

She returned to acting in 2016 in Australian Theatre Companies award winning production of 'Speaking in Tongues' at the Matrix Theatre in Hollywood for which she received a Stage Scene LA award for 'Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role'.

Kym Wilson

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Astrid Wells 

Freedom in film is the mirror reflecting society’s dreams, hopes and sometimes its darkest truths.” - Stewart Tyrrell, SLSFF Judge

Stewart is a passionate filmmaker, educator and cinephile with more than 20 years experience in the film, television and radio industries.

Stewart is a long standing committee member of the Australian Screen Editors Guild and for the past 15 years has been inspiring young creatives as a lecturer at the Griffith University Film School and also a teacher with Essential Screen Skills - a High School film industry connection initiative - visiting Brisbane high schools and running film camps in outback Winton and tropical Cairns.

He is also the writer and director of a romantic comedy feature entitled ‘Brisbane’ which is currently in post production.

It is Stewart’s fourth year judging for SLSFF.

Stewart Tyrrell

Astrid Wells has worked for almost every major network as an actor and casting director. She was the voice of QLD Government during the pandemic. Her credits include Deadloch (Amazon Prime); Rosehaven (ABC); In Our Blood (ABC); Nine Perfect Strangers (Amazon Prime); Space Chickens in Space (STAN/ 9Go!); Reef Break (ABC USA); Prosper (STAN); The Gloaming (STAN); The Kettering Incident (Foxtel); Without Limits (BBC).

 

Astrid has written and directed two short films: Slick Timing has been shown on ABC and toured nationally and internationally and has decorated her with directing awards; Douglas was made for internet sharing and has had 25K+ views.

 

Astrid is delighted to be returning to the judging panel for SLSFF24. 

Jack Berry

Simon Bell is an Australian entrepreneur, business coach, and filmmaker. Starting his business journey in 2004, Simon has founded six companies across multiple industries and has coached/mentored more than 1000 business leaders across Australia and the United States. 

After succesfully selling his previous company, Simon decided to pursue his lifelong dream of being a filmmaker, and in 2021 launched CHOOSEDAY Studios.

CHOOSEDAY Studio’s slate is rapidly growing, with a number of projects in development, including two feature films and a webseries. His vision for CHOOSEDAY is to become Australia's largest independent film studio with production facilities in South East Queensland and Southern California. 

Simon is excited to translate his entrepreneurial and leadership skills to the film and television industry and is rapidly making a name for himself in this space.

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Simon Bell

Freedom in film is the ability to create work that ignites a dialogue between viewers and conversation between their perspectives. It is bringing to the forefront difficult stories that people can relate to. It is about inclusion and collaborating with trusting, daring and likeminded creatives.” - Jack Berry, SLSFF24 Judge 

 

Jack Berry is a 32 year old Sydney based actor. He first began acting at the age of 5 in school productions and hasn’t looked back. He studied at the New York Film Academy, graduating in 2015. From there Jack has remained extremely involved within the industry through multiple departments. He has built sets for major motion pictures Alien:Covenant, Pacific Rim:Uprising and Belvior Street Theatre. Jack has also worked behind the scenes in both MX and LX departments on such shows as ‘The Wizard of OZ’, My Fair Lady, School of Rock and Tina as well as many shows with Opera Australia. Jacks recent acting credits include “Patched” Directed by Steve Mann (film), ‘Lunch Break’ (film) Broken Promise Land (stage), ‘Affliction’ (stage) directed by Steve Le Marquand, ‘The Elephant man’ (Stage), Parisian Jam (WINNER Best Picture, Best Thriller, Best Indie Film @ New York Film Awards and Best Student film @ the LA film awards, ‘A Bunch Called Rowdy’ (Series) starring Stephen Hunter, ‘The skydiver and the Scarecrow’ (WINNER- Best film @ Sydney Indie Film Festival), ‘Our House’ (WINNER- John Pooley Play of the Year) and Lake Terror (NOMINATED- Best Short Film @ Screen Producers Australia Awards).

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Shideh Faramand

Shideh Faramand is an award-winning writer, director, actor and producer, residing in Toowoomba, Queensland. Her short films ‘A Reluctant Bride’ and ‘Amalia Lucia Gomez is Gluten Intolerant’ have screened at festivals with audiences across Australia, North America and Europe, as well as being broadcast on national television in Romania and Sweden. Passionate about creating strong female driven content and diverse stories, Shideh is currently developing several film and television projects under her newly founded company, Immigrants Daughter Production House, reflective of the ever-changing face of Australia. Shideh is a founding member of Raising Films Australia, committed to supporting positive changes towards a more family-friendly industry.

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Marc Smith 

Simon Bell

As most great camera operators, Marc Smith prefers to be behind the camera and out of the picture...but we managed to track this one down! Marc Smith has agreed to come back for another year judging the art in filmmaking...and we think that as a multi-award winning cinematographer, sound recordist and producer for the critically acclaimed ABC TV's 'Australian Story' we think he makes a pretty impressive addition to the team! When asked for a bio, Marc said "I make Tik Toks on shoots as well now!

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