Academy Award winner Rachel Shenton is a writer, actress and co-owner of Slick Films and earned her Oscar for best live-action short film for The Silent Child in 2018, which she wrote & starred in. Her film helped put the deaf community on the industry's biggest stage when her acceptance speech used British Sign Language. Rachel also founded The Midlands Screen Acting School and co-leads the Slick Films Fund, both dedicated to championing working-class talent. Rachel has starred in all series of acclaimed drama All Creatures Great and Small and also hit BBC/Netflix series White Gold, after beginning her career in Channel 4's Hollyoaks. Her US TV debut had her playing Lily Summers in ABC Family drama Switched at Birth, and on the big screen, she is starring in Lionsgate's The Strangers film trilogy reboot, directed by Renny Harlin. Rachel will be choosing the winner of the Best Short Film category.

Tenisha White (Filmmaker) - Tenisha White is a prominent Midlands-based director & producer recognised for her bold storytelling and cinematic style. She’s led projects for ITV & BBC, and her debut feature film is set for global distribution in February 2026 in the USA blending mainstream and indie cinema. A BAFTA crew member in 21/22 Tenisha is passionate about mentoring emerging filmmakers, helping grow the Midlands film scene. With experience in front of and behind the camera, Tenisha also combines creativity and representation in all her work.

Ellie L. Kilby is a Worcester actor and festival manager at BIFA-qualifying Worcester Film Festival. She heads up the festival's volunteer programme where she supports young people from the Midlands in gaining valuable experience throughout the event and beyond. She is also a member of the selection committee where she strives to champion a distinctive range of storytelling. As an actor, she trained for two years at The Unseen and has worked in film and TV for the last four years.

Hendrik Harms is an optioned writer-director who has won a competition and pitch event at Raindance Film Festival and been nominated for Best Film at BAFTA-qualifying Carmarthen Bay and the Royal Television Society Midlands. Currently working on his first slate of feature films through his company Harms Way. He also co-runs the BIFA-qualifying Worcester Film Festival. Hendrik has also worked as a Development Producer for a UK studio and is a judge for the Royal Television Society Midlands.

Kirstie Gregory is an artist & filmmaker with a passion for visual storytelling & is also the co-director of BIFA-qualifying Worcester Film Festival, where she oversees the selection committee and is dedicated to exhibiting films from all around the world and creating spaces for unique, interesting & diverse storytelling. Kirstie is a judge for Royal Television Society Midlands, a guest lecturer at MetFilm School Birmingham and was a part of Made In Worcester, an initiative to upskill young people into the film industry

Matthew Tilt (Film critic) - Matthew Tilt is a freelance film journalist and co-founder & editor of What’s in a Scene - a weekly newsletter exploring the greatest scenes in cinema history. Matthew has in-depth experience of film history and criticism and uses these powers for good, writing film essays for Blu-ray labels, including Treasured Films. He is committed to raising the profile of regional indie filmmakers through regular reviews, interviews & festival coverage at Midlands Movies, where he shares his passion for the local film community.

Mike Sales (Founder, Midlands Movies) - Mike Sales is the founder and editor of Midlands Movies. Set up in 2013, Midlands Movies is a hub which showcases a wide variety of talent from the region’s film industry. Mike has regularly appeared on BBC Radio Leicester and has provided support for filmmakers with over 1000 reviews of local features, shorts, animations and documentaries on the site. Based in Leicester, Mike is passionate that the Midlands Movies Awards are once again a place to celebrate the best local filmmaking creatives in the region.

Claire Bennett (Writer/filmmaker) - Claire Bennett has been a professional Birmingham-based writer for over thirty years. During those years she has worked in radio, television, film and theatre and has won a range of prestigious awards from The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, The Royal Television Society and The National Soap Awards. A skilled writer, she has also gained recognition for her writing at The Shrewsbury Literature Festival and is now adapting Andy Dale’s novel “Just 14” for film – which tells of Aston Villa’s football team, four lads from the Midlands and their incredible 80/81 season.

Sophie Black (Filmmaker Triskelle Pictues)  - Sophie Black is an award-winning director & writer whose credits include the BFI NETWORK-funded A Different Place (VIFF, BFI Flare, Flatpack), Night Owls, and Lacuna, made through Amazon Prime Video & the National Film & TV School as part of their prestigious Directors Workshop. Sophie has a vast array of industry experience and, as well as founding production company Triskelle Pictures, is also a member of BAFTA Connect, Cinesisters & Directors UK and was accepted into BFI NETWORK x BAFTA Crew in 2018 & 2019.

Ajay Bhadresa (Film editor & MetFilm School Birmingham) - Ajay Bhadresa is a member of MetFilm School Birmingham – a leading film & TV school offering courses across film industry disciplines. Ajay has also been an editor for two decades and worked extensively in the Midlands on programmes including The Gadget Show, Do You Know and Garden Rescue. Always keen to pass on what he's learned via his teaching role, Ajay encourages people from all backgrounds to showcase their talent and abilities. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, he brings along his experience with the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV and Discovery to see what the next generation of Midlands filmmakers can do.

Grant Black (Rural Media  Creative Director & Deputy CEO) - Grant is an Executive Producer and Story Consultant who's passionate about creating youth-led and social impact content whilst helping to discover and develop new filmmaking talent. He started out as a staff writer for the BBC and has gone on to write and produce for shows across the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and SKY. As Creative Director for Rural Media and Rural Studios, Grant has exec produced over 100 short films and oversees the company's broadcast, film, digital and audio slate. His work has been recognised by the Royal Television Society, winning awards for 'Innovation in Cross Platform', 'Excellence in Digital Content' and 'Diversity'.