2024 Jury Members

Victoria Negri

Victoria Negri is an award-winning filmmaker and ultra marathon runner. Her feature debut, Gold Star -- which she wrote, directed, produced and acted in -- features Oscar-nominated actor Robert Vaughn in his last on-screen performance. Gold Star received an 88% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Film School Rejects said about the film: "The directorial debut of Victoria Negri reveals a confident eye." Brief Take named Gold Star one of 2017's best films by a female director alongside Greta Gerwig's "Lady Bird." Victoria is a fellow of the 2021 IFP/Gotham Episodic Labs. Currently, she is in development on her second feature film "ULTRA" with Executive Producers David Lowery, James Johnston, and Toby Halbrooks and Producers Jon Read and Allison Carter. She is represented by Entertainment 360.

Marty Lang

Marty Lang is an assistant professor of film at the University of Memphis. He has written and directed two feature films, STAY WITH ME, Best Feature Film at the 2023 South Georgia Film Festival and the 2022 Southeastern New England Film Festival, and RISING STAR, released worldwide by Content Film in 2013. His producing credits include the web series THE RIDE, a 2020 Sundance Film Festival world premiere, OUT OF MY HAND, a 2016 Indie Spirit Award nominee, and CHOMPY & THE GIRLS, featuring Udo Kier, released internationally in 2021 by Freestyle Digital Media. His first book, THE SELF-SUSTAINING FILMMAKER, about crowdsourcing, crowdfunding and community-supported independent film, will be released by Focal Press in 2024.

Nicholas LaRue

Nicholas LaRue has been a vocal supporter for independent film and filmmakers throughout his career and is the Founder and EIC of FilmSnobbery, which has been around since 2008. Nicholas also runs the full-service marketing agency LaRue Entertainment Group, LLC which helps clients find and connect with their audiences and drive revenue for their businesses. He is also the author of Behind the Scenes of Indie Film Marketing published by Routledge. In what little spare time he has, Nicholas enjoys writing scripts and short stories, and watching movies on the couch with his dog from his home in rural Massachusetts.