Unification Program | International Jury Members 2025-2027

Jay Stinnett

Jay Stinnett is an independent filmmaker, scholar, biographer, and author whose work explores history, spirituality, and the deeper stories behind human transformation. With more than three decades of research and writing, he has become an established voice on the history of the Twelve Step movement, Bill Wilson, and the spiritual influences that shaped his life and work. Jay is a producer of the award-winning documentary Bill W. Conscious Contact, which offers new perspectives on Bill Wilson’s spiritual journey. He has lectured internationally and continues to combine filmmaking, archival research, and storytelling to bring overlooked histories and human experiences to a wider audience.

Briana Evigan

Briana Evigan launched her career with a breakout lead performance as Andie West in 2008’s global box-office hit Step Up 2: The Streets. She went on to star in a range of horror and thriller titles, including S. Darko, Sorority Row, and Burning Bright, earning clear critical acclaim for her role in Sorority Row. Her screen credits feature the cult horror remake Mother’s Day, the romantic drama Subject: I Love You, and the touring cult hit The Devil’s Carnival and its sequel Alleluia!, along with TV work on From Dusk till Dawn: The Series. Moving behind the lens as director and producer, her documentary MoveMe South Africa won the Audience Award at ARFF Barcelona 2024, leading to further ARFF and WSXA honors for her filmmaking.

Zhang Zhehan

Zhang Zhehan is a acclaimed Chinese actor and musician who graduated from the Shanghai Theatre Academy in Musical Theatre. He earned widespread recognition and praise for his roles in major television dramas like Legend of Yunxi, The Blooms at Ruyi Pavilion, and his breakout lead performance as Zhou Zishu in the hit wuxia series Word of Honor. Alongside his extensive screen career, including roles in film hits like The Bravest, he made his directorial debut with the documentary August, which claimed the Audience Award at ARFF Amsterdam. He also maintains a active music career, releasing popular albums and singles worldwide.

Bonnie Chen

Bonnie Chen is a Chinese supermodel, filmmaker, and philanthropist. A Penn Psychology graduate, she was the first Asian top-ten finalist at the Elite Model Look World Final, later walking for Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Gucci, and becoming the first Asian face of Clarins and first Asian Vogue cover model. She has since acted in TV dramas and directed award-winning shorts screened at Cannes and Beijing festivals, earning a 2019 BAFTA Breakthrough Talent honor and the 2025 ARFF Paris Best Director Award for Magic Hour. She founded Stars, Rabbits and Love, supporting autism art therapy for 14+ years, and serves as Greater Bay Area Sustainability Ambassador.

Trei Hill

Trei Hill is an American film director from Germantown, Maryland, with a rich background across athletics, music hosting, and production. After playing Division 1 football and organizing hip-hop events, he studied Film & Television at the Art Institute of Washington before earning an MFA from Savannah College of Art & Design. He spent over three years on major film and television productions, including House of Cards, Jason Bourne, and Black Lightning. His directorial work has earned multiple ARFF & WSXA honors, including Best Director for Roofless Woods. Trei now focuses on directing short films and developing independent narrative features.

Juliana Lourenção

Juliana Lourenção is a Brazilian actress, writer, and filmmaker. A graduate of the School of Dramatic Arts at USP, she has built a dynamic career across film and theater, moving fluidly between acting and creative work behind the camera. She is passionate about author-driven storytelling centered on complex, multi-layered female characters, bringing depth and nuance to every project she undertakes. Her film Chronos screened at both ARFF Barcelona and ARFF Paris, while her film Sin won Best Actress & Actors Award at ARFF Berlin after earning an Honorable Mention at ARFF Paris. Based in Barcelona, she travels globally to explore new artistic horizons and connect with diverse creative communities.

Kristina Schippling

Kristina Schippling is an acclaimed Berlin-based filmmaker, author, and scholar. She studied German Studies, Philosophy, Education, Psychology, and Performing Arts, earning an interdisciplinary PhD at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg on film in school textbooks. As director, producer, and cinematographer, she has created documentaries, shorts, and features, including The Sound of Cologne and the experimental feature Ungleich. Her short films earned praise at ARFF and WSXA festivals, including Best Director at ARFF Amsterdam for The Colour of the Horse and Best Experimental Film at ARFF Barcelona for Findings. She is also a published author and philosopher, writing novels, novellas, short prose, and books on philosophy, while collaborating with film festivals.

Alex Mastoon

Kristina Schippling is a Berlin-based filmmaker, writer, and scholar. She studied German Studies, Philosophy, Education, Psychology, and Performing Arts, completing an interdisciplinary PhD on film in school textbooks at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. As director, producer, and cinematographer, her work spans documentaries, shorts, and features, including The Sound of Cologne and the experimental feature Ungleich. Her shorts have garnered acclaim across ARFF and WSXA festivals, winning Best Director at ARFF Amsterdam for The Colour of the Horse and Best Experimental Film at ARFF Barcelona for Findings. An author and philosopher, she has published novels, novellas, prose, and philosophy books, alongside her work with film festivals.

Breton Tyner-Bryan

Breton Tyner-Bryan is an accomplished filmmaker, choreographer, and classical dancer whose career spans film, television, dance, and fashion. Her work includes productions for Netflix, HBO, and Showtime, while her short films Raze, Jester, West of Frank, and Destiny’s Fuge have earned top honors at festivals such as the Cannes 7th Art Awards, Tokyo Shorts, Berlin Commercial, and La Jolla Fashion Film Fest. Founder of Breton Follies Productions, she blends dance, fashion, and story-driven cinema, while serving as an ARFF & WSXA International jury member and host of the ARFF Paris Awards. Her choreography features in HBO’s Divorce and Broadway projects, alongside teaching roles at NYU, Berklee, Joffrey Ballet, and BDC.

Michelle Calloway

Michelle Calloway is an award-winning actress, writer, and producer, and the founder of Lulah Films. She has built a diverse body of work across independent film, working both in front of and behind the camera to develop and produce original projects, including the acclaimed Tallulah Park alongside commercial work for brands like Netflix, AT&T, and JW Marriott. She recently earned Best Actress at the 7th Annual Independent Shorts Awards, and is currently developing her first feature film, Blue Healer, through Lulah Films. Her experimental short Belle Isle received a Best Short Film Honorable Mention at the ARFF Barcelona 2024 edition. This comprehensive, well-rounded background gives her a distinct empathy and technical depth in evaluating each submission. Born and raised in the Midwest, she is now based in Jacksonville, Florida.

Onno Mara

An independent filmmaker directing the Around International Film Festivals under the aegis of the Around Films Global Network. Grounded in Visual Communication Design, his filmography spans narrative films, commercial ventures, and music videos as both director and producer. He refined his festival acumen through his debut feature, “AKIYO // UP NEXT,” while continually probing the boundaries of improvisation and pitch perception. Collaborating with over 25 ARFF-lauded cineastes on the World Record-Nominated feature “Astrall Story,” he endeavors to render the inner visions of the visually impaired onto the cinematic canvas. Operating as a jury member for the Five Continents International Film Festivals and creative consultant for WSXA International, he perpetually seeks to determine precisely what he might yet rescue the world from. Fest Regards.

Renée Johanna Schulz

Renée Johanna Stulz is a German-based actress and multi-disciplinary performing artist. A graduate of the Wiesbaden School of Acting with advanced training in Meisner technique in Berlin, she has built a diverse career spanning independent feature films, short-form cinema, and stage productions. Her screen credits include roles in independent films like House of Rooms and The Samurai in Berlin, alongside extensive theater work across German venues. Blending rigorous theatrical training with dynamic screen presence, she will be presenting the upcoming ARFF Official Awards Ceremony while continuing to take on compelling roles across European film and performance projects.