Christopher Lee
Judge (Chair)
Christopher HK Lee is an internationally acclaimed entertainment and educational content producer, and an award-winning film director and producer with more than thirty years of multicultural industry experience. His career spans architecture, interactive media, visual effects, and animation, along with over two decades of teaching and lecturing at leading institutions in both South Korea and the United States. His extensive portfolio includes numerous award-winning documentaries and films that explore history, culture, social issues, and contemporary human stories. His works have been officially selected and screened at more than 150 international film festivals—including Oscar-, Golden Globe-, and Cannes-qualifying festivals—and have earned over sixty Best Film and Best Director awards.
He is the founder of the Jackson Doc Fest in Tennessee and the visionary behind KTOWN IFF in Los Angeles, bringing a wealth of expertise in film festival operations, programming, and management. With deep global connections across the film and entertainment industries, he has played a pivotal role in fostering international collaborations and elevating diverse voices through cinema. Christopher brings to the jury a profound commitment to artistic excellence, global storytelling, and the belief that film can educate, inspire, and build bridges across cultures.
Jay Ahn
Judge/international program director
Jay Ahn is a seasoned animation and media executive with over a decade of leadership across North America’s film and entertainment sectors. He is currently a Partner at Media Right International, leveraging his extensive background in IP management and animation production. He also served as Executive Producer and Advisor for Muskoka Culture Group, and previously spent eight years as Co-Founder, Partner, and Executive Producer at Astro-Nomical Entertainment in Burbank. Jay also played a foundational role at ToonBox Entertainment, serving as Co-Founder, President & CEO, and earlier as COO/EVP during the studio’s growth in Toronto and Los Angeles. With a career spanning executive production, studio leadership, and international animation partnerships, Jay Ahn brings a strong global perspective to creative development, content strategy, and cross-border media collaboration.
The South Korean film industry is one of the largest and most influential cinema markets in Asia, generating over US $2 billion annually in box-office revenue and producing 150–200 films per year, supported by major studios like CJ ENM, Lotte, and Showbox. Its global impact surged dramatically in the last decade, highlighted by historic achievements at the Academy Awards: “Parasite” (2019) became the first non-English film ever to win Best Picture, alongside Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature, marking a milestone for world cinema. Earlier breakthroughs include “Minari” (2020), a Korean-American story that earned multiple nominations and a Best Supporting Actress win for Youn Yuh-jung, the first Korean actor to win an Oscar. South Korea’s industry is now recognized for its strong storytelling, high technical standards, and global cultural influence across both film and streaming platforms.
Majib Siddiquee
Judge/international program director
Majib Siddiquee played a key role as a representative of the Bangladeshi community during the proposal to the City of Los Angeles to officially establish “Little Bangladesh” within the broader Koreatown district. His leadership and advocacy helped ensure that the cultural identity, contributions, and needs of the Bangladeshi population were recognized in the city’s planning and designation process. Since then, he has continued his commitment to community advancement by founding the nonprofit organization Little Bangladesh Improvements, an initiative dedicated to strengthening the neighborhood’s visibility, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting local residents and businesses. Through programs focused on cultural engagement, economic development, beautification, and community representation, Siddiquee’s work has played an important role in helping Bangladeshi Angelenos gain a more defined presence and voice within Los Angeles.
Majib is also a member of our KTOWN IFF Executive Team as an Internationl Program Co-Director for the global film community initiative, through which he will help bring the world of Dhallywood cinema to the festival, creating creative and educational opportunities for both students and industry professionals from Bangladesh. He will be in charge of Bangladeshi Film Night during our festival week.
Aaron Perry
Judge
As President of SDFX Studios, Aaron Parry leads the company’s creative vision, global production, and technological innovation. Since joining the company, Parry has overseen its transformation into a worldwide leader in immersive stereoscopic 3D, growing the team from just 10 artists to more than 1,000 employees across the globe. Under his leadership, SDFX Studios has developed one of the industry’s most advanced 3D pipelines, delivering an exceptional blend of quality and efficiency.
With more than two decades of experience in animation and visual effects, Parry has executive-produced and supervised feature productions for major studios including Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Marvel Studios, and Netflix. His credits include 3D versions of blockbuster titles such as Wicked, Deadpool & Wolverine, The Wild Robot, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Titanic 3D, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, among many others. He also produced the original film Girl Haunts Boy, which premiered on Netflix in October 2024.
Prior to joining SDFX, Parry served as Supervising 3D Producer on Jackass 3D and held senior positions at Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Feature Animation. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Coe College and completed Advanced Graduate Studies at USC. Parry is a member of the Producers Guild of America and the International 3D Society.
Peter Chung
Judge
Peter Chung is a Korean-American animator, director, and character designer best known as the creator of Æon Flux, the groundbreaking MTV animated series that cemented his reputation as one of the most innovative voices in adult-oriented animation. Over his career, he has contributed to major productions such as Fire and Ice, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and The Animatrix, directing the acclaimed segment Matriculated. He also directed the animated series Reign: The Conqueror and the CG feature Firebreather, while providing character design, layout, and story development for numerous film, television, and video game projects. Chung’s work has earned significant industry recognition, including nominations at the Annie Awards for Firebreather (2009), the CableACE Awards for Liquid Television (1991), and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Firebreather (2009). Although not heavily tied to mainstream commercial awards, Chung’s body of work—especially Æon Flux—has received major critical acclaim, developed a passionate international following, and left a lasting influence on contemporary animation aesthetics.
In addition to his creative achievements, he has been a respected educator, teaching animation and directing master classes at the USC School of Cinematic Arts since 2013, where he continues to mentor the next generation of animators and visual storytellers.
Gleb Shagun
Judge/international program director
Sang Ho Ahn
Judge
Benjamin Krotin
Judge
David K. Lovegren
Judge
David K. Lovegren is an American film producer with a distinguished career in animation, spanning major studio productions, international ventures, and pioneering independent work. He began his career at Walt Disney Pictures, contributing to beloved projects such as Fantasia/2000 and The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea, where he gained deep experience in large-scale animated feature development and production management.
After his tenure at Disney, Lovegren founded ImagineAsia Studios in the Philippines, where he led one of the earliest attempts to build a full-scale, internationally competitive animation studio in Southeast Asia. Under his leadership, the studio produced Hoodwinked!, a groundbreaking independent animated feature that became one of the first CGI films created outside the major Hollywood studio system. The film’s unexpected commercial success demonstrated the potential of globalized animation pipelines and helped pave the way for future international collaborations in the industry.
Lovegren’s career reflects a rare blend of studio expertise, entrepreneurial vision, and cross-cultural production experience. He has overseen teams across multiple countries, participated in capacity-building efforts within emerging animation markets, and contributed to both family entertainment and independently financed creative projects. Now based in Long Beach, California, he remains active as a producer, advisor, and collaborator on animation and media ventures worldwide.
Robert Cain
Judge/international program director
Robert Cain is an American film industry consultant, producer, and strategist widely recognized for his decades-long work connecting Hollywood with the Chinese film and entertainment market. As President of Pacific Bridge Pictures, he has played a pivotal role in developing U.S.–China co-productions, advising leading Chinese studios, financiers, and media conglomerates on international partnerships, market positioning, and cross-border investment. His expertise also extends to guiding Hollywood producers, directors, and executives through China’s complex regulatory systems, cultural dynamics, and distribution pathways, making him one of the most sought-after experts in East–West film collaboration.
With a career spanning more than 30 years, Cain has contributed to numerous studio and independent projects, providing insight on financing, script development, production logistics, and market strategy. His work has influenced some of the most significant phases of collaboration between the two largest film markets in the world, earning him a reputation as a trusted advisor capable of bridging cultural, economic, and creative gaps.
Beyond the entertainment sector, Cain is also a Deep Tech AI Strategist and advanced Prompt Engineer for large language models, consulting for major AI ecosystems and emerging technology ventures. His cross-disciplinary leadership includes serving as a six-time CFO and COO across media and healthcare companies, where he has overseen multiple successful exits totaling more than $2 billion in transactions.
Cain’s rare combination of film industry expertise, global market insight, and advanced technology strategy positions him as a leading voice in the future of storytelling, international production, and AI-driven innovation.
Dani Di Rosa
Judge
Dani Da Rosa is an award-winning Paraguayan actor, producer, media entrepreneur, and influential public figure whose career spans more than two decades across film, television, radio, and digital media. Based in Asunción, Paraguay, he is widely recognized as one of the country’s most prominent entertainment personalities and cultural influencers. He has starred in popular telenovelas and hosted nationally acclaimed television programs such as Tercer Tiempo, Será un gran día, and 100 paraguayos dicen, making him a familiar and trusted presence in Paraguayan media. He also maintains a strong digital reach, with over 160,000 followers on Instagram, where he actively engages audiences as a media personality.
As a producer and executive producer, Da Rosa has played a key role in expanding Paraguay’s screen industry. His credits include Leal: Solo hay una forma de vivir, a landmark Paraguayan film that achieved international exposure through platforms such as Netflix. Through his extensive work in broadcasting, film production, and public engagement, he has significantly contributed to elevating Paraguayan storytelling and connecting local cinema with global audiences.
Dani Da Rosa also serves on the KTOWN International Film Festival Executive Team as International Program Co-Director and a member of the Advisory Committee for the Global Film Community Initiative. In this role, he helps bring Paraguayan cinema to the festival, fostering creative and educational opportunities for students and industry professionals from Paraguay. He also oversees and curates the Paraguay Film Night during the festival week, strengthening cultural exchange between Paraguay and the global film community.
Ren Hanami
Judge
REN HANAMI is an award-winning actress, writer, and filmmaker who brings her “Aloha Spirit” to everything she does. Currently, Hanámi can be seen in the Kevin Bacon series, “The Bondsman,” on Amazon Prime. She stars as the titular role of Lola in the Special Emmy® Award-winning short, “LOLA,” played Mavis in Disney’s “Bunk’d,” Director Lee in “Star Trek Picard,” and voiced the roles of Director Melanie in “Barbie and Teresa: A Recipe For Friendship,” on Netflix, Adult Sally in Dreamworks Animation’s “Orion and the Dark,” and Wakako in AAA game “Cyberpunk 2077.”
Most recently Hanámi starred in two short films as Maria, a Lola with Alzheimer’s in “Sundown,” and the ‘cool’ Lola Virgie in “The Family Tree,” making sure family traditions are carried on by her grandson. She was back on stage at East West Players in the world premiere of “Kairos.” Hanámi is an Asian Hall of Fame Inductee, and serves as National Chair of the SAG-AFTRA APA Media Committee.
Megan Lisak
Judge
Megan Lisak is an American interior designer and the founder of One Century Design, a luxury interior design firm based in Santa Monica, California. Trained in Art & Design at the University of Georgia, she began her career early—working as a design assistant in an architecture firm at just 16—before moving to California in 2005 to establish her own practice. Lisak is known for her belief that true luxury is defined by how a space makes you feel, blending function, beauty, and emotional resonance.
Her work reflects a deep passion for helping others by creating environments that elevate mood, support well-being, and express each client’s personal story. She emphasizes listening first—understanding each person’s life, psychology, and aspirations before shaping a design. Her portfolio includes high-end residential transformations, custom millwork and lighting, and bespoke furniture collaborations such as custom dining tables, curated natural-material palettes, and signature room redesigns. Through One Century Design, Lisak continues to build spaces that blend art, architecture, and human connection—each project crafted to improve how people live, feel, and experience their daily environments.
She is also the founder of TradeWorks for Tomorrow, a comprehensive workforce and rehabilitation initiative whose primary goal is to reduce recidivism—extending her commitment to transformation and well-being beyond design and into meaningful social impact.
Megan also serves as the presenter of the AI Film for Humanity Award, which honors films created using AI technology.
Brandon Schultz
Judge
Brandon is a writer, producer, and creative executive whose work spans animation, comics, music, and youth-driven storytelling. He worked in multiple areas of entertainment before co-founding and serving as Producer and President of Street Legends Ink, an animation, comics, and design studio centered on hip-hop and global youth culture.
Through Street Legends Ink, Brandon developed original content and led projects for major brands and studios including Disney, Nike, Cartoon Network, Paramount, and New Line Cinema. His creative credits include writing and producing the animated short Blood Thirsty for the Blade: Trinity DVD release, contributing a one-shot comic for Marvel Comics, and co-writing the award-winning comic series Blokhedz.
In addition to his creative work, Schultz has served as a jurist for the Pan African Film Festival, spoken at universities including USC School of Cinematic Arts, and developed youth-focused educational programs. He is currently co-producing a reboot of the classic hip-hop film Krush Groove with Warner Bros. and developing Blokhedz as an animated television series.
Jay Kim
Judge
Jay brings over 25 years of experience in traditional, interactive, and online marketing, direct response, and customized events and programs. He has worked with IMG Media, Direct Partners Agency, and Open Circle and has led projects and campaigns for AT&T, MoneyGram, Diageo, Lexus, PlayStation, DIRECTV, UnitedHealthcare, TigerWoods.com, PGA Events, and Bowflex.
His leadership experience foundation starts with a digital production team for IMG Media to manage clients and build interactive tools for sports marketing. Jay also put together a digital ensemble to manage PlayStation’s CRM and loyalty program. Last but not least, for past 14 years, he has been expertise on diversity and multicultural marketing and advertising in North America and in Global scale as well. He has been speaking at multiple conferences all over the world, showcasing what multicultural can do for brands in all scales while he works with his robust leadership team that handles multicultural marketing, taking his advertising agency to the next level; global scale.
He has created AAAZA’s CLAB Cycle™, which showcases the cycle that immigrants go through on their journey to the new country which evolves in generations. This different way of thinking really helps on “how” to talk to the multicultural and immigrant consumers.
Jay serves as a board member of 3AF (Asian American Advertising Federation) and is very passionate about diversity, multicultural advertising and leadership. Before transitioning into the marketing field, Jay was a biochemist working on HIV and Lyme disease.
Benny Tjandra
Judge
Benny Tjandra is an award-winning film producer and director with over 25 years of experience across directing, producing, writing, cinematography, editing, and action choreography. Born in Bandung, Indonesia, and raised in California, he began his filmmaking journey at a young age and built his career through hands-on experience across multiple disciplines.
An innovative producer and visionary storyteller, Benny has a demonstrated ability to take projects from concept to delivery—creating films that are both entertaining and inspiring. He is highly collaborative, working closely with strategic and creative teams, with strong expertise in pre-production logistics and production planning.
With a background in martial arts, he first entered the industry as an actor and stunt performer, bringing a unique physicality and precision to his work. As the founder of New GenerAsian Pictures, he has produced over 20 feature films and established an extensive international production network.
Special Student Judge
Candace Choi, California Institute of the Arts