Jury - 8th AIFF
Judy Gladstone
CHAIRPERSON
Executive Director of Bravo!FACT (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent) for 15 years, Judy Gladstone commissioned numerous short-form films and video projects and was honored with Prix de Jury de Cannes, Academy Award nomination and international Emmy . Recipient of Crystal Award, Leadership Award and Maverick Award, Gladstone was the first CEO of Vucavu, launching a streaming platform for filmmakers and ED of the Documentary Organization. She is an eminent speaker of renowned centers and venues.
Newton Aduaka
Newton Aduaka hails from Nigeria. In 1985 he left for England to study engineering but discovered cinema and attended the London International Film School, graduating in 1990. In 1997 he established Granite Film Works. In 2001 Newton's debut feature film Rage, became the first wholly independently financed film by a black filmmaker in the history of British cinema to be released nationwide. It opened to critical acclaim. In 2001-2002 he was Filmmaker in Residence at Festival de Cannes' Cinéfondation in Paris.His short film Aïcha (2004), which was selected for the Official Competition of the Venice IFF. His film Ezra (2007), won the Golden Stallion at FESPACO and went on to win twenty-eight awards, including six grand jury prizes, and was sold to multiple territories throughout the world.
On its premiere in competition at the Sundance, Ezra was nominated for the Humanitas Prize, and later screened in the Semaine de la Critique at the Festival de Cannes and was awarded the UN Prize for Peace and Tolerance, among other awards. Aduaka was named one of the 50 Greatest Cultural Figures Shaping the African Continent by the London Independent. He lives in Paris.
Newton Aduaka
Newton Aduaka hails from Nigeria. In 1985 he left for England to study engineering but discovered cinema and attended the London International Film School, graduating in 1990. In 1997 he established Granite Film Works. In 2001 Newton's debut feature film Rage, became the first wholly independently financed film by a black filmmaker in the history of British cinema to be released nationwide. It opened to critical acclaim. In 2001-2002 he was Filmmaker in Residence at Festival de Cannes' Cinéfondation in Paris.His short film Aïcha (2004), which was selected for the Official Competition of the Venice IFF. His film Ezra (2007), won the Golden Stallion at FESPACO and went on to win twenty-eight awards, including six grand jury prizes, and was sold to multiple territories throughout the world.
On its premiere in competition at the Sundance, Ezra was nominated for the Humanitas Prize, and later screened in the Semaine de la Critique at the Festival de Cannes and was awarded the UN Prize for Peace and Tolerance, among other awards. Aduaka was named one of the 50 Greatest Cultural Figures Shaping the African Continent by the London Independent. He lives in Paris.