International Tourism Film Festival Africa

OFFICIAL JURY MEMBERS TO THE ITFFA 2023

Andreas Ewels

Filmmaker, Director
NATOURALE

Andreas is a German filmmaker, director and director of the German film festival NATOURALE: In over 30 years he has produced well over 200 documentaries and reports, filming in over 100 countries.

George Moolman

Head of Event Partnerships
V&A Waterfront

George is a partnership and event specialist with extensive knowledge and skills in Event Management, Creative Strategy and Partnership Relations with over 25 years experience.

Charles Shima

Founder and CEO
ZaNiheza

Charles is a Rwandan-Canadian founder and CEO of ZaNiheza, a booking software and Africa';s first travel marketplace for immersive experiences connecting travelers with Local Curators.

Dany Gamal

Film Director, Writer
Dany Gamal

Dany Gamal is a film director and writer, he holds a diploma in film and television directing arts from the French University in Egypt and has won many local and international awards.

Jibola Oluseye

Founder and CEO
Taste of Africa Vibes

Jibola Oluseye Abati is the Founder of Taste of Africa Vibes, Africa’s largest digital tourism platform on Facebook. Jibola has won multiple awards for his accomplishments.

Colleen Smerdon

Founder and Managing Director
Vital Link

Colleen Smerdon is the Founder & Managing Director of Vital Link, an internationally linked, dynamically progressive, and exclusively comprehensive Service company.

Tsuyoshi Kigawa

Professor, General Director
Wakayama University, JWTFF

Tsuyoshi Kigawa is a Professor in the Faculty of Tourism, Wakayama University. He is also the General Director of Japan World's Tourism Film Festival (also known as JWTFF).

Lumka Dlomo

Marketing and Tourism Executive
Johannesburg Tourism

Ms. Lumka Dlomo is a seasoned Marketing and Tourism Executive, experienced in product front line marketing, communication, business development and more.

Mohamed Awad Farah

Filmmaker, Producer and Curator
Sudanese Filmmaking Association

Mohamed Awad Farah is a Filmmaker, Producer and Curator. He studied Documentary Filmmaking at Al-Jazeera Media Institute and Produced/Directed more than 120 episodes of DocuSeries.

Patrick Walton

Chairperson and Director
Garden Route International Film Festival

Patrick Walton is the Chairperson and Director of the Garden Route International Film Festival and a jury member for the International Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences (Emmy’s).

Francisco Dias

Director
ART&TUR - International Tourism Film Festival

Professor Francisco Dias holds a PhD in Tourism Sciences by the University of Perpignan, France. He is the Founder and Director of the ART&TUR - International Tourism Film Festival.

Can Saracoglu

President, Producer and Director
International Tourism Film Festival

Can Saracoglu is the President of Cinetour and the Director of the International Tourism Film Festival. He is also a Director and Producer at the news/media company, Tukan Film.

Janna Tolstikova

CEO and Journalist
TV BRICS International Media Network

Ms Janna Tolstikova, CEO of TV BRICS International Media Network and Head of International Media Projects, is a professional journalist with more than 10 years of experience in media.

Janet Pillai

CEO
MLT Car Hire and Tours

Besides being the CEO and Founder of MLT Car Hire and Tours, Janet continues to remain engaged in the cultural and tourism centre through her portal Jetsetting with Janet.

Adriana Rodrigues

Head of Division of Communication
Turismo Centro de Portugal

Adriana Rodrigues is the Head of Division of Communication, Image and Public Relations Center at Turismo Centro de Portugal. She is also the former President of Centro de Portugal Film Commission.

John Driedonks

Professor
Utrecht University of Applied Sciences

John Driedonks is a Dutch Emeritus Professor in journalism (at the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences). He is also the former editor in chief at RTV Utrecht, Netherlands.

Mike Rumble

Imagineer
Imagineering 47

Mike Rumble is a globe trotting adventurer and entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience in Adventure Tourism in South and Southern Africa.

Alejandra Medina Ayrer

Director, Founder
AMA Comunicaciones

Alejandra Medina Ayrer is the Director of the Destination Branding Agency, AMA Comunicaciones. She is also Founder and Director of the Travel Agency CULTOURS.

Briony Brookes

Head of PR & Strategic Communications
Cape Town Tourism

Briony Brookes is an experienced PR and Communications professional. She is currently Head of Public Relations & Strategic Communications at Cape Town Tourism.

Spomenka Saraga

Director
Zagreb Tourfilm Festival

Spomenka Saraga is the Director of Zagreb Tourfilm Festival in Croatia´s capital. She is also a photographer, filmmaker, travel journalist and an avid adventurer.

Louise Nielsen

Chief Operating Officer
Africa’s Eden

Louise Nielsen is the Chief Operating Officer at Africa’s Eden, a non-profit destination marketing association with over 400 member products in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and Botswana.

Jason Fiddler

Festival Director
Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Jason Fiddler is the Festival Director and Founder of the Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. He is also the co-founder of the KwaZulu-Natal Gay & Lesbian Tourism Association.

Tolene van der Merwe

Director
Malta Tourism Authority: UK & Ireland

Tolene van der Merwe is the Director of Malta Tourism Authority: UK & Ireland. She is responsible for the Marketing and Brand Management in the UK & Ireland for the Maltese Islands.

Sam Oluoko

Founder and Projects Manager
GPAY Africa

Sam Oluoko is the Founder and Projects Manager at Great Potential African Youth (GPAY), a youth talents and film training organization based in Nairobi-Kenya.

Matthew Jones

TV and Media producer
Top South African Broadcasters

Matthew Jones is a SAFTA winning TV and Media producer who has produced travel & lifestyle content for South Africa’s top broadcasters. He also works with the women empowerment initiative, W-Suite,

Damien Ng Tat Chung

Film Director
Island Media Services

Damien Ng Tat Chung is a multi-award-winning international film director and content creator for TV Channels and Digital platforms. Damien is also an experienced script writer, play-writer and stage manager.

Lee Dicks

Managing Director, Shareholder
Nova Constantia Boutique Residence

Lee Dicks, a FEDHASA board member, is the Director of Nova Constantia Boutique Residence. He is also Co-director of Constantia Valley Tourism and running the Cape Town Concierge Forum.

Arvind Saraswati

Assistant Professor
Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute

Arvind Kumar Saraswati (Ph.D) is an Assistant Professor of Hospitality at Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, GGIP University, based in New Delhi (India).

Carl Momberg

Owner and Author
Cape Info

Carl Momberg publishes the 25-year-old tourism website, capeinfo.com, and is the author of The Waterfront Story. He lobbied for the V&A’s development for ten years before it started and was part of the team for its first 10 years.

Duncan Robson

Partner & Creative Director
The Network Productions, Cape Town

Duncan Robson is a multi award-winning Filmmaker and Director. He was one of Europe’s leading film editors during an eight year period in which his career zig zagged between the top production companies across Europe.

Jeremy Briggs

Director, Owner, Cinematographer
Firehouse Films

Jeremy Briggs is the Director and Owner of Firehouse Films. He is also a Content producer & Cinematographer with over 20 years experience. “Train. Empower. Uplift”

Unathi Malunga

Entertainment Lawyer
Unathi Malunga

Unathi Malunga is an Entertainment Lawyer & Creative Industries Consultant as well as the former Executive Director (Strategic Leadership and Audio-visual Industry Lobbyist) of the South African Screen Federation (SASFED).

Daisy Ions

Founder
What's on in Cape Town

Daisy Ions is the founder of What's on in Cape Town and the National Arts & Tourism Info Hub (Natihub). Daisy Ions is also the founder of the new up-and-coming geo-located video platform, Scene It.

Penny Randall

Special Projects Manager
V&A Waterfront

Penny Randall is the Special Projects Manager at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. She has more than 30 years’ experience in Marketing, Events & Project Management.

Vivian Casaletti

Chartered Marketer
APO Group

Vivian Casaletti is a highly experienced Chartered Marketer with over 15 years of expertise in strategic sports marketing, global partnership, and sponsorship programs.

Nqobani Hlomula

Creative Director and Founder
Vitamin Q

Nqobani Hlomula is the creative director and founder of Vitamin Q Media, a Johannesburg-based creative agency offering advertising, design and video services.

Christine Norton

Marketing Manager
Premium Brand Distributors

Christine Norton is the Marketing Manager for Premium Brand Distributors. She is responsible for the marketing and brand management for Sony Digital Imaging, Nikon, Atomos, Lexar & YoloLiv.