Judges 2026

Caroline Spence | Actor, Producer & Screenwriter | United Kingdom – JUDGE: FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

Caroline Spence is a multi award-winning producer and screenwriter at Raya Films. To date, Caroline has written and produced 8 feature films, with two – CYBERLANTE and SURVEILLED – being shot entirely on android smartphones. 

Her films have premiered in cinemas and at festivals worldwide and won multiple awards including Best International Feature and Best Screenplay. Her 5th feature film, CASTING KILL, shot in 6 days was nominated for Best Independent Film at the National Film Awards in London, UK.

For a full list of projects past, present and future visit their website or IMDb profile.

IMDb | Website | Watch Cyberlante Smartphone Feature Film

Errol Trotman Harewood | Actor | Berlin, Germany | Photo by Jan Gessler – JUDGE: FEATURE FILM COMPETITION

A Global Force on Screen – British-born and Guyanese by heritage, Errol Trotman Harewood is an international actor based in Berlin. Since his 1992 theatre debut, he has built a 35-year career spanning stage, musicals, feature films, and television. His standout role remains in Deutschland ‘83, a celebrated Cold War series. Beyond acting, he’s a sought-after voice-over artist and acting coach.

A key cast member of Die Zweiflers, Cannes 2024 Best Series winner, Errol played the father of a lead actress, contributing to its global success and multiple nominations. Errol’s film career took off in 1998 with Straight Shooter. Since then, he has embodied a wide range of roles—from CIA Director (Blacklist) to Chief Justice—across South Africa, Morocco, London, and the Caribbean.

Thrilled to be back judging the International Mobile Film Festival 2025, after a brief hiatus due to filming. The IMFF has evolved from a niche experiment into a powerful movement, proving that storytelling thrives beyond big studios. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in this business? Whether you’re playing a Chief Justice or a cowboy, great stories don’t need big screens—just bold storytellers.

IMDb

Jed Brophy |Actor | New Zealand – JUDGE: SHORT FILM COMPETITION

Jed is an actor from New Zealand with a long association with fantasy entertainment. During the 90s he appeared in episodes of “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” and “Xena: Warrior Princess,” as well as the films “Dead Alive” and “Heavenly Creatures,” both directed by a relatively unknown director at the time, Peter Jackson.

Jackson later cast Jed in several parts in “The Fellowship of the Ring” and “The Two Towers,” and tapped him with the starring role of Nori in his epic adaptation of “The Hobbit.” Jed has also had roles in other well known genre projects including “King Kong,” “District 9,” “Legend of the Seeker” (on which fellow LockDownCon speaker André Bormanis was the supervising producer), and “The Shannara Chronicles.”

In 2019, Jed co-starred along fellow Hobbit actor Mark Hadlow in “Blue Moon,” a feature film directed by Stef Harris. It was shot entirely on an iPhone in New Zealand. Most recently his acting roles include the 2022 series “The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power” on Amazon Prime.

Jed Brophy attended IMFF 2023 in San Diego, California.

IMDb | Website | Watch Blue Moon iPhone Feature Film

Jason Rivera | Film Composer | Los Angeles – JUDGE: SHORT FILM COMPETITION

Jason Rivera is a Puerto Rican, Los Angeles-based composer and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends emotional depth with sonic curiosity. Raised in a musical household—his father an upright bassist and his grandfather a guitarist—he grew up surrounded by instruments and analog recordings.

Rivera’s work spans narrative film, e-learning, branded content, and sound design-driven projects. Most recently, he composed the score for the award-winning short filmTip, earning Best Music at the 2024 Scream Queen Shockathon Film Festival and Best Original Score in a Short Film at the 2024 ICE Cinefest Film Festival. Rivera is published by Sony Music Publishing.

He earned his Film Scoring Certificate with distinction from UCLA Extension and is an active participant in the independent film community, speaking at festivals and podcasts about the role of music in storytelling. He approaches each project as an opportunity to tell deeper stories through sound—blending emotion, texture, and intention into every cue.

We are honored to include Jason Rivera and his industry expertise as a judge for the short film competition.

IMDb | Website

Jeremy Gladen | Actor | Los Angeles, California – JUDGE: SHORT FILM COMPETITION

“With 20+ years in the industry as an actor and creative in the showbiz space, Jeremy is thrilled to be joining his first ever panel as a film festival judge and to support IMFF. He can’t wait to see the stories told and the art that’s shared right from the palm of everyone’s hand. So cool!”

Jeremy Gladen attended IMFF 2024 in person.

IMDb | Website

Jack Lugar | Writer, Director & Producer| Fishers, Indiana – JUDGE: SHORT FILM COMPETITION

Jack Lugar spent more than a decade working as a television writer and producer in Los Angeles prior to relocating back to his hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. He is credited for the sitcom Wanda at Large from Warner Bros./FOX; From the Top for Family Theater Productions; Several projects under comedian Louie Anderson’s company, Louzell Productions, the Katz Pajamas middle-grade book series, the Sessi Nilsson young-adult book series, and most recently his feature film This Train which premiered at the Heartland International Film Festival in Indianapolis and the Golden State Film Festival at the historic Chinese Theatres.

He holds the distinction of being selected to the Warner Bros. Comedy Workshop and has received recognitions from the Disney/ABC Writer’s Program, Slamdance, Scriptapalooza, and the PAGE Awards. Jack has also been a panelist and jury member for the Heartland International Film Festival, Indy Shorts, and International Mobile Film Festival. He joined the full-time faculty at Anderson University in the fall of 2016 and teaches screenwriting, storytelling, cinema studies, directing, and producing for film and television.

IMDb | Website

Ant Pruitt | Podcast Host, Model and Commercial Actor| California – JUDGE: SHORT FILM COMPETITION

“I’m a model and commercial actor. I also enjoy broadcasting and sharing my experiences with my online community. “

Ant Pruitt has been a supporter of mobile filmmakers and photographers. Ant has been a judge for the short film competition for a few years and we are truly honored he’s back in 2026.

IMDb | Website