Los Angeles, California, USA

Tom Holland is an American director and screenwriter of horror and thriller films. His early writing projects include Class of 1984 (1982) and the Robert Bloch- inspired Psycho II (1983), the latter starring Anthony Perkins as the menacing psychopath, Norman Bates.
Tom gained more notoriety, however, as a director. His directorial debut was the popular 1980s Vampire film, Fright Night (1985) which, at the time, was said to have been responsible for redefining the sub-genre, influencing later films like The Lost Boys (1987) and Near Dark (1987). The film was a box office hit and garnered three Saturn Awards and one Dario Argento Award.
For his next project, Child's Play (1988), Tom again cast Chris Sarandon. The film was a Number One box-office hit in America and a worldwide success, despite controversy over its thematic content. It, like Fright Night (1985) has since gathered a cult following amongst horror fans. Tom then went onto direct two films based upon adaptations of Stephen King's novels: The Langoliers (1995) and Thinner (1996). He also took a cameo role in the Stephen King miniseries The Stand (1994).
Tom's other projects have included _The Incredible Hulk_ episode 'Another Path', Steven Spielberg'sAmazing Stories (1985), three episodes of Tales from the Crypt (1989), and the prestigious Masters of Horror (2005) anthology. He starred in A Walk in the Spring Rain (1970) with Ingrid Bergman.
In 2009 Tom took a starring role in Hatchet II (2010) alongside Kane Hodder and Tony Todd.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Matt Lee-Williams

Los Angeles, California, USA

Dimitri Logothetis stands as one of the most successful and forward-thinking independent filmmakers working today—consistently delivering globally competitive films, franchise properties, and audience-driven hits without dependence on the traditional studio system. His career is defined not by access, but by execution: identifying powerful IP, assembling world-class talent, and turning independent productions into internationally recognized successes.

Most recently, Logothetis completed Gunner, a high-impact action thriller starring Morgan Freeman and Luke Hemsworth. Released in the U.S. and Canada by Warner Bros. Discovery Entertainment, Gunner rapidly climbed streaming charts, ranking Top 10 across all genres on Apple TV in the United States, reaching #3 in Action & Adventure, and securing the #1 spot on Amazon Prime in France during its first week of release. The film also dominated the international festival circuit with 34 Internation wins, earning Best Feature Film and Best Director honors across North America, Europe, and Asia, further cementing Logothetis’ reputation as a filmmaker whose independent work competes at the highest level.

Los Angeles, California, USA

Henry Penzi is a powerhouse Hollywood producer and talent manager, known for working with A-list stars and delivering blockbuster entertainment. With deep industry connections and a sharp eye for talent, he has played a key role in bringing major film and TV projects to life. A true dealmaker, Penzi's influence spans across production, management, and high-stakes Hollywood negotiations.

Dallas, Texas, USA

Dr. Rebekah Louisa Smith, The Film Festival Doctor is a change agent. Her focus on film festivals and mental health is the first of its kind within the film industry. She creates new ways to approach festival strategies and redefine how to look after one’s mental health within the intense & rewarding world of film festivals.​

After choosing not to pursue a career in Academia teaching film studies, Rebekah began her film industry career in 2009, working as one of the producers of Wales’ most successful national horror film festival; the Abertoir Horror Festival, and during that time began to develop a great knowledge of the film festival business. Which led her to become inspired to start her own innovative company in an industry she loved.​

Rebekah and the hard-working team are committed to nurturing filmmakers in order to help them secure film festival screenings, win awards, and cultivate a positive recognition within the film industry. Currently, her company has won more than 2,225 awards for their clients and one Oscar nomination. Her team has supported over 850 creatives across the world, enlightening and inspiring their journey towards achieving their goals and following their filmmaking dreams. ​

One of the factors which has led to her success is the blending of both practical business skills and spiritual techniques that infused new life into her company’s growth. She decided to record her hard-won knowledge in her book Born to Do It: Becoming the Leader of a Business Niche Using Powerful Spiritual Techniques to help others who are pondering the leap into entrepreneurship or are already on the journey, but yearning for more success and profitability.​

Rebekah has been featured in Forbes, Good Housekeeping, Variety, Ladders, Parade, Screen Daily, The Sun & The Mirror and her profile continues to grow. 

London, UK

Paul is a British Canadian Producer based in the UK specialising in short films. Over the past decade Paul has produced and worked closely with new and established filmmakers including the following projects: the documentary PEMÓN by Brandon Pestano (BFI/Doc Society: winner of Best International Documentary, Buenos Aires Film Festival), DING-DING, NEXT? by Alexander McKenzie & India Plummer (Screen South/BBC Creatives: winner Berlin Flash Film Festival), Alice Trueman’s JAS (Red Rock Production Award), Eleanor Dolan’s READY OR NOT (Screen South/C4 Random Acts, Best Micro Film, NRFF), Joshua Kerr’s FLY HOME (Super 8s Cannes & World 25 winner) and for trans director/actor Jake Graf’s COCKTALE & XY (Iris Prize Nominee). Paul has produced numerous online series, including the award winning comedy series #HONESTY by Niall Bishop and Ruggero Dalla Santa and A QUICK FORTUNE by Erin Hunter and James Gavigan. Paul was also the Co-Producer of the feature film DARK SIGNAL (Netflix USA, SKY Cinema & Kaleidoscope) by Edward Evers-Swindell with James Cosmos and Exec. Produced by Neill Marshall. For further information about Paul’s film projects, please visit https://www.aproposltd.net/films

Galway City, Ireland

Pam Finn is an award-winning film director, accomplished TV presenter, and respected PR mentor with a passion for storytelling and impactful communication. Her films have received critical acclaim for their originality and emotional resonance, while her work as a TV presenter has established her as a dynamic and engaging media professional.

As a PR mentor, Pam has guided countless individuals and organizations in crafting their narratives and building meaningful connections with their audiences. She is also the founder of PR PamProductions, where she leads full-service media projects, including video production, event coverage, and content creation for high-profile clients and cultural initiatives.

Now joining the City of Angels Film Festival Advisory Board, Pam brings her expertise in filmmaking, media, and public relations to champion diverse voices and support the festival’s mission of celebrating the transformative power of cinema.

Los Angeles, California, USA

Abdul Malik Abbott followed in his father's footsteps to become a filmmaker, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Film from the School of Visual Arts in New York City after attending the famed LaGuardia High School of Music & Art. Beginning in the industry in the sound department, he contributed to notable projects like Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing and Mo’ Better Blues, along with over 500 commercials, music videos, and worked on two seasons of Chappelle’s Show. Also establishing himself as a music video editor, Abdul constructed over 300 music videos.

Abdul’s notable breakthrough came with directing the award-winning jazz music video People in Me by jazz legend Abby Lincoln and the Platinum-selling, long-form

music video, Streets is Watching starring Jay-Z, which reached #1 on the Billboard charts. As director, he directed a variety of music videos and scripted dramas such as State Property featuring Beanie Sigel and Jay-Z. After moving to Los Angeles and joining the Directors Guild of America, he broadened his career into television, documentaries, and new media. Abdul’s love for music sparked him to co-create a soul music band entitled B.O.S.S in which he produced and released two albums for the music project; Tricky Kinda Love and Liquid Leather.

Recently, Recently Abdul garnered acclaim for his award-winning short films Curse of War and Balance of Power. He has recently completed producing, shooting and

editing a documentary feature on LA-based artist Betye Saar and continues his multifaceted role as producer, director, and lead editor for the (AAFCA) African

American Film Critics Association's prestigious award shows and other projects.

www.abdulmalikabbott.com

Los Angeles, California, USA

Sunil Sadarangani is a Mumbai-born, Los Angeles-based award-winning producer and writer with over 15 years of experience in international film and TV production, and who is passionate about creating and promoting diverse and inclusive stories for global audiences.

He is the co-founder and former director of programming of the Ojai Short Film Festival, that included Academy Award-nominated and winning films, and episodic series from studios such as Sundance TV/AMC Networks. Sunil is a member of the Programmers of Colour Collective, was on the programming committees at Outfest and Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles,

and has served on the juries of the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival and the Yellowstone International Film Festival.

Sunil is a contributing entertainment writer for Deadline Hollywood (non-fiction), New York Amsterdam News, and American Kahani, covering filmmakers and artists of color at major film festivals and industry award events.

He has been recognized by the California State Senate for his ongoing commitment to creativity and innovation in the Los Angeles community.

Los Angeles, California, USA

​Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir is an award winning and accomplished Icelandic film editor who graduated from the London Film School with honors. She is known for her incredible editing skills and her contributions to the film industry. In three decades of work in the industry, Elísabet showcased her skills editing projects from TV shows through documentaries to Hollywood blockbusters. She has namely edited projects such as The Fall Guy, Bullet Train, Atomic Blonde, Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Deadpool 2, and John Wick. She has the reputation of the go-to editor for action sequences and films. She has played a key role as an advocate for women in the film industry and is a founding member of Women in Film & Television Iceland (WIFT Iceland). She was the chairwoman of WIFT Iceland for two terms. Her work fosters representation and opportunities for women in the film industry. Elísabet received an Angel Award from City of Angels Film Festival for her extraordinary work as an editor. 

Los Angeles, California, USA

Trace De La Torre-Pidoux is an award-winning multimedia producer and entertainment executive with extensive experience in film and television. She began her career at Warner Bros. Studios, contributing to iconic franchises including The Matrix, Harry Potter, and The Lord of the Rings.

As Founder and President of Trace Media, an independent production company specializing in theatrical development, Trace has produced acclaimed features such as Bezos: The Beginning—the first biopic on Jeff Bezos and the rise of Amazon—D-Railed, from producer Suzanne DeLaurentiis, directed by Dale Fabrigar; and Running the RadioTron, an award-winning Hip-Hop documentary created with Damon Whitaker.

She serves on the Advisory Boards of both the American Film Convention (AFC) and the City of Angels Film Festival, and has been featured on the BBC, Sky News UK, and EZWAY Media, where she also sits on the board.

Upcoming projects include The Cardinal Spy, a Blacklist thriller directed by Roberto Mitrotti with producers Barry Navidi and Carlos Alperin; Burned, directed by Shaun Paul Piccinino; and Khalifa, a Parisian limited crime series directed by Debbie Allen.

London, UK

Cathy Tyson is a British actress best known for her powerful and nuanced performances in film, television, and theatre. She rose to prominence with her breakout role as Simone, a high-class call girl, in Neil Jordan's 1986 film Mona Lisa, earning BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations and widespread critical acclaim. Throughout her career, she has appeared in a wide range of roles. She continues to receive attention for her outstanding performances in the Channel 4 drama Help (2021), and in 2023, she won a BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the BBC drama The Walk-In.

Beyond acting, Tyson has also been involved in education and social justice work, reflecting her deep commitment to community and representation. ​

Tyson commented on joining the City of Angels Advisory Board, “City of Angeles Film Festival is a community film festival that is a great encourager of women artists and allies of women artists. My introduction to the festival was in 2023. I was invited to attend and receive an award. Which I was delighted to accept. I am happy to say that of all the times I have visited LA attending the COAFF was my favourite time. I got a chance to see a different side of LA. I am honoured to have been invited to be a member of the board of City of Angels Film Festival. I look forward to supporting the festival and of seeing future work of artists from all over the world. In this present moment there is so much attention on making our own areas, cities, countries be the focus. To the exclusion of diverse cultures. However film festivals keep the flame of internationalism burning. I believe COAFF is contributing to this important flame as well. Long may it burn brightly.”