Festival Team
The Judges for 2021 English Riviera Film Festival Awards
Justin Carter is an Exeter based Writer, Director and Cinematographer of short and feature films. He has won several UK and US film festival awards for his productions, and IMDB ranks his debut feature TORN in the “10 Best Supernatural Horror Movies Of The Last Decade”. Justin has just sold the option on his screenplay for WOLF WHISTLE; a horror feature that he’s also slated to be the Director of when it goes into production next year.
Molly-Mole did a film degree in London and after working in the industry decided to move back to Devon with her husband to raise their family, whilst freelance writing and part-time radio presenting reviewing movies. Now with over 16 years of experience working in education, as a Media Studies lecturer and currently specialising in health and wellness classes supporting confidence through a variety of teaching techniques.
‘As a mum of three teenage boys and working with teens for many years, I feel strongly about developing young people’s self-esteem and run classes looking at emotional and mental health support. Using creative arts is a great way to express feeling and I’d love to see more young people encouraged to do this rather than bottling up emotionally issues and not feeling like they have an outlet for them. I love to nurture new talent in the film industry and being a judge is a great opportunity to discover some creative new work.’
Ashley has written, produced and directed numerous award winning productions, receiving high acclaim and praise from Virgin Media Shorts and the Portebello Film Festival London.
His previous work has been distributed through Sony in 32 countries, and has seen him working alongside the Art Council England, in the promotion of regional UK artistic talent for the Olympics.
Today, Ashley runs an independent creative studio, with long time collaborator Clayton Fussell, as well as a small side venture for corporate video work, Wing Media.
Animation Award Judges
Ashley Thorpe is a multi-award winning filmmaker and illustrator best know for a series of animated short films inspired by English mythology . ‘SCAYRECROW’ 2008 (winner of the Media Innovation Award 2009), ‘THE SCREAMING SKULL’ 2008 (nominated Best UK Short film at Raindance 2009, winner ‘Best Animation’ ‘Night of Horrors’ Sydney) and ‘THE HAIRY HANDS’ 2010.
His first animated feature ‘BORLEY RECTORY’ (a Carrion Film / Glass Eye Pix co-venture) with Reece Shearsmith & Julian Sands was completed late 2017 and premiered at Grimmfest, Manchester. It has since won ‘Best Animated Feature’ at Buffalo Dreams Festival New York and a “Special Achievement in Cinema” accolade, ‘Best Visual Effects’ at ‘Rendezvous ScareFest’, Florida and ‘Best Documentary’ at MidWest Weirdfest Wisconsin aswell as over a dozen nominations at various festivals. It was released by Nucleus Films on Blu Ray in October 2019 and the film has since won rave reviews in such publications as ‘Starburst Magazine’ and ‘Fortean Times’.
Ashley Thorpe (BA HONS)
Ashley Thorpe – Director – Producer carrionfilms
Grace Clifford – Film Maker – Photographer
Justin Carter – Director
Molly-Mole Povey – Media – Reviewer – Lecturer
Animation Judges
Mark Wilson – Filmmaker – lecturer
Dan Willers – Animation Director
Helen Brenton – Owner Franglais film Club
2019 Film Festival Award Judges
Dom lee – Director
Grace Clifford – Film Maker – Photographer
Alex Small – Director – Head of Digital Media South Devon College
Molly-Mole Povey – Media – Reviewer – Lecturer
Paul Trainer – Writer
Nigel Howells – Theatre Director and Equity Representative
Animation Judges
Dan Willers – Animation Director
Becky Louise Dobson – Actor, writer
Mark Wilson – Filmmaker – lecturer
Helen Brenton – Owner Franglais film Club
2018 Film Festival Award Judges
Alex Small – Director – Head of Digital Media South Devon College
Becky Louise Dobson – Actor, writer
Paul Trainer – Writer
Nigel Howells – Theatre Director and Equity Representative
Helen Brenton – Owner Franglais film Club
Mark Wilson – Filmmaker – lecturer
2017 Film Festival Award Judges
Lucy Townsend – Director
Diana Townsend – Producer
Nigel Howells – Theatre Director and Equity Representative
Paul Trainer – Writer
Mark Wilson – Filmmaker – lecturer
Alex Small – Director – Head of Digital Media South Devon College
Kevin Ryland Torbay Film Club