FESTIVAL JUDGES
FESTIVAL JUDGES 2026
Local Judges
ALEJANDRO RIOS
Film and art critic,
Alejandro Ríos is a renowned film and art critic with extensive experience covering international film festivals in Havana, Miami, Brazil, Calcutta, and Canada. As the founder of the Cuban Cinema Series, which he launched in 1993, Ríos continues to curate compelling cinematic experiences. Currently, he programs Miami Film Festival’s Spotlight on Cuba, showcasing the best of Cuban cinema. With a career spanning decades, Ríos has established himself as a leading voice in film criticism, sharing his insights through various media outlets and publications.
CAROL COOMBES
Film Festival Programmer
As a seasoned non-profit art professional with 20+ years’ experience in project event management, grant writing and film-festival programming she has worked for a roster of dynamic Miami-centric cultural arts organizations including Coral Gables Art Cinema, FilmGate Miami, FUNDarte, Karen Peterson and Dancers, the Miami Center for Art & Design, Miami International and OutShine Film Festivals.
Carol has received awards for her work and contribution to the arts community of South Florida from OutShine Film Festival (formally Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival), Aqua Foundation for Women and the Mayor and Commissioners of the Cityof Miami Beach. You can often find her cycling in Miami Beach on her vintage green Hollywood Schwinn!
NATASHA CHAPMAN
Executive Producer
Natasha is a multi-discipline EIP/Producer and Creative Manager skilled in international production logistics and detailed production management across all multimedia platforms.
A D&AD alumna and award winner she produces worldwide for major television networks, advertising agencies, film and commercial production companies and directors; specializing in logistical & creative problem solving, financial & schedule management.
MARIA DEL MAR RAMIREZ ALVARADO
Communication and Advertising Professor
María del Mar Ramírez Alvarado is an Audiovisual Communication and Advertising Professor at the Facultad de Comunicación at the University of Seville in Spain. She was Dean of her School of Communication for eight years. She holds a PhD in Information Sciences and is currently a Counselor of the Audiovisual Council of Andalusia. She has numerous scientific publications specializing in the audiovisual field.
GRETHEL DELGADO, MsC
Journalist, writer, and actress
Grethel Delgado (Miami, USA) is a journalist, writer, and actress. She is a journalist for Diario Las Américas and an editor at Bravo Zulu Publishers. She holds a degree in Dramaturgy from the Instituto Superior de Arte, Cuba, and a Master’s in Journalism from Florida International University, USA. Delgado has received multiple awards for her poetry and theater, including the Centenary Poetry Contest of Hialeah (2025), the Mehdi Hajji International Poetry Prize (2024), and the David Theater Prize (2009). Her publications include Melancolía South Beach (2025), No me hablen de Cuba (2022), and several theater and poetry works published in Cuba and Spain.
Milcho
Director / Producer / Artist
Milcho is a multi-award-winning director, video artist, creative thinker, mental health advocate, and community activator. born in france and raised in el salvador, she has been a fixture of the miami entertainment industry for the past 30 years. milcho’s extensive body of work ranges from music videos to scripted and reality shows, as well as award-winning television campaigns. as a video artist, milcho has participated in art fairs around the world.
Kerim Azimi
Film Critic
Kerim Azimi has been an active figure in the world of cinema since 1987, building a distinguished career as a filmmaker, film critic, and festival leader. He has contributed to numerous acclaimed productions, including Father, Butterflies Die in the Snow, Falling, My House Is a Cloud, 999999999, and Survivor. His films have been officially selected by more than 500 national and international film festivals and have earned over 50 awards worldwide, with honors received in countries such as Canada, the United States, Belgium, Italy, Poland, India, and Azerbaijan. In addition to his creative work, Azimi has served on the juries of several prominent international film festivals, including those in Baku, Tehran, Vienna, Nepal, and the United States. With nearly four decades of experience spanning film criticism, filmmaking, and festival programming, he brings extensive industry knowledge, critical insight, and a broad international perspective to the jury panel.
Ronald Sanchez
Art Curator
Ronald Sánchez is a Miami-based curator and co-founder of Laundromat Art Space, creating accessible studio and exhibition opportunities for emerging artists. His collaborative curatorial practice explores identity and contemporary issues, with expertise and a passion for short films and video art. He is a member of the International Association of Curators in Contemporary Art.
Pedro Guevara
Filmmaker
Pedro Guevara is an accomplished filmmaker and cinematographer whose career began unexpectedly as an apprentice in the camera department on the Venezuelan feature film Muchacho Solitario. Raised in a family of medical and legal professionals, he initially viewed the arts as an unlikely path, but discovered his true calling through the power of visual storytelling. More than three decades later, after working on numerous short and feature films, he continues to be driven by a passion for finding images that inspire emotion and connection. His dedication to cinematic storytelling and visual artistry has made him a respected voice in the film community.
