MEET OUR 2025 CFC JUDGES
2025 CFC Selection Committee Judges
|
Cristina SassoCristina Sasso is a Panamanian filmmaker who honed her craft at Playhouse West Repertory Theatre before stepping into writing and directing. She has collaborated with acclaimed artists such as Chrissy Metz (This Is Us), Adalgiza De Los Santos (Criminal Minds), and Shoniqua Shandai (Harlem). Sasso is the co-founder of Side Pocket Station, a Los Angeles-based rehearsal and audition-tape studio. Passionate about crafting narratives that amplify underrepresented voices and exploring the lens through which they see the world. Follow her creative journey on Instagram: @sassymakesfilms. She is also an OG CFC filmmaker.
|
|
GABRIEL YAFFE Gabriel Yaffe is an actor, writer, comedian, and filmmaker. He is an alumnus of the Taliesin Nexus Smash Cut Film Lab and a graduate of Second City Hollywood. His short film "The Surge" won best comedy at the 2019 Anthem Film Festival and "Police Werk: 2020" was an official selection in 2021. Currently, Gabriel is a Film Fellow at Emergent Order in Austin, Texas, where he lives with his wife and newborn son. (To clarify, he lives in Austin, not at Emergent Order, which would be inappropriate workplace conduct.) |
|
Brion HambelBrion Hambel is an independent producer living in Los Angeles. His credits include SXSW winner Natural Selection, Scenic Route, Better Watch Out, and Tone-Deaf. His latest producorial effort, Ike Boys (a family-friendly, kaiju fantasy adventure that mixes live-action with anime and tokusatsu), will be released in October.
|
2025 CFC Grand Jury
|
MATTHEW CLAYBROOKS Born and raised in Compton, Matt learned about the harsh realities of life at an early age, and how to use humor to cope with them. As a 2024 Emmy Award Nominee & PGA Nominee for Outstanding Variety Special for Netflix's Chris Rock: Selective Outrage serving as an Executive Producer, Matt is currently the Showrunner and Executive Producer for the new BET+ animated series, Lil Kev, based on the early life of comedian/actor extraordinaire Kevin Hart. Matt has written on multiple television shows, including: The Gordita Chronicles (HBO MAX), All About the Washingtons (Netflix), The Game (BET) and Everybody Still Hates Chris (Comedy Central), as well as writing on multiple awards/variety shows from the Oscars to Saturday Night Live. |
|
TERRA WEILER Terra Weiler is a Partner and Manager at Impact Artists Group, LLC, where she brings over two decades of expertise in behavioral psychology, marketing, training and development—combined with 14 years of talent management experience. Her unique, multidimensional background has been instrumental in building and shaping the careers of a diverse and talented roster, including Diego Tinoco, Drake Rodger, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Ray Proscia, Diandra Lyle, William Mark McCullough, Tait Blum, Savannah Nicole Ruiz, and many more. Terra’s management philosophy blends a strategic business mindset with deep psychological insight, marketing acumen, and a heartfelt commitment to her clients. She is fiercely dedicated to creating an environment where artists can do their most authentic and powerful creative work—free from the typical pressures of the entertainment industry. Her mission is to ensure that each client operates from a place of vulnerability, passion, and truth, supported by a solid, forward-driving professional foundation. In addition to her work in talent management, Terra is an author and founder of BuildMyWins.com, a platform devoted to personal development and goal building. Her upcoming book, What Does a Win Look Like? Focus Book for a Life That Counts, debuts in 2025 and is complemented by her live course, Win Builders. Through these offerings, Terra helps individuals redefine success and recognize that every step of the journey matters. Follow Terra on Instagram: @TerraWeiler and @BuildMyWins to stay inspired and connected. |
|
JUSTIN ARMAN
Founder, producer, and executive director of CiVL. Principal AI Research Engineer for the Foundation for Harmony and Prosperity. |
|
ERIC THOMPSON Eric has been working in film crews for over 17 years, gaining both practical experience and a creative understanding of filmmaking. A Los Angeles-born writer, director, and producer, he has created several original projects, including short films "The Veil" (Grand Jury Prize Winner—CFC), "Stevie" (Dances With Films, HollyShorts Film Festival), and "Flanders" (Winner of Night of Comedy Shorts). A participant in the 2025 MPI Short Film Lab. He currently has a feature screenplay optioned with a major studio. |
