Meet the Team
Austin Under the Stars consists of a diverse assembly of internationally-based judges, each possessing an extensive background in various artistic domains such as film, writing, music, public relations, and numerous other artistic expressions.
If you are interested in joining our panel, email contact@austinunderthestars.com
Festival Director
Ali Alkhafaji
Director, Writer, Actor from Austin TX. Ali hosts two other film festivals called "LA Under the Stars" & "Austin Spotlight Film Festival" which donate proceeds to Autism Society of Texas.
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Judge
Tian Liu
Studied at Harvard Business School, Tian's works have been featured in Forbes, GQ, and more. She has worked with Oscar winner Kim Basinger, Lynne Littman, and three-time Oscar nominee for best cinematography, Dean Cundey.
Judge
Carmella Harper
Proud member of WIFT-Austin (Women In Film and TV) and Austin Public Producer, Carmella's blend of nursing experience and storytelling prowess fuels her enthusiasm for using film as a medium to challenge perceptions and promote positivity.
Judge
Ryan Robinson
Actor/producer/director, Ryan has written multiple stage plays and films. His production company specializes in commercial work, along with short/feature films, with a focus on community impact.
Marketing Director
Madison Moreland
As a graduate of the University of Texas, Madison handles daily outreach & promotion within the student community both locally with the Department of Radio-Television-Film & nationally.
Judge
Thomas Berrios
An accomplished screenwriter & actor, Thomas continues working numerous positions in film to satisfy his creative expression. With 6 years of judging experience, Thomas has been a crucial to the festival team.
Judge
Nick Williams
Graduate of the University of Texas Radio-Television-Film program, Nick is an award-winning cinematographer & director with a focus on documentary films.
Judge
Chad Mundo
Chad is an actor in film, television, and commercials. His favorite film format is shorts; heavily influenced by Twilight Zone episodes and reading/writing Sci-Fi short stories. Chad trains in stunts, Korean martial arts, and advanced calisthenics.
Graphic Designer
Michael Shuermann
With an exceptional background in communications & visual arts, Michael has been instrumental in creating the Austin Under the Stars brand.
Michael now works as a motion designer & animator in video production.
Judge
Elise Silagy
With a degree in Marketing from Augustana, Elise has been vital to our social media marketing.
Judge
Andrew Fisher
Writer, Director, Actor splitting time between Los Angeles, CA and Austin, TX. Andrew is about to release a web-series called Thanatos.
Judge
Matthew Alanis
Award-winning screenwriter with over a decade of experience in judging and consulting. As a writer with a physical disability, Alaniz strives to tell stories from a broader human perspective; as a judge and consultant, he wants to promote and champion powerful and unique voices.