GPA judges

Source: GPAs

Clockwise from top left: GPA jury members Melissa Heuer, Mohamed Hefzy, Venia Vergou, Rachelle Villaluna and Akunna Cook

Leading executives from Amazon MGM Studios, Film Clinic and the European Film Commission Network (EUFCN) are among the first wave of judges to be revealed for Screen International’s fourth annual Global Production Awards.

Melissa Heuer, principal for economic development policy at Amazon MGM Studios joins the Global Production Awards jury alongside Mohamed Hefzy, founder and president of leading Egyptian producer and distributor Film Clinic, and Venia Vergou, manager of the EUFCN.

In total, 12 judges have been announced so far including Akunna Cook, CEO and founder of Next Narrative Africa; John Rakich, president of the Location Managers Guild International (LMGI); Paul Muller, CEO of the Australia New Zealand Screen Association (ANZSA); and Rachelle Villaluna, executive director, The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP).

The list of confirmed judges is below and can be found here. More jury members will be announced next week.

The Global Production Awards, in association with Screen Global Production and Broadcast, celebrates outstanding and sustainable work from the world of film and TV production, locations and studios around the globe. The supporting partner is Olsberg SPI.

The entry deadline for the Global Production Awards is March 13.

Applications are open to all organisations and companies working in the film and TV industry including studios, production companies, film commissions, locations, suppliers and manufacturers and any services involved in film and TV production.

Please click here to apply.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony held during this year’s Cannes Film Festival on May 18.

For any sponsorship enquiries please contact scott.benfold@screendaily.com and for entry enquiries, please contact globalproductionawards@screendaily.com.

Global Production Awards 2026 judges

  • Karine Barclais, founder, Pavillon Afronova, Cannes
  • Nathan Bazley, global director of business and operations, NantStudios
  • Markus Bensch, VP of physical production / location manager, Berlin Production Group
  • Yolonda Brinkley, founder and CEO, Diversity in Cannes
  • Akunna Cook, CEO and founder, Next Narrative Africa
  • Mohamed Hefzy, founder and president, Film Clinic
  • Melissa Heuer, principal for economic development policy, Amazon MGM Studios
  • Paul Muller, CEO, Australia New Zealand Screen Association (ANZSA)
  • Kate Phibbs, head of studio, Film Soho
  • John Rakich, president, Location Managers Guild International (LMGI)
  • Venia Vergou, manager, European Film Commission Network EUFCN
  • Rachelle Villaluna, executive director, The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP)

 

 

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