Meet the 2023 'Fine Cut' Judges

Alison Kelly

Alison Kelly is a cinematographer and storyteller. She became interested in film because of its power to tell original and untold stories in a uniquely compelling way. Kelly studied a wide variety of subjects at Columbia University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. After getting her start in the film industry in New York City as a camera assistant on features such as "The Bone Collector," "Oceans 11," and "Personal Velocity," she moved to Los Angeles to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Cinematography at the American Film Institute. Her work has taken her all over the globe and to all but one of the states. Lately she has worked almost entirely in television. The last series she filmed was Marvel's "Ironheart." Other notable series are "Dietland," "NCIS:Hawai'i," "Diary of a Future President," "The Quad" and "Big Shot," among others. She has also been the Director of Photography on award-winning feature films such as "Alaska is a Drag," "Inventing Tomorrow" and "A Happening of Monumental Proportions." She is passionate about supporting new voices and unique perspectives.

Elizabeth Ito

Elizabeth Ito has been working as a creator, writer, director, and storyboard artist in the animation industry since 2004. She’s worked on TV, feature, and commercial projects. She was both a storyboard artist and supervising director on "Adventure Time," and won an Emmy for directing the "Adventure Time" episode, "Islands Part 4: Imaginary Resources." Elizabeth is the creator of the award-winning short, "Welcome to My Life," the second-most viewed short in Cartoon Network history. Her first series, "City of Ghosts" for Netflix, premiered in 2021 and was nominated for a Peabody Award in 2022. She recently co-directed a music video for The Linda Linda's and is working on a project about shopping malls and learning how to use a video game engine to create animated films. Currently, she is living in Los Angeles, staying home with her family, and coming up with new ideas for fun projects to make.

Everett Downing

Everett Downing is an Oscar winning director, story artist and animator living in the Greater Los Angeles area.  Born in Boulder, Colorado and raised in Denver, he studied Film, focusing on computer animation at Columbia College in Chicago. Everett began his career as a story artist at Big Idea Productions before making his break into feature film, animating at Blue Sky Studios on the original "Ice Age." He later took a position as an animator at Pixar, animating on several award-winning feature films (everything from "Ratatouille" to "Monster's University"). He then transitioned back into the story department where he boarded on "The Toy Story That Time Forgot", and "Cars 3". Since then. he's worked on films at Dreamworks, Paramount, & Sony Pictures Animation. Everett co-directed the animated short Hair Love which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short in 2019. He's recently worked for Netflix Animation where he was the co-creator and executive producer for the upcoming animated series "My Dad the Bounty Hunter." 

James Lee Hernandez

James Lee Hernandez is a multi-Emmy and PGA Award nominated filmmaker and a critically-acclaimed podcaster. He directed, wrote and edited the 5-time Emmy® nominated HBO documentary series, "McMillion$" (Sundance 2020), with his creative partner, Brian Lazarte. Hernandez executive produced the series with Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Archie Gips, and Lazarte. Hernandez is a founding partner of FunMeter, a TV, film and podcast production company that specializes in stranger-than-fiction scripted and non-scripted content. Recently announced, Hernandez and Lazarte are writing, directing, and executive producing two documentary series for Apple TV+ through FunMeter — "The Big Conn" (SXSW 2022), released in May 2022, and "The Jet," slated to be released later in 2022. Hernandez is a self-taught filmmaker who began his career in the industry writing, directing, and editing content for Hulu, Hallmark and other major, national brands.

Karissa Valencia

Karissa Valencia is the first California Native American showrunner, and the creator, executive producer, and showrunner of Netflix's Annie nominated series "Spirit Rangers," a fantasy-adventure preschool series that celebrates community, nature, and the rich heritage of Native American storytelling. In celebration of her work on "Spirit Rangers," Valencia has received several accolades including inclusion in "The Hollywood Reporter's" inaugural Kids Entertainment Power List, "Variety's" 10 Animators to Watch, and "Animation Magazine's" Rising Stars of Animation. Prior to developing "Spirit Rangers," Valencia wrote for preschool favorites such as Disney Junior’s "Doc McStuffins," "Vampirina," "T.O.T.S," and "The Chicken Squad." Valencia is a member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and currently resides in Los Angeles.

Kelly Younger

Kelly Younger is a screenwriter and Emmy nominated producer known for "Muppets Now," "Muppets Haunted Mansion,"  and "Ralph Breaks the Internet." He was part of the Disney Animation Story Trust and the Pixar Brain Trust on "Moana," "Frozen 2," "Raya and the Last Dragon," "Encanto," "Cars 3," "Incredibles 2," and " Toy Story 4." He recently co-wrote a feature film for Skydance Animation. His holiday movie "Candy Cane Lane," directed by Reggie Hudlin, produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, and Karen Lunder, will premiere this Christmas. It stars Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, and Nick Offerman.  

Michael Herrera

Michael Herrera is a Story Artist and Actor, living and working in Los Angeles. His work includes Story Supervision, Storyboarding, Character Development, Design, Writing and World Building. His love of animation, film and theater led him to a career as a story artist working for such studios as Walt Disney Animation Studios, Warner Brothers, Reel FX, and Rovio Animation. He is a member of both The Animation Guild (TAG) and The Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

His love of storytelling was founded at a young age, as he explored puppetry, painting, magic, acting, film and video games. Living near Disneyland meant frequent visits to the park, and playing story-driven computer games was a family affair. This instilled a very eclectic array of interests and ambitions in him, which he carries throughout his career. As soon as he learned that Animation was in fact, made by actual people, he knew he was destined to join the industry. After studying at the California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts), he was hired as a Story Trainee at Walt Disney Animation studios, and has been working in story for Animated Feature productions ever since. He also studied Musical Theater Performance at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).

He has contributed to over dozen animated feature films, various series and short films and special projects. His story work on Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, earned him an Annie Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement For Storyboarding In An Animated Feature Production.

In his free time, he enjoys treasure hunting in thrift shops, cooking, seeing live theater, and exploring the world with his partner and their dog.

Tina Mabry

Tina Mabry wrote and directed "The Supremes at Earl’s All You Can Eat" for Searchlight based on the New York Times bestseller. The film is slated to come out next year. She’s also attached to write and direct "Iverson" for Higher Ground and Netflix based on the early life of Allen Iverson. As well "Pretty Big" for Macro and Warner Bros. Tina did a significant (but uncredited) rewrite on the feature film "The Hate U Give." In television, Tina most recently worked on "Women of the Movement," airing on ABC in 2021. Tina also directed the "Beast Mode" pilot for Macro/TNT. Her vast episodic directing credits include "Insecure" (HBO) and "Pose" (FX). She was named one of '25 New Faces of Indie Film' by Filmmaker magazine and among the 'Top Forty Under 40' by The Advocate. Tina was selected as one of eight female directors for the Women In Film’s initiative ReFrame Rise. Mabry wrote and directed the groundbreaking feature film "Mississippi Damned," which won the Grand Jury Prize at the American Black Film Festival.

Yemisi Brookes

Yemisi Brookes spent the last 18 years directing emotional, evocative, and stylish documentaries that highlight exciting subcultures and lesser-known communities. Her recent credits include: "Tupac:  A Life in Ten Pictures" for the BBC,  "Generation Hustle" for HBO, and "Beanie Mania" a feature doc for HBO that had a Christmas release. From the UK, Yemisi began her career at MTV as a shooter before becoming the youngest Director to work in the BBC's internationally renowned Specialist Documentary Unit. As well as directing for all the major streamers and networks, she has collaborated with Jigsaw, Mass Appeal, and Pulse Films. Commercially, Yemisi worked with brands like Nike, Louis Vuitton, Jaguar Landrover, and talent including Jay-Z, Cardi B, and Muhammed Ali. Her latest project, an independent feature doc on the underground world of battle rap, is currently in Post, and is being EP'd by Drake.