Meet the Esteemed Jury of MOMO Film Festival 2025

Torrie Allen - Jury President MOMO2025

President & CEO at Arts Midwest

Torrie Allen is an American arts leader and former opera singer with over 30 years of experience in arts leadership, fundraising, marketing, grantmaking, and performance. He currently serves as the president and CEO of Arts Midwest and chair of National Arts Strategies. Previously, he led philanthropic efforts at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (2016–2019), served as chief officer of development and marketing at Alaska Public Media (2012–2016), and was executive and artistic director of Anchorage Opera (2006–2012). Earlier, he directed the National Patrons Council at Americans for the Arts.

Before transitioning to arts administration, Allen performed internationally for a decade, with credits at Opéra National de Paris, Teatro Real Madrid, Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera (guild), and others. He has produced over 20 operas and musical theater works, including workshops for new operas in New York City.

A sought-after speaker and lecturer, he has presented at leading universities and conferences. Allen holds degrees from UCLA (political science) and the Boston Conservatory (vocal performance and opera).

Padrick Ritch - Jury

Independent Filmmaker | Professor, University of Michigan

Padrick Ritch is an independent filmmaker in documentary, fiction, and experimental films. His films have screened at dozens of film festivals in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, and Berlin, including the Ann Arbor Film Festival, Les Instants Video, Festival Internazionale Del Cinema Di Salerno, and Antimatter Media Fest. As a member of the AGX Film Collective his work has been featured in public exhibitions in Boston, as well as the Jarvis Conservatory in Napa, California, and the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  He currently is a professor at the University of Michigan, within the Film, Television, and Media Department.

Julie Ducrocq - Jury

Director, Musician, and Storyteller

Julie is a French director of music videos and narrative films, with a background in cinema studies from Paris. She’s also a talented songwriter, musician, and director of the celebrated short film L'érotomane (The Erotomaniac), among others. Additionally, she wrote, directed, and edited three short films as part of a series based on La Fontaine's fables (DEATH AND THE MUSICIAN, The Bohemian, and The Young People). Her work has been showcased at many prestigious film festivals worldwide!

Taner Tokgöz - Jury

Cinematographer | Visual Arts Expert

Taner Tokgöz is an accomplished cinematographer known for his distinctive visual storytelling and technical expertise. A graduate of Dokuz Eylül University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, he has worked on numerous film projects, shaping their cinematic language through his mastery of lighting, composition, and camera movement.

His filmography includes Cycle (2012), Fish (2014), Dream (2016), Aşık: Aşığın Gözü Kördür (2016), and Posta Kutusu (2016). He also contributed as a camera operator to the international production Paskal (2018), working on its Turkey-based filming.

Tokgöz specializes in both digital and film cinematography, with proficiency in ARRI, RED, and Sony Venice cameras, as well as advanced lighting and color grading techniques. His dedication to crafting compelling visuals has established him as a respected figure in the film industry.

Antje Lindner - Jury

Visual Artist & Filmmaker

Antje Lindner’s works delve into the poetic and philosophical realms, exploring the psychosocial and emotional conditions of humanity within the context of nature. A true visionary, Antje's art forms touch on deep introspective themes and offer a unique perspective on the human experience.

Antje Lindner studied free sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, where she earned her diploma in 2003 after completing an apprenticeship as a goldsmith. Her work has been showcased at numerous prestigious international film festivals, including NNFestival in Israel, WomenTime Festival in the Canary Islands, Happy Valley Animation Festival in the USA, as well as in renowned galleries like Ruth Borchard Collection London, Galerie Noah Augsburg, and the Werkschauhalle of the Leipzig Cotton Spinning Mill.

Antje is based in Leipzig and near Augsburg, where she continues to create and inspire through her multifaceted artistic expressions.

Farid Ismail - Jury

Director | Screenwriter | Producer

Farid Ismail is an accomplished filmmaker and a graduate of Nouvella Sorbonne, where he earned his Master’s in Cinema. With over ten independent short films to his name, he has established a distinctive cinematic voice that blends comedy, drama, and satire.

His latest project, Between the Words, marks his first self-produced film and holds deep personal significance. Drawing from his own experience with stuttering, Farid infuses his work with a unique emotional depth and perspective. The film has garnered 70 awards, along with several prestigious recognitions, including:

• 5 Honorable Mentions

• 4 Finalist selections

• 5 Semi-Finalist placements

• 6 Quarter-Finalist distinction

Jean-Marie Villeneuve - Jury

Director | Screenwriter | Educator

Jean-Marie Villeneuve, director, is the author of a feature film TOUT EST FAUX released in theaters in September 2014. He has also directed several short films since the beginning of the 2010s including THE CREAM, AXN, AUTUMN, WHERE IS CHARLIE? which are multi-selected in international festivals. At the beginning of 2023, he finished his latest short LA REPRODUCTION with Franc Bruneau, produced by Sélénite Productions. In parallel with his activities as a filmmaker, he teaches cinema near Paris (France).