Official Selection - MIFA 2025

Official Selection

4th Mojo International Film Awards

Female conservation rangers are asserting themselves at the vanguard of wildlife conservation and gender equality in Kenya.

Director Biography - Roberta Anne Staley

Roberta Staley is a Vancouver-based, award-winning documentary filmmaker who has produced, written and directed Mightier Than the Sword (2017), Angels on Call (2022) and Elephant Warriors (2024). She is in pre-production for the documentary Raptor Rescue. Staley wrote the biography Voice of Rebellion - How Mozhdah Jamalzadah Brought Hope to Afghanistan (2019). She is also a magazine writer who has reported from Afghanistan, Kenya, Haiti, Colombia, Cambodia, South Africa, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and El Salvador. Staley specializes in science, gender and international reportage, covering such topics as women's rights, the sciences, travel, culture, elephant conservation, female genital mutilation and HIV-AIDS.

In defiance of her father, Hefeydd Hen, Rhiannon thought she could escape an arranged marriage. After all, a fairy Goddess should marry someone of her own choosing, someone noble like Pwyll, the Prince of Dyfed. Rhiannon rides into the Prince’s life on a magical white horse. They fall deeply in love and promise to marry a year and a day hence.

Director Biography - Sarah Mallabar

An English independent filmmaker based in South Wales, creating musically driven, female-centric scripted drama and over one hundred music videos and short films. BAFTA Crew 2018-19, Sarah’s debut short drama 'Dr. Sugarloaf' was made at Pinewood Studios England, premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2016, awarded BEST ACTOR at the Reel Social film festival 2022 and distributed with Shorts International. Her directorial debut music video 'Thinking of Nothing' won Best Music Video at the Falstaff Film Festival in 2009. 'Angelina Tout' won Best Music Video at Franklin International Indie Film Festival USA in 2020 and nominated for an award at Portobello Film Festival in 2015. Producer, Writer & Director of an environmental campaign film 'WTF? (Where’s the Fish?)' narrated by Chris Packham. Featured on BBC Points West in 2018.

The Untold inspired story of Afeni Shakur one black woman pregnant with the rap star Tupac, charged with 156 acts of terrorism with no lawyer or legal training fought her corner to be found NOT GUILTY on every change.

Director Biography - Ray Barron-Woolford FRSA

Ray Barron-Woolford FRSA is a multi-award-winning community LGBTQ+ Civil rights - Social Justice activist.

Global multi-award-winning filmmaker, playwright,

successful Author, writer, broadcaster & Guest Speaker.

A mysterious mansion, shrouded in mist and shadows, offers refuge to a tenant seeking peace or a new beginning. But behind the walls of the house lies a sinister secret. Every corner is covered with mirrors that not only reflect reality, but also reveal the deeply hidden sins and desires of its occupant.

Director Biography - Lyubomir Zhelev

Lyubomir Zhelev is puppet actor, director, magician, dancer, beatboxer and etc. Lyubomir finished high school with a fine arts profile , then graduated from the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Starting his experience in many independent theatre companies even as a student and after the Academy, his passion about experimenting with different type of arts grew faster. He created Monkey’s Theatre like an oasis for like-minded people at senior year in the Academy.

Homeless Street Artist Documentary follows the lives of three homeless artists as they create art to survive. With the odds stacked against them.

Director Biography - Tysen Knight

American street artist Tysen Knight was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but called New Jersey his home until moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania after high school. Tysen currently resides in Palm Springs, California, where his artwork can be found throughout the area; as well as hanging in local galleries. Tysen's love for art has opened the door to many different forms of media including acting in feature films and music videos, modeling, and directing his own award winning full-length documentary, "The Art of Hustle: Street Art Documentary."

A timely cinematic film experience is about to happen. This powerful, emotional drama with action, impacting storylines, and deep characters will keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

Director Biography - Mike Fox

Mike Fox | Multi award-winning Filmmaker, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, Video Editing & Production, Designer, Creative Professional, Actor, Voiceover, CEO & Entrepreneur.

A mother and daughter from Connecticut and a victim of sex trafficking from Haiti are drawn into a dangerous web of exploitation on the streets of San Francisco.

Writer Biography - RJ Watson

RJ (Jim) Watson is an award-winning writer, producer and director of films, documentaries, children’s television and video programs.

RECENT PROJECTS

Perry (2018), a screenplay on sex trafficking. A mother and daughter of privilege from Connecticut and a victim of sex trafficking from Haiti are drawn into a dangerous web of exploitation on the streets of San Francisco. Loosely based on the Persephone-Demeter myth, it is the tragic story of love and innocence destroyed by dark societal forces.

When you feel that you have nothing more to live for. It's good to have a true friend to help you out.

Director Biography - Michael Ringdal

Michael Ringdal is an award winning Producer/Writer & Director.

Michael was born in the small town of Tonsberg, Norway and lives in Larvik, Norway.

He started out as a still photographer and worked all over the world shooting fashion, glam and commercial work.

Struggling, Alyssa turns to a non-traditional treatment as a cure. It's only stipulation is a strict rule: five turns only.

Director Biography - Sam Dixon, Sixto Perea Rubio

A short film based on Mark Antony's funeral speech from William Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar."

Antony takes it to the people, delivers Caesar's stirring requiem, and turns the tables on his assassins.

Director Biography - Sean Tansey

As an admirer and lover of the cinema arts, Sean Tansey has absorbed himself in the film creation process for over twenty years.

A highly trained operative, belonging to a clandestine ancient group of expert mercenaries, is given a mission to recover a valuable item for one of the 13 most influential families on Earth. As war breaks out and alliances formed centuries ago crumble, survival becomes the top priority for everyone involved.

Director Biography - John P Martinez

Born and raised in Upstate New York. John loved going to the movies at an early age. After seeing movies such as "Raiders of the Lost Ark", "Return of the Jedi", and "Back to the Future", he knew filmmaking and storytelling was in his future. After college, John joined the federal government and served in a law enforcement capacity for 25 years. The passion to tell stories and make films has never left him. Being retired, John has more time to dedicate to making stories come to life. John is on a journey to tell stories that everyone will appreciate and have the same experience as he did many, many years ago. "The Days of Knight: Chapter 3" is John's first short film.

An ambitious businessman tries to overcome his abusive upbringing by using his co-workers as stepping stones to reach the upper echelon of a corporation where he is accused of committing an illegal act.

Writer Biography - Terry Luke Podnar

Terry Podnar, a graduate of Kent State, is a screenwriter who currently lives in Akron, OH; however, he does have the flexibility to move. In the past year, he has written four feature length screenplays and four short scripts, all of which have won multiple awards. His feature script, The Red Zone, was placed on The Red List in January of this year. His passion for films started early on when he wrote and filmed many independent films.

In 1780s California, a conflicted mixed-blood scout, torn between his native heritage and Spanish conquerors, is thrust into a battle of survival and identity as he navigates oppressive mission life and brutal colonizers.

When a boy's mother vanishes after a car crash, he's thrust into a perilous quest. Guided by an eccentric uncle and aided by three unfamiliar allies, he must confront dark forces and his own doubts to rescue his mother before an important birthday.

Writer Biography - Lynn H. Elliott

I was born in Cardiff, Wales. My degrees are from Nottingham, England and the University of in Santa Barbara (MA/PhD). I taught English and Creative Writing at California State University Chico. i was Chair of English for six years.

I am an award-winning playwright and screenplay writer, as well as a fiction writer. I love writing stories, delving into characters and creating dialog that functions in many different forms.

In a universe hostile to women, where free spirits and special people were destined to be burned at the stake, Corinna fights her battle for survival, fingered as a witch.

Monica Carpanese, Pierpaolo Federico Rospo

Writers Biography - Monica Carpanese, Pierpaolo Federico Rospo

Golda Meir drank coffee here and so did Shimon Peres. The Ta'amon is one of the oldest cafés in Jerusalem and it is world famous. It has been a meeting place for radical political activists, artist, politicians and the literati. Israel and its political development have been fervidly debated here – in the past as well as today. The café is history in a microcosm. Established in 1936, a Jewish family took it over again in the 60s. Together with Hamis, a Muslim, they cater for their guests day after day. The director precisely documents their everyday life. He shows the bistro, its owners and customers. He moves away from them to investigate stories and comes back again – to Ta'amon. A record of contemporary history.

Director Biography - Michael Teutsch

Michael Teutsch was born on 8 June 1945. Michael is a cinematographer and director, known for Cafe Ta'amon, King-George-Street, Jerusalem (2013), Alles wegen Omi (2017) and Von der Hölle ins Paradies oder Chopin hat mich gerettet (2005).

It's America, 1961. A man falls asleep and suffers a nightmare 60 years into the future.

Director Biography - Ned Bellamy

As a graduate of the UCLA theater department, which happens to be right next door to the film department, I had both my early interest (stage and film) falling right in my lap... . As I studied and performed on stage, I was equally participating in film projects next door. As school concluded and fortunate enough to have gathered some like minded renegade actors, we went on to write and perform all over Los Angeles for years. Creating our Los Angeles based theater company, "The Actors' Gang".

In "Making Emmie Smile," family members attempt to make the child happy by offering her different material things, only to succeed in getting the child to smile by offering personal attention. The basic them of "Making Emmie Smile" is the importance of fulfilling your child's emotional needs.

Director Biography - Abby Vo, John Vo, Ken Yoffe,

Ellen Weisberg

Ken Yoffe is a pediatrician (Chelmsford, MA). He also holds a doctorate in genetics. Ellen Weisberg is a cancer researcher at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Principal Associate in Medicine at Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA), with a doctorate in pharmacology.

Ken and Ellen are part-time children's book authors. Publications include short stories and poetry published in PKA's Advocate (bimonthly literary publication), The Writing Disorder (quarterly online literary journal and print anthology book), Bewildering Stories, and Natural Solutions (holistic health magazine). Ellen's cancer memoir, "From Both Sides," which received the 2019 Mariner Award from Bewildering Stories, describes one person, two perspectives: that of the cancer researcher and that of the cancer patient. Ken and Ellen have also published several children's geography books, readers, an anti-bullying book and a multicultural picture book, and two novels through small independent presses. Their YA book, ANGEL ROCK LEAP, received a positive Kirkus review and other editorial reviews, and was selected for the Goodreads List of Best Women's Contemporary Fiction. Their children's geography book, ALL ACROSS CANADA, and their anti-bullying children's book, FRUIT OF THE VINE, received positive Kirkus reviews, Readers' Favorite, and other editorial reviews.

John Vo, founder of Lonely Lane Productions, is an executive specializing in finance and operations for content and creative startups. He has over eleven years of experience running a creative agency as CEO, COO and Head of Finance, as well as commercializing content properties. He has had a hand in producing content totaling over one billion views.

The short film focuses on the “Polycrisis Concept” which was first announced by a scientist at the World Economic Forum in Davos. At the beginning of the action it seems we’re put right into a situation where we need to find a way out. While some intellectuals are trying to give rational explanations for the difficult situation we’re facing after the COVID crisis, we will at the same time be aroused emotionally.

Director Biography - Olaf Lenz

1 - Master degree in philosophy and literature

2 - working as freelancer

3 - author of short stories & unpublished novels plus part time editor

4 - experimental filmmaker (low budget)