Our festival jury selects the winners of the LOCO Discovery Awards for: Best Short, Best Short Short, Best Script, Best Performance, Best Ensemble, and Best Speedy Film.
This year’s jury is made up of:
- Marco Alessi (writer/director)
- Alison Arber (marketeer)
- Issy Macleod (programmer)
- Rachel Parris (comedian)
- Roy Joseph Butler (visual creative and screenwriter)
- Kate Leadbetter (Head of Development)
Marco Alessi is a BAFTA-nominated director and writer based in London. Their shorts have played at festivals such as the BFI London Film Festival, BFI Flare, and the Berlinale, and been shortlisted by BIFA, the Grierson Awards and nominated by the London Critics’ Circle. In 2022, Vimeo named Marco as one of their Best New Creators and this year they were listed as one of Film London Lodestars. Their first feature is currently in development with Film4.
Alison Arber has 15 years’ experience working in the film industry with a focus on the expansive catalogue of STUDIOCANAL. She champions film preservation to enable future generations to enjoy wonderful films such as the great Ealing comedies. She is a multiple-award winning marketeer, with highlights including campaigns for The Wicker Man, The Dam Busters, Flash Gordon, The Man Who Fell to Earth, and The Ladykillers.
Issy Macleod is a film programmer at Picturehouse Cinemas with a focus on cult cinema and curating 35mm film. She has written for online publications whatever. journal, animationstudies 2.0, and Fantasy/Animation on topics from Japanese auteurs to environmental readings on children’s media. When not researching the recent developments in Australian horror cinema, Issy spends time with her one-eyed horse and her one-eyed dog.
Rachel Parris is a BAFTA-nominated comedian best known for her viral satirical segments on The Mash Report and Late Night Mash which have had over 100 million views. She is a live touring comic taking her musical comedy and standup shows across the UK, as well as an improviser and one of the founders and cast members of award-winning improv group Austentatious who currently perform in the West End. She has appeared on Live At The Apollo, Would I Lie To You, Mock the Week, Q.I. and Cats Does Countdown and on radio 4 appears on I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue and The Now Show.
Roy Joseph Butler is a visual creative and an award-winning screenwriter for animation and shorts. He is also the Chief Executive of Packed Lunch Productions, a fine-art-animation studio and non-profit social enterprise charged with advancing visual storytelling through moving image, fine art and performance. Unsurprisingly, film is an important part of his professional and creative practice, and a passion.
Kate Leadbetter is Head of Development at Expanded Media, a London and L.A based film and TV production company.