JUDGES

Sam Neill

Grammy and Golden Globe nominated Sam Neill, star of movie classics Jurassic Park, The Piano & Wimbledon is welcomed on the judges panel.Neill is currently starring in the vampire thriller Daybreakers, in cinemas now, alongside Ethan Hawke, William Dafoe and fellow Aussies Claudia Karvan, Vince Colosimo and Isabel Lucas. Since his New Zealand screen debut in Roger Donaldson’s Sleeping Dogs in 1978, Sam Neill has appeared in over 80 film and television productions. Neill is internationally recognized for his theatrical contributions with The British Academy of Film and Television naming him Best Actor on British Television and being the recipient of an Order of the British Empire for Services to Acting.

Sophie Lowe

Born in Sheffield, England, Sophie and her family came to live in Australia in 2000.

After finishing school in 2008 Sophie’s star has been on a meteoric rise since being cast in a leading role in her feature film debut Beautiful Kate.  Early reviews for the film suggest that this stunning debut performance will launch her career and introduce the world to her talents as an actor.  The film premiered at the Sydney International Film Festival in June 2009 and has received critical acclaim both locally and internationally.

Xavier Samuel

Acclaimed Australian actor Xavier Samuel, who has just finished filming Eclipse, the third instalment of the Twilight series phenomenon, is welcomed to the judging panel. Adelaide born Samuel has gone from strength to strength in the Australian film industry since his film debut in 2:37 which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival with a standing ovation. He has since starred in acclaimed films including September, Newcastle and The Loved Ones. Samuel is no stranger to the OPTUS ONE80PROJECT. He appeared in Dream Life, the winning entry from the OPTUS ONE80PROJECT in 2008. Samuel is anticipated to experience world wide fame from Eclipse so we are happy to host him on our judging panel now.

Click here for Xavier Samuel’s detailed biography.

David Gale

International heavyweight, Executive Vice President of New Media at MTV, David Gale, will be heading up the industry expert panel of judges bringing with him industry knowledge and experience from critically acclaimed films as Election, The Longest Yard and Napoleon Dynamite.

Click here for David Gale's detailed biography.

Chris McGlinn

Chris McGlinn is the Director of Marketing for Amalgamated Holdings Limited, under Greater Union, Birch Carroll & Coyle and Event Cinemas, Australia’s largest exhibition and entertainment company. Chris started with Greater Union as an office boy in 1979, rejoining in 1989 as Advertising and Promotions Manager after working for Hoyts. Chris has witnessed, and heavily influenced, innovations in cinema over the years, from the introduction of megaplexes to the latest roll out of 3D and Digital. Chris instigated, and managed, the first and highest outdoor screening on the slopes of Mt Kosciusko in 2008. He was also integral to the introduction of the luxury cinema concept, Gold Class, which remains one of his career highlights.