Meet The 2025 Jury

Paulina Majda works at the intersection of cinema, fine arts and the new immersive arts. She is a director of animations and fulldome films, an art director and visual artist, a lecturer and winner of film awards and artistic grants. She has been involved with the Se-ma-for Film Studio Production, the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, and Arts University Plymouth, and she currently teaches at the Lodz Film School.

Her filmography includes among others: "Hello Earth" (2017), "Dream to Fly" (2013), "Two Steps Behind" (2010). She was also art director for Oscar winning puppet animation "Peter and The Wolf" (2006) directed by Suzie Templeton.
 

David currently holds the position of Research-Integrator in Immersive sound at the Society for Arts and Technology's (SAT) Innovation department, located in Montreal (Quebec, Canada), and teaches an advanced immersive sound design course for the Training department. David is also a Collaborating Member of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT) and has actively contributed to the development of the SpatGRIS, an open-source audio spatialization software suite, as a member of the Groupe de Recherche en Immersion Spatiale (GRIS).

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After completing a master's degree in music composition and sound design at Université de Montréal---where his focus was on creating environmental music, specifically designed for sound installations involving a large number of loudspeakers, constructing sonic possible worlds in which spatialized musical and extra-musical elements are ecologically orchestrated---David first started working at the SAT as a Multimedia Technician, specialized in scenic telepresence. He then moved on to become Immersive Lead Audio, in charge of integrating and making the new Satosphere's 93.5 loudspeaker system fully operational for all use cases, such as dome parties or fulldome films, as well as accompanying artists in residency with more specific spatial sound needs.

John Munro is the Founder, CEO, and Chief Creative Officer of Immersive International and one of the original pioneers of the immersive storytelling industry. Based in our Shanghai Studio, he oversees all of Immersive International’s creative output and leads the ideation phases of every project, inspiring extraordinary concepts that push beyond expectations. With a background in fine art, spatial design, architecture, and animation, and decades of experience, John is responsible for developing Immersive International’s unique hybrid creative practice.

Ralph Heinsohn is professor for audiovisual media at Aalen University in Germany. As a Designer, Producer und Curator of immersive Media he has produced award-winning fulldome-shows, founded and directed the section of immersive media at one of Germanys oldest film festivals, the Nordic Film Days Lübeck und managed the digitalisation of the so-called "Sternkammer", the worlds oldest school planetarium from 1931 at the GGS school in the city of Lübeck, Germany. 

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Until March 2023 Ralph was Creative Director of the Science Dome at Germany's largest science center, the experimenta Heilbronn. At Aalen University he represents the field of Audiovisual Media for the study courses "User Experience Design" and "Information Design" and he is head of the university's Central Media Lab. His focus is the strategic development of immersive media and their implementation in enterprises, culture and science communication.

Kate Barnard is a science communicator, educator, and manager with over 15 years of experience in leading scientific and cultural institutions, including Questacon, CSIRO, PPIPTEK (the Science and Technology Centre of Indonesia), the Bendigo Discovery Centre and Planetarium, Scienceworks, and the Melbourne Planetarium. In her current role as Program Manager at Astronomy Australia Limited, she supports astronomy research and fosters collaboration between astronomers, industry, and government.

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Kate’s diverse background spans circus and physical theatre, community-driven artistic projects, and cross-cultural initiatives. Beyond her own creative practice, she leads collaboration between arts and science communities to drive meaningful outcomes. Passionate about the intersection of science and the arts, Kate is an active member of the mathematical art community, where she facilitates innovative connections between these two fields.

Michael J. Saul is a filmmaker known for his bold, visually captivating work that explores themes of identity, love, and transformation. A director, writer, and producer, Saul is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of conventional storytelling by creating films that challenge perceptions of reality and the human experience. His work spans across multiple genres, blending experimental and narrative filmmaking techniques to create emotionally vibrant
stories.

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Saul first garnered attention for his direction of the multi-award winning fulldome film MESMERICA (2018), a collaboration with musician James Hood. The film is an immersive experience that combines mesmerizing visuals with a powerful musical score, taking audiences on a journey of introspection and altered states of consciousness. Following MESMERICA, Saul directed Best of Earth nominee BEAUTIFICA (2020), another collaboration with Hood. BEAUTIFICA explores themes of beauty and spirituality that culminate in a celebration of life.

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In addition to his experimental work, Saul wrote and directed the award-winning feature film THE SURFACE (2015). Premiering at Frameline Film Festival, THE SURFACE is a contemplative drama about a young man grappling with loss and the search for family. As a queer filmmaker, Michael J. Saul’s work is a testament to the power of cinema to explore identity, challenge norms, and inspire change. Saul is also committed to supporting the LGBTQ community and suicide prevention. Michael lives with his partner in Long Beach California. MESMERICA and BEAUTIFICA continue to screen in domes, planetariums, and giant screen cinemas throughout the U.S, Canada, and Europe. THE SURFACE is available on several popular streaming platforms.