AFIN Adjudication Team
Meet some of the AFIN International adjudicators
PETER KOEVARI
Festival Director & Adjudicator
Screenwriter, Director, Producer - Australia
Known For and Upcoming Works (Select highlights)
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Biography
Peter Koevari is an award-winning screenwriter, director, and producer from Brisbane, Australia. He leads FilmLab Academy and serves as Festival Director of the AFIN International Film Festival, championing emerging talent and independent cinema.
His work spans genre-driven storytelling influenced by Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, John Woo, and David Fincher. Peter’s filmography includes the sci-fi short 3, the web series Diana, the dystopian drama 30, and the cyberpunk film Quantum Ride. He is currently developing the feature adaptation of his horror proof-of-concept Lucky Devil.
Peter believes in creating films that resonate globally through strong planning, quality processes, and compelling storytelling. He has also contributed to the broader creative community as a judge for the New Silk Road fashion competition.
VICKY WANLESS
Festival Co-Director - Adjudicator
Actress, Producer, Director - Brisbane, Australia
Known For and Upcoming Works (Select highlights)
Biography
Vicky Wanless is a multi-talented film Producer, Director, and Actor with a passion for storytelling and a strong commitment to Independent cinema. Her award-winning short films such as Ripples, Once Upon a Midnight and Afterglow, have gained recognition for their originality and emotional depth. Vicky has worked professionally on productions such as Australian Survivor, The Mole, Godzilla vs Kong and Boy Swallows Universe to name a few.
As a champion of indie filmmaking, Vicky brings creative vision and hands-on expertise to every project.
She is also the Co-Director of the AFIN International Film Festival, where she supports emerging voices and innovative storytelling from around the world.
STEVE COATES
Adjudicator
Screenwriter, Producer - Australia
Known For and Upcoming Works (Select highlights)
Biography
With well over a decade of experience crafting intriguing and compelling stories, Stephen Coates is an
accomplished screenwriter.
He is a screenwriter of choice for producers looking to rewrite, elevate, and take their projects to the next
level and he is in strong demand as a story consultant by many directors, producers, and other writers.
An avid reader from a young age Stephen cut his teeth on Enid Blyton’s ‘The Famous Five’, he then
devoured the entire series of ‘The Hardy Boys’. Then it was ‘Lord of the Rings’, and from there authors of
the likes of Alistar Mclean, Robert Ludlum, Stephen King, Peter Straub and others of that ilk.
These authors helped develop a fertile imagination, a love of adventure, and of the dark and offbeat but
most of all a passion for mystery. Whatever genre you’re reading or watching it is almost always the
mystery of what is happening or about to happen that keeps you reading.
From there Stephen developed a passion for and a deep love of film, visual storytelling, as we all know
offers the opportunity to create almost total immersion for the audience. And boy did he immerse himself in
film, watching nearly everything that was released in the eighties and nineties.
Finally, in 1997 the ember inside became a flame and Stephen started writing. A novel at first. The
feedback from the industry was not what was expected. You should write screenplays was the note, one
that he embraced wholeheartedly.
He threw himself down the rabbit hole of screenwriting and soaked in everything he could. The structure,
the setup, the payoff, it all resonated with the logical side of his mind. During the decades of watching films
he’d been subconsciously understanding not only how conflict and mystery are two of the main
components of a great story, but also all picking up all the tricks of the trade from the masters.
All of this gave him a unique ability to produce page turner after page turner, whatever the genre. It didn’t
take long until he was able to spread his wings and was called on for script rewriting and doctoring.
After Stephen performed a rewrite on Steven Bolia’s feature ‘Phoenix’, Firefly Films (NZ) came onboard to
produce and Indya Moore is attached to star.
‘Amnesia’ is set to go into production later this year with Shane Abbess directing, Highland Films and
Alcyon Entertainment producing.
His latest feature ‘Poker Face’ was released in 2022, directed by and starring Russell Crowe, alongside
Liam Hemsworth, Elsa Pataky and RZA. ‘Poker Face’ was Stan’s best performing film for the year.
His 2012 genre bending feature ‘John Doe: Vigilante’ has developed a cult following and is used in the
curriculum and publicly screened and debated in a number of Universities around the globe.
MICHAEL SILBERBLATT
Adjudicator
Actor - USA
Known For and Upcoming Works (Select highlights)
Biography
Michael Silberblatt is an American actor who, at age 17, was selected as a National YoungArts Winner in Theater and U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts - honored in person by U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. He is best known for his recurring roles in the internationally popular Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series and has been featured on many dozens of film, commercial, video game, and television productions including Marvel's "Hawkeye" (Disney+), Grosse Pointe Garden Society (NBC), and Tyler Perry's "Young Dylan" (Nickelodeon). Winner of the 2025 AFIN International Film Festival award for Best Supporting Performance for his role as Lucas in the short film "Devil's Playground", Michael is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the festival's ongoing growth and success and looks forward to celebrating filmmakers around the world!
Michael lives in Atlanta, GA, USA and is represented by Formation Talent.
COL LARSEN
Adjudicator
Cinematographer - Australia
Biography
Known For and Upcoming Works (Select highlights)
Col Larsen is a seasoned Lighting Cameraman with a creative eye for detail, an ideal work ethic and dedication for quality work. He has an in-depth understanding of old school and modern Cinematography, a collaborative team player who excels in challenging environments. Working on productions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Chronicles of Narnia, and Rock Island Mysteries to name a few. Col is a true professional with a creative vision.
Col is currently working on the new season of Big Brother Australia and the UK I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.
MURRAN KAIN
Adjudicator
Actress - Australia
Biography
Known For and Upcoming Works (Select highlights)
Murran Kain is an award-winning performer whose career encompasses film, television, musical theatre, and vocal performances, starting at the age of five. At eleven, she was flown to the US for the opportunity of a lifetime, where she performed and auditioned for leading industry professionals, selected from a competitive pool of young talent across Australia.
Her credits include Nautilus, Ticket to Paradise, and In Absence, where she starred alongside Christopher James Baker, as well as a distinguished appearance as a soloist at the United Nations in New York City. Murran has also lent her voice as a backing vocalist for artists such as Thirsty Merc, Darren Percival, and Christine Anu.
Recently, she wrapped filming on the upcoming US television series Good Cop/Bad Cop, starring Leighton Meester, Luke Cooke, and Clancy Brown,
TIM CLOUGH
Adjudicator
Director, Editor - Australia
Known For and Upcoming Works (Select highlights)
Biography
Timothy Clough is a Writer, Director and accomplished Editor from Brisbane, with a range of experience over a number of different genres and platforms.
Upon finishing Film School in 2019, he travelled to South America, where he shot his own self-funded low budget Feature Documentary. Based on the deforestation of Amazon forest, this film received 3 annual awards and 2 nominations from Film Festivals world wide.
Upon his return, Timothy dove headfirst into the art of Post-Production and Writing.
He has now collaborated with a number of filmmakers, and has continuously improved his craft. Timothy has a keen eye for detail and is very passionate about the art of storytelling.
TANYA RICH
Adjudicator
Actress - Australia
Known For and Upcoming Works (Select highlights)
Biography
Tanya Rich is a Melbourne-based actor whose career spans over two decades across theatre, film, and television. Her foundations in performance and storytelling were shaped early, beginning with intensive studies in Film, TV, and Theatre in the United Kingdom in 2002. Driven by a passion for immersive method performance, Tanya continued her training at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Institute in Los Angeles in 2006, where she expanded her craft in film and theatre acting.
As a performer, Tanya has appeared in numerous theatre productions, independent short films, and feature films, embracing a wide range of characters and genres, and was lucky enough to have worked with some of Australia’s best talents including Sarah Snook, Shane Jacobson and Pia Miranda. Most recently, Tanya appeared as the lead in the award winning short film ’2020 Vision’ which has had great success in the 2025 Australian film festivals.
Her work behind the scenes is equally accomplished. Tanya is an award-winning playwright and director, earning multiple theatre accolades including Best Play, Best Playwright, and Best Director for her original short-form works. Her understanding of stagecraft also extends to technical production, with hands-on experience as a theatre sound and lighting technician and operator.
CALEB ORR
Marketing and Sponsorship Manager
Producer - Brisbane, Australia
Biography
Caleb Orr, freelance producer, is passionate about storytelling that transcends boundaries. He has contributed to a variety of film projects, including recents such as The Demon Disorder (2024) and Guy’s Night (2024), bringing a dynamic perspective to every production. At AFIN, Caleb combines his love for local and international cinema to celebrate the power of film in Southeast Queensland, building a vibrant platform for filmmakers and audiences alike.