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NOYIFF
Jury Member
Our Lecturers
Johnny Givins
ACTOR/ DIRECTOR/ PRODUCER
Acting since a very young child Johnny has spent a lifetime performing both on stage, in front of the camera, and behind the camera. He has a passion for developing actors storytelling skills and the energy required from the actor to make connection with fellow actors and an audience.
After initially training as a foundation member of Theatre Corporate with Raymond Hawthorne, he worked at Court Theatre and The Mercury theatre and with TVNZ drama. Johnny joined the TVNZ Avalon Production department where he worked on a wide variety of field and studio productions becoming a leading Drama director and Live multicamera shows as Producer. He is well known in the industry as a Director of Shortland Street, and as HOD of South Seas Film and Television School- On Screen Acting Diploma.
His company Livingstone Productions he has been responsible for many television productions such as Captains Log, The Montana Wearable Art Awards, Queer Nation, The Hero Parade and numerous documentaries. He worked closely with the establishment of Maori Television as a producer and director, has been associated with the Maori Theatre Company Te Pou.
Now retired and living in Whangarei he now develops feature film screenplays for international markets.
Acting since a very young child Johnny has spent a lifetime performing both on stage, in front of the camera, and behind the camera. He has a passion for developing actors storytelling skills and the energy required from the actor to make connection with fellow actors and an audience.
After initially training as a foundation member of Theatre Corporate with Raymond Hawthorne, he worked at Court Theatre and The Mercury theatre and with TVNZ drama. Johnny joined the TVNZ Avalon Production department where he worked on a wide variety of field and studio productions becoming a leading Drama director and Live multicamera shows as Producer. He is well known in the industry as a Director of Shortland Street, and as HOD of South Seas Film and Television School- On Screen Acting Diploma.
His company Livingstone Productions he has been responsible for many television productions such as Captains Log, The Montana Wearable Art Awards, Queer Nation, The Hero Parade and numerous documentaries. He worked closely with the establishment of Maori Television as a producer and director, has been associated with the Maori Theatre Company Te Pou.
Now retired and living in Whangarei he now develops feature film screenplays for international markets.
SHAN, Zuolong
Film producer
Over the past decade, nearly all of his works have been selected for major international film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, and Berlin, and distributed worldwide. His credits include RESURRECTION (Special Prize, Cannes Competition), LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (Un Certain Regard, Cannes), KAILI BLUES (Best Emerging Director, Locarno), THE BOTANIST (Grand Prix, Berlinale Generation), LOVE IS A GUN (Lion of the Future Best Debut, Venice), and KARST (Best Film, Pingyao). He also executive produced THE WATER MURMURS, winner of the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes.
Over the past decade, nearly all of his works have been selected for major international film festivals such as Cannes, Venice, and Berlin, and distributed worldwide. His credits include RESURRECTION (Special Prize, Cannes Competition), LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (Un Certain Regard, Cannes), KAILI BLUES (Best Emerging Director, Locarno), THE BOTANIST (Grand Prix, Berlinale Generation), LOVE IS A GUN (Lion of the Future Best Debut, Venice), and KARST (Best Film, Pingyao). He also executive produced THE WATER MURMURS, winner of the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes.
Janet WU
Producer
General Manager of BRIGHT EAST FILMS LIMITED.
Director of CHINA FILM FOUNDATION WU TIANMING FILM FOUND FOR YOUNG TALENTS. Former Vice President (China Region) at IVANHOE PICTURES (USA).
Former General Manager of HEAVEN PICTURES.
Representative works include Another Hopeful Day, The Comeback, The Train to Spring, Song of the Phoenix, and Loving Vincent.
Honors and Jury Experience:
• Final Jury Member, 2025 Pingyao International Film Festival Project Market
• Jury Member, 2025 Vesoul International Film Festival (France)
• Jury Member, 2024 & 2025 Asian Film Awards Academy International Film Camp (Macau)
• Preliminary Jury Member, Golden Rooster Awards WIP Project Market 2024
• Jury Member, Asian Film Awards (Hong Kong), 2017–2025
• Jury Member, 2021 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Australia)
General Manager of BRIGHT EAST FILMS LIMITED.
Director of CHINA FILM FOUNDATION WU TIANMING FILM FOUND FOR YOUNG TALENTS. Former Vice President (China Region) at IVANHOE PICTURES (USA).
Former General Manager of HEAVEN PICTURES.
Representative works include Another Hopeful Day, The Comeback, The Train to Spring, Song of the Phoenix, and Loving Vincent.
Honors and Jury Experience:
• Final Jury Member, 2025 Pingyao International Film Festival Project Market
• Jury Member, 2025 Vesoul International Film Festival (France)
• Jury Member, 2024 & 2025 Asian Film Awards Academy International Film Camp (Macau)
• Preliminary Jury Member, Golden Rooster Awards WIP Project Market 2024
• Jury Member, Asian Film Awards (Hong Kong), 2017–2025
• Jury Member, 2021 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (Australia)
LIANG, Lin
General Manager of Film Production and Project Development at Emperor Motion Pictures
Chinese film producer and executive producer, as well as a jury member of the Shanghai International Film Festival Project Market. Former lecturer at Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts and the School of Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Currently serving at Emperor Motion Pictures as General Manager of Film Production and Project Development, overseeing and leading multiple film projects. Representative works include A Cool Fish, Caught in Time, Schemes in Antiques, End Game, and Cliff Walkers.
Chinese film producer and executive producer, as well as a jury member of the Shanghai International Film Festival Project Market. Former lecturer at Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts and the School of Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Currently serving at Emperor Motion Pictures as General Manager of Film Production and Project Development, overseeing and leading multiple film projects. Representative works include A Cool Fish, Caught in Time, Schemes in Antiques, End Game, and Cliff Walkers.
Professor Gareth Schott
Media and Creative Technologies
Gareth Schott is a Professor in Media and Creative Technologies at Waikato University, and Programme Leader of Media Design in Hangzhou. His research examines the impact of AI on visual culture and the processes of creative copiloting.
Gareth Schott is a Professor in Media and Creative Technologies at Waikato University, and Programme Leader of Media Design in Hangzhou. His research examines the impact of AI on visual culture and the processes of creative copiloting.
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