Susan Slaughter

Susan is a paranormal expert, TV presenter and actress who openly identifies as a witch. She has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including 'Ghost Hunters International' on the SyFy Channel and 'Paranormal Caught On Camera' on the Travel Channel. Aside from her paranormal endeavours, Susan has a love for the dramatic arts on stage, and not only excels in musical theatre, but also in costume design and stage direction.

Emanuel Rotstein

Emanuel is a multi award-winning filmmaker and programming executive. He is the current 'Senior Director Programming' at A+E Networks in Germany; overseeing all strategic programme planning, commissions and acquisitions for Crime + Investigation and the History Channel. He also holds the role of 'Head of EU Editorial', overseeing compliance and content standards for a further 14 international TV channels under the jurisdiction of the Bavarian media authority BLM.

Brian Sergent

Born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand, Brian is a famous actor best known for his work alongside award-winning director, Peter Jackson. Brian starred in the 90's horror cult classic 'Braindead' and later went on to star in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring', and 'Flight of the Conchords'. Brian is a fun and enthusiastic performer, who has a natural skill with accents and impressions, which has enabled him to bring comedy to his many film and TV roles; including working as a voice artist on 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'.

Janet Kidder

Janet is a multi award-winning actress with a career spanning over two decades of working in high-profile film and television roles. One of Janet's early film roles saw her star in the fourth sequel of the 'Child's Play' franchise, in the cult horror classic, 'The Bride of Chucky'; she later went on to star in a multitude of other shows including 'The X-Files', 'Star Trek: Discovery', and 'Charmed'. She has a keen interest in all aspects of the paranormal and also works at the renowned 'Vancouver School of Acting' in Canada.

Jeremy Norrie

Jeremy is a multi award-winning filmmaker with a passion for documentaries and factual content. He has made several award-winning movies, with a notable selection of these focusing on subjects of the paranormal. He is the owner of 'Sky Island Storytelling', the production arm of his creative and inspiring documentary projects. Jeremy has also appeared in multiple podcasts and radio interviews. Aside from his movie endeavours, Jeremy is also a multiple winner of the prestigious 'High Times Cannabis Cup'.

Doug Hajicek

Doug is a TV producer who has also pioneered new scientific advancements in the field of cryptozoology. His smash-hit TV series 'MonsterQuest' aired on the History Channel, and he was not only responsible for leading the research team that first recorded footage of a living giant squid in its natural habitat, but also for designing and building a bespoke camera system for the task. He is a regular host of the popular radio station 'Untold Radio AM' in the United States.

Ryan Cassella

From New York City, Ryan is a media producer and content creator who works for the global sports entertainment and multimedia giant 'World Wrestling Entertainment' (WWE). When at college, Ryan had a background in student film projects, where he developed a base of skills which he would only refine further working on the internationally revered weekly episodic TV shows 'WWE: Monday Night RAW' and 'WWE: Friday Night SmackDown'.

James "Bobo" Fay

Affectionally known as "Bobo", James is a world famous 'squatchologist, member of the BFRO, and star of Animal Planet's hit TV show 'Finding Bigfoot'. He resides in California and is a passionate cryptozoologist, paranormal investigator, TV presenter, and also has acting credits to his name. As his nickname would suggest, he is a hardcore science-fiction buff and his passion, love and knowledge of the genre are rarely matched.

Simret Cheema-Innis

Simret is a video producer and director with over a decade of experience in the industry, working around the globe. She has a strong background in art, working at 'The Public' alongside world-renowned artists including Esther Shalev Gerz. A winner of the 'Tolerance, Transparency, Tradition, Trust' photography contest in 2010, Simret worked as an Edit Assistant on the hit BBC series 'Call the Midwife', before joining the 'Moving Picture Company' as a VFX Production Coordinator on Disney's 'Maleficent 2' movie. She has a strong interest in horror films.

John Williams

John is an award-winning film director, with a specialist background in horror films. He has made several short and feature length movies, working with a wide range of famous British talent both in front of and behind the camera, to produce popular movies on a low budget to critical acclaim. His most recent feature film 'Tales of the Creeping Death' won multiple accolades at the first ever Fortean Film Festival, including the prestigious 'Audience Choice Award'.

Carl Marshall

Carl is a cryptozoologist and TV presenter. He is credited with discovering scientifically-verified evidence of big cats living wild in Britain that was published as a peer-reviewed piece in the journal 'Animals & Men'. Carl is the assistant director of the CFZ and has a broad interest in all aspects of zoology, cryptozoology and sceptical paranormal investigation. He is also known for developing a new system of classification for sightings of sea serpents.

Shawn Freeman

Creator and co-host of 'Zombie Cast Radio', Shawn grew up watching all the classic horror flicks. His love of the undead started as a kid with 'Dawn of the Dead' and continued with countless films, comics, and TV shows, especially 'The Walking Dead'. He has also taken the spotlight as a Walking Dead celebrity panel presenter, and as 'DJ Freeman' in his city of Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. 

Matt Everett

Matt is an award-winning film director and video editor from London. He has over 150 international broadcast credits to his name and has worked globally in various production roles. He is one the co-founders of the Fortean Film Festival and is also the owner of 'Dragonfly Films'. Specialising in documentary production, he has made many gritty independent documentaries about survival, adventure, culture, travel, mythology, the paranormal, and unsolved mysteries.

James Koppert

James is the host of the 'Fortean News Podcast' which covers every aspect of the paranormal including; ghosts, UFOs, cryptids, demons and poltergeists. His podcast was featured in Player FM's list of the 'Best Fortean Podcasts' of 2021. He is also a member of the 'Yorkshire Coast Paranormal Investigations' team, which investigates reputed hauntings and reports of other paranormal weirdness in the north of England.

Claire Ward

Claire is a horror make-up artist, actress and multi award-winning film producer. She honed her specialism as a make-up artist working on several short film productions and also live horror events such as charity 'Zombie Walks' which raised money for the children's hospital in Birmingham, England. Claire is a keen paranormal investigator and has been leading paranormal and ghost-hunting events and investigations for over 10 years; and as if that wasn't enough, she is also Reiki Master.

Matt Bradford

Matt is a Canadian voice actor, journalist, editor, and (former) Guinness World Records Book author who can be heard co-hosting 'Zombie Cast Radio', the official show of the 'Zombie Research Society', co-founded by George Romero. Beyond weekly zombie talk, he also narrates spooky tales for the 'No Sleep' podcast, the 'Tales to Terrify' podcast, 'Disturbed: True Horror Stories' podcast, and also lends his voice to video game characters. Raised on sci-fi and horror media since the 80s, Matt is always on the hunt for the next cool creature or genuine scare. 

Richard Freeman

Richard is an author, journalist and cryptozoologist from the buzzing metropolis of Nuneaton in England. He has a long interest in films and cinema. He writes for the 'Fortean Times', as well as various publications produced by the 'Centre for Fortean Zoology' (CFZ). He is a regular star of YouTube show, 'On the Track (of Unknown Animals)' and has also featured in numerous other films and TV shows, including 'Penn & Teller: Bullshit!' on Showtime.

Steve Higgins

Steve is the founder of 'Higgypop Paranormal' and is a digital content producer, known affectionately online as a 'Master of the Dark Arts', paranormal writer, occasional urban explorer and former radio anorak. His online platform provides cutting edge journalism with a paranormal focus and is also the home of the prestigious annual 'Paranormal Entertainment Awards' which aims to recognise the best in paranormal television, podcasts, content creators and investigators.

Tim "Mothman" Whittard

Tim is an award-nominated journalist, an award-winning author, and an award-winning film producer. He is one of the co-founders of the Fortean Film Festival and is also a member of the 'International Alliance of Paranormal Investigators' and the CFZ. "Mothman" debuted as a researcher and producer on the hit documentary film 'Britain's Big Cat Mystery'. He is a regular contributor to the 'Daily Sport' newspaper in the UK and 'Higgypop Paranormal'.

Paul Zinder

Paul is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. He is the 'Senior Lecturer of Film Production' at the University of Gloucestershire in the United Kingdom, where he teaches 'Cult Film and Television' and 'Narrative and Documentary' film production to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Paul's films have been showcased internationally, including at the 'Los Angeles Film Festival' and at the 'National Gallery of Art' in Washington, D.C.

James Atkins

Born and raised in England, James travelled to the USA to study filmmaking at the illustrious 'New York Film Academy' in 2008. Later he returned to the UK where he also studied at the famous 'London Film School'. In 2012 he would return to the New York Film Academy (at their campus in Paris) as a teacher. He has an eye for detail in continuity and found a specialist talent in script supervising early in his filmmaking career. He has since gone on to write and direct several films which have won a range of awards and accolades on the international film festival circuit.

Shetan Noir

From Michigan, USA, Shetan is an author and journalist. She teaches paranormal history and cryptozoology at Owens Community College and Kellogg Community College. She has written several books on cryptozoology, with more due to be released soon. She is also the managing head writer for several magazines including; 'Squatch GQ', 'Squatch Digest', 'Backwoods', 'G-Hunter', 'Watchers', 'Dinosauria' and 'Weird Travels'. She specialises in paranormal travel destinations and cryptozoology with a focus on lake monsters.

Jordon Thomas Sendall

Jordon is an award-winning film director, video editor and photographer. He is the owner of 'JS Studios', a production company which specialises in documentaries. His multiple award-winning short film 'FACT OR FICTION? The Norfolk Sea Creature' scooped several awards at the first annual Fortean Film Festival, and he is now lending his expertise and passion for original storytelling to the judging panel.

Kyle Ball

Kyle is an award-winning film producer and self-taught artist living in Great Yarmouth, England. He has always had a love for film and television, as well as a passion for creative projects which promote and embrace his local community. Kyle debuted as an executive producer and art director on the hit short film 'FACT OR FICTION? The Norfolk Sea Creature' from 'JS Studios'. He has an innate eye for detail and artistic flair.

Werewolf Radar

Jordan, Nate and Roger make up the trio behind the popular paranormal comedy podcast 'Werewolf Radar'. Each week the crew convene in their mountain fortress where they discuss hauntings, strange news and unexplained mysteries, sharing scary stories to tell in the dark from all around the world; making this the world's premiere paranormal preparedness podcast! Known for their scrutiny and attention to detail, the team bring with them a wealth of paranormal expertise and comedic fun for filmmakers and festival-goers, alive (and undead).

Paul Bestall

The host of the popular long-running podcast 'Mysteries & Monsters', Paul has had a keen interest in all aspects of the paranormal for many years. Each week on the show, Paul interviews the best and brightest from the Fortean field around the globe; from authors to podcasters to researchers; covering topics ranging from banshees to Bigfoot, from werewolves to witchcraft, from extra-terrestrials to ectoplasm!

Sean "Hawkman" Hawker

Sean is the award-winning author of possibly the most offensive and warped splatter novelettes imaginable. As a regular attendee of the 'London FrightFest' in his youth, "Hawkman" became attuned to the genre of extreme horror and his collection of grim stories are already developing a significant cult following. He is a fan of video-nasties and was an obsessive trader and collector of rare, banned and forbidden VHS tapes during the 90s.

Cinema Cult Network

Hosted by Chris, Matt, and Honto, the 'Cinema Cult Network' is a long-running film review podcast. The comedic trio specialise in film reviews, and love nothing more than getting stuck into a movie and taking notes. Specialising in high-brow movie criticism and below-the-belt punch lines, this comedic trio has a notable international listenership, and bring with them their passion, sense of fun, and expertise as hardcore cinephiles and film reviewers.

Ian Topham

Ian is one of the founders of 'Mysterious Britain & Ireland', and has been a paranormal investigator for over 30 years. He has an avid interest in folklore and the occult, but is keen to employ scientific methods in his investigations, which typically focus on haunting phenomena. Ian is also an experienced researcher of other areas of the paranormal including, psychic abilities, clairvoyance and mediumship. He is a member of the executive committee of the 'Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena' (ASSAP).

Kirsten Honey

An expert in all things spooky and supernatural, Kirsten is the manager of the 'Paranormal Team' at Bodmin Jail in Cornwall, where she frequently leads tours of the historic building, immersing visitors into the mythology and legends surrounding this haunting and foreboding old prison. Kirsten is a huge fan of horror films and also oversees the running (and film selections) at the onsite 'Scary Cinema' in Bodmin Jail, which holds late-night movie screenings each Thursday for visitors brave enough to enter.

Nik Hunter

Nik is the Host/Producer of 'UFO Chronicles' podcast, which first aired in 2018. Nik been involved in paranormal research for over 25 years., and has had a deep-rooted borderline obsession with the unexplained, starting back in the 80s; when TV shows like 'Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers', 'The Twilight Zone' and early Spielberg films like 'E.T.' captured his imagination and propelled him into an uncharted territory of possibility. Additionally, he periodically consults for television, film and media projects.

Norma Lutz

Norma is a co-host of 'Zombie Cast Radio' and is a lifelong lover of classic 80s movies, from the genres of sci-fi and fantasy, especially 'Star Wars'. She also loves comic books and video games. Small but mighty, she’s known to enjoy a good horror film, but has a tendency to hug the sofa and hide behind the cushions with the lights on when things get tense, but she is not the kinda girl who never turns down the chance for a good scare. 

Joseph Perry

Joseph is a prolific writer and film critic for 'Phantom of the Movies’ VideoScope', 'Drive-In Asylum', 'Horror Fuel', 'Gruesome Magazine', 'The Scariest Things', 'B&S About Movies', 'Diabolique Magazine', and 'When It Was Cool'. He is a co-host and co-founder of the 'Uphill Both Ways' pop culture nostalgia podcast and website, for which he also writes. He is a founding member and former co-host of the 'Decades of Horror: The Classic Era' podcast. He is also a judge for 'Portland Horror Film Festival', 'H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival', 'FilmQuest', and 'Wreak Havoc Horror Film Festival', and is a Programming Consultant for 'MidWest WeirdFest'. A former northern Californian and Oregonian, Joseph has been teaching, writing, and living in South Korea since 2008.

Dr. Leo Ruickbie

Dr. Leo Ruickbie is a Fellow of both the 'Royal Historical Society' and the 'Royal Anthropological Institute', and a Visiting Fellow in Psychology at the University of Northampton (Exceptional Experiences and Consciousness Studies Research Group). An award-winning writer, he has authored six books and contributed almost a hundred articles and presentations on aspects of what we call the ‘paranormal’. He has also appeared in several documentaries for the Travel Channel, among others, and organised the 'Paranormal Review Photography Competition'. He edits the magazine of the 'Society for Psychical Research' (SPR), and also sits on its Council.

Ashley Hilt

Ashley Hilt is a Fortean investigator and documentary filmmaker. She is also the host of the 'On Wednesdays, we talk weird' podcast. A proud weirdo from Ohio, USA, Ashley has been heavily involved in investigating the Mothman phenomena and gives regular talks about the subject in-person and virtually. While she loves her community, she has a heavy focus on connecting regular people to Fortean phenomena and creating a safe place for experiencers.

Andrew "Geordie" Jackson

From the north-east of England, "Geordie" is an entomologist known for his sense of humour and work with the CFZ. He is a keen movie aficionado, with a specialist interest in horror films - having even appeared in one himself, with a small onscreen part in 'Dead at the Gates' by 'Pathogen Films'. Outside of his creepy-crawly, monster-hunting and horror film obsessions, "Geordie" is also an occasional journalist for 'Gonzo' magazine, writing in the 'Dark Matters' column, with fellow jury member, Carl Marshall.

Ted Bracewell

Ted is an artist and long-time co-host of 'Zombie Cast Radio', the official show of the 'Zombie Research Society', co-founded by George Romero. He also produced and hosted the long-running 'Spooky Hour' horror podcast. As an 80s kid, Ted grew up watching everything from 'Friday the 13th' to 'The Exorcist', 'I Spit On Your Grave' to John Carpenter's 'Halloween' (his all-time favourite), and many more; developing a fascination with horror, that has only grown stronger with age. Today, Ted is always drawn to anything horror related, including conventions, trivia events, and watching 'Joe Bob Briggs' on a Friday night. 

Peter Stead

Peter is a multi-award winning screenwriter, whose pilot script 'The Man' reached the quarter-finals of the 'Finish Line Script Competition' in 2022. His short script 'Day of Reckoning' was filmed as Bijltjesdag in the Netherlands and won best student film at Kerry Film Festival in 2017. As a filmmaker, Peter's found footage short 'Believe' was a smash-hit at the Fortean Film Festival in 2022, picking up several awards including Best British Short, Best Director, Best Horror and Best Performance; filmed on a budget of £10 the film was hailed as a masterclass in storytelling with minimal resources, and went on the pick up awards in several other festivals.

Leanne Burnam-Richards

Leanne is the co founder and Vice-Chair of the 'UK Paranormal Society'. She has a passion for the paranormal, and is fascinated by cryptids, especially the Mothman. She has a degree in Journalism from the University of Gloucestershire and successfully graduated having written her dissertation about UFOs.  She has been an avid fan of horror films from a young age, with vivid memories enjoying Peter Jackson's 'Bad Taste' as an 8 year old. Leanne describes herself as "becoming more skeptical as the years go on", but adds "that hasn't dampened my fascination with the supernatural". She is also an official tour guide at one of the most haunted buildings in Britain, the Ancient Ram Inn in Wotton-Under-Edge.

Rowena Amos

Rowena is a multi award-winning writer and producer with a love of all things weird, supernatural and unexplained. With a strong business background in imaging, photography and theatre, she now runs '9 of Cups Productions' from her base on the Isle of Wight, making film and TV content. She’s also a Reiki Master, tarot reader and a skilled markswoman! Her short film ‘Strange Waters’ won over twenty awards including ‘Best Horror’ at the Fortean Film Festival in 2022. She brings to the jury her expert knowledge of the industry and her passion  for the paranormal.

Jack Perry

Jack Perry is an actor and filmmaker currently based in Gloucestershire in England. Graduating from the University of Gloucestershire, specialising in 'Film Production', Jack has since worked on multiple shorts, both behind and in front of the camera. Recently, he worked on a major production, and has a feature and several other projects in the works.