Our Team & Jury

Jayson Warner Smith Jury Chair

A dynamic force in independent cinema, Jayson Warner Smith has carved out a career defined by depth, versatility, and an unwavering commitment to storytelling. He has the honor of attending both the 2015 and the 2016 Sundance Independent Film Festivals as a cast member of four films screenings there; 2016 with Christine and The Birth of a Nation which won both the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize; and also, in 2015 with 99 Homes and Mississippi Grind. His festival pedigree extends to Tribeca, where he appeared in The Book of Love (2016) and Only (2019), as well as the Atlanta Film Festival, where The Devil to Pay (formerly Reckoning), featuring Danielle Deadwyler, won Best Georgia Film in 2019.

A proud Atlanta native, Smith is perhaps best known for his chilling portrayal of Wendall Jelks on Sundance TV’s Rectify and as Gavin on AMC’s The Walking Dead. His screen credits showcase a diverse range of roles alongside industry heavyweights, including American Made with Tom Cruise, Christine opposite Rebecca Hall, Tracy Letts, and J. Smith-Cameron, Where the Crawdads Sing, and Hulu’s acclaimed miniseries Candy. He can be seen in a major guest star role opposite Don Cheadle in NBC Universal’s Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist on Peacock.

Beyond acting, Smith’s passion for independent film extends behind the camera. He executive produced and starred in the multi-award-winning short film Chipper which screened at over 30 festivals worldwide. His experience as a filmmaker, judge, and seasoned festival attendee makes him a true champion of independent cinema, bringing both an artist’s eye and a storyteller’s soul to every role he inhabits.

Jayson lives in Athens, Georgia with his beautiful and amazingly patient wife Lisa and their two cats Simon and Walter.

Leandro Tadashi Narrative Short Narrative Feature