2024 Epic ACG Fest Special Guests

 Animation---Jury & Special Guests

	Jim Higgins, Writer, editor Jim Higgins has been a writer and editor in the comics business for over 25 years. He was an assistant editor and editor at DC Comics in their eclectic Paradox Press division and is the editor and publisher of New Thing, an international anthology of short comics stories. He taught cinema studies at The City University of New York. He has taught classes on writing and drawing comics at The School of Visual Arts, CalArts, UCLA Extension, Cal State Northridge, at Otis College of Art and Design, and others. His show on drawing comics, "Crafting Comics with Jim Higgins," was produced by Nerdist.
	Sadia Ashraf, Screenwriter & Author Currently working on an undisclosed Universal TV pilot, Sadia Ashraf is the author of the bestselling Juniper Smoke series, being optioned for a film. Sadia is the creator of the TV show, Memory of Water, screenwriter of the thriller film Harbor Haven, the creator of a British period drama Time and Tide (BBC), and the writer and creator of A Girl in Istanbul, a mini-series. Sadia has edited several indie film scripts, and has consulted with television programs, such as Ugly Betty (NBC), and Community (NBC) and Glee (Fox). She has also worked on foreign TV adaptation at Intrigue Entertainment and serves on the board of Bring Hollywood Back and Cinespots. For two years she was the LA Media Director for a NASA and Pentagon project, the Aeroscraft. From 2006 to 2011, she volunteered for different non-profits and helped raise six million dollars for girls illiteracy and schools. Sadia holds an English Master's degree from Loyola University, Chicago and a Screenwriting postgraduate specialization in from UCLA
	Ed Gomez, , Publisher, graphic desginer Ed has been a graphic designer with over 25 years experience. His are of expertise is with commercial printing. For 12 of those years, he has been a production and pre-press manager for a local magazine. In 2010, a friend suggested to start up an anime-themed magazine to play a part of the fandom. He currently publishes an on-line fan magazine called Genki Life Magazine and often attends conventions, either as a professional, press, photographer, volunteer or an ordinary fan. Ed has been anime fan when anime was still a niche fandom."
	Robert Sfarzo, Audio-Visual Artist and Writer Robert is winner of the 2022 Epic ACG Best Feature Animation for "Jimmie Sprinkles". He is an independent audio-visual artist and writer, as well as being an academic professional. As an early collaborator to the Walker Arts Center's MnArtists program, he published the web-based multimedia animation "nanite". As a contributor to the Minnesota Center for Photography, he had his first gallery showing and made his first commercial photography sale. As songwriter, singer, and musical performer, he produced two collections of original, contemporary music, "Volume One" and "Waves" in California. Robert has a Masters Degree in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota where he was an AI researcher. He is an academic professional for the University of Illinois and a professor at Cuesta College. Robert is currently working on the independent feature film "nanitia".
	Amor Sanchez, Actress Amor Sanchez is an International Actress from Madrid, Spain. She has appeared in many Film, Television and Theatre Productions. You may have seen her in Brando Unauthorized, Mexican Gangster, Scorpion Girl and Crypto Game to name just a few. Her unusual ability to embody different characters landed her various Awards Nominations in her career. She studied acting at the prestigious Promenade Playhouse Conservatory and attended several UCLA courses. She has been part of the jury committee in some of the most prestigious International Film Festivals such as the Universe Multicultural Film Festival and the San Diego International Kids' Film Festival. Amor Sanchez can be reached at www.amorsanchez.com
	SILVER, Music Producer  Silver is an awarded Mexican Music Producer and DJ with 9 years experience in Techno and House Music. He is also Founder-CEO of the famous underground artists collective in Mexico called Sessions Mx. Recently he just became the 2019 Mixmag Lab Opener Contest Winner, also Independent Horror Movie Awards Best Music Winner for the music he produced for Crypto Game. During his musical trajectory he has played in some of the most famous International Music Festivals and Nightclubs.