Jury 2025 (International)

Dr. Chantanee CHIRANTHANUT is a distinguished architect and lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University. She earned her Ph.D. from The University of Shiga Prefecture, Japan, and specializes in vernacular and contemporary architecture in Asia. Her extensive research has been widely circulated through academic journals and international conferences, contributing significantly to the discourse on architectural innovation and cultural sustainability.

Beyond her scholarly endeavors, Dr. CHIRANTHANUT actively engages in original contemporary architectural design. Her practice often involves experimental projects that challenge and expand the boundaries of modern architecture. As an educator, she integrates vernacular architectural principles with hands-on experimental construction, Design-Build initiatives, and moderate architectural applications. She plays a leading role in the K.Lab studio, fostering an interdisciplinary approach that bridges theoretical knowledge with practical design solutions.

With a degree and master’s in Political Science, Christiana embarked on a journey into the world of tourism, where she has spent the last four years, among other things, organizing the Amorgos International Film Festival. As a jury member at the JWTFF 2025, Christiana blends her love for travel with a deep appreciation for the cinematic narrative, all while staying grounded in the shared experience of discovery.

Don Falsario II is a Filipino director based in Manila, Philippines.

His career kicked off with a local boutique production house where he started as a video editor. This paved the way for him to explore and master videography, photography, motion graphics and color grading, all of which ultimately led to directing. This versatility proved more than helpful in realizing his vision in telling stories.

His oeuvre is an eclectic mix of current digital films (with strong focus on documentary-based films featuring non-actors, tourism films, among others. He has also worked with both global and local clients including the BBC, the United Nations, Unilever, to name a few.

One of his most acclaimed work, a tourism film for the Tubbataha Reefs in Palawan entitled “Tubbataha: A National Treasure,” competed and won in numerous documentary/tourism film festivals across the globe. The film’s multiple wins landed him a spot as a jury member in two tourism film festivals in Portugal (12th Art&Tur Tourism Film Festival) and Japan (2nd Japan’s World Tourism Film Festival)

Imran Khan has completed his PhD in the Information and Communication in Digital Platforms program at the prestigious University of Porto and Aveiro. He also holds a master’s degree in multimedia communication from the University of Aveiro and a bachelor’s degree in computer science. As a dynamic researcher and lecturer, Imran contributes to the academic community at the University of Aveiro, the Institute of Telecommunications in Bragança, Portugal, and in higher education institutions for technology in the UAE. His expertise includes animation, cinematography, and cutting- edge technologies in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Additionally, Imran serves as an active jury member for the Art and Tours Film Festival, showcasing his commitment to the arts. He has received numerous awards for his exceptional work as a director, editor, and cinematographer at various prestigious festivals, including the Deca, Sophia, Festivals, further illustrating his talent and dedication to the field. CURRENT RESEARCH AREAS AND PROJECTS Imran Khan’s research focuses on designing novel models that leverage the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance overall well-being, encompassing both psychological and physical health. His work explores how emerging technologies can create innovative solutions to improve the quality of life across diverse populations. Currently, Imran is undertaking two significant projects. The first project investigates the role of AI in promoting elderly well-being in China, examining how intelligent systems can support mental health, social engagement, and daily activities for older adults. This research aims to provide actionable insights into leveraging AI to foster a supportive environment for the elderly. The second project, titled “”Echoes of Tradition: Navigating Wenzhou Intangible Heritage, focuses on documenting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Wenzhou through advanced storytelling techniques. This project aims to bridge technology and cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of tradition in enhancing community well- being while driving technological innovation.

After working at a global IT company as a business development manager and video director, I became independent. Based in Hokkaido, I create nature-focused works while producing tourism videos, inbound PR, and corporate branding. Leveraging the skills I have developed, I specialize in planning with a marketing perspective and excel in filming aerial, terrestrial, and underwater scenes. At JWTFF 2025, I will serve as a juror for the international category, drawing on my experience in award-winning tourism videos.

Chern grew up in Texas and attended Plano East Senior High School in Plano, Texas, where he started his first web company at age 17. He was an all-state violinist, professional gamer and green belt double gold medalist in the U.S. Taekwondo Junior National Championships. When he was young, he made a three-minute short film that eventually aired on The Best Damn Sports Show Period. He also interned at the ReelFX creative studio (where he got assistance from Corey Snyder on his animated short film Dk9000), and received a scholarship from the Wishful Wings Artist Competition.He then attended and graduated, with honors, from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2006, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Film/Cinema/Video Studies (summa cum laude), and also graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree in Film Directing from the Taipei National University of the Arts in 2009.

Meng Qu, 渠蒙 Ph.D., serves as an Associate Professor and Vice Director at the Center for Advanced Tourism Studies, Hokkaido University. He co-convenes the Small Island Cultures Research Initiative (SICRI). Between 2006 and 2015, he studied and worked as a digital artist, interactive design director, and vice president across Shanghai and Beijing, specializing in digital media art and museum design. His current research focuses on the revitalization of rural communities through international art festivals, in which he has participated as a volunteer, staff member, and researcher. These festivals include the Xucun International Art Festival (2011-2013) in China, the Setouchi Triennale (2016-2019) in Japan, and the Shiosai Art Festival (2019-2022). Drawing from diverse working experiences and trans-disciplinary frameworks, particularly in creative/tourism geography, rural and island studies, with a focus on East Asia, his key research topics include socially engaged art festivals, relational aesthetics, creative in-migrants, sustainability, and rural revitalization. His current work centers on establishing an interdisciplinary nexus for rural revitalization by leveraging creative tourism initiatives to rejuvenate peripheral communities. He is also exploring the use of documentary film as a tool for fieldwork. Representative research documentaries include the Island Renaissance documentary series (2022) and documentaries on Ainu and Aboriginal artists (2025).

Associate professor of Kobe Shoin Women’s University　 Specializes in research on regional brand marketing and tourism marketing.

Naoki Nozu is a lecturer of tourism and transport at Professional College of Arts and Tourism, Toyooka Japan. Since 2020, he directs the tourists’ mobility design in Toyooka Theater Festival as a mobility director. He worked as a transport consultant for Navitime Japan, one of the Japanese major navigation company, in charge of traffic big data management business. As a researcher, he have been analyzed traffic big data to know tourism dynamics, especially about increasing foreign tourists in Japanese rural areas using mobile navigation apps. In 2015 and 2016, his presentations about tourism big data won the grand prizes at annual main conferences in Society for Tourism Informatics in Japan.

Audiovisual producer and producer, communication consultant and teacher. Degree in Audiovisual Communication from the Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona). Máster en Dirección de Comunicación por la Barcelona School of Management.  He is a European graduate in documentary production through the Eurodoc training program (2016). He has studied highly specialized courses in television programming, transmedia communication and in the field of documentary filmmaking at the Ateliers Varan in Paris (2007), at the Film and Television School of San Antonio de los Baños de Cuba (2002) and at the Complutense University of Madrid (2001).

He is a founding partner of Filmsnòmades, an audiovisual production company that, since 2008, produces television reports, documentaries, advertising spots, corporate videos and museographic works.

He has been the driving force of the TERRES TRAVEL FESTIVAL – Films & Creativity (www.terresfestival.com), member of the CIFFT (International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals) since 2019.

Since October 2016, she has led the consultancy in communication PVS Media, specialized in specific communication support to tourist companies. 

In the year 2017, his interactive documentary Buda, l’illa del Delta (www.budafilm.com) won the Prize of the Rural World Foundation of Catalonia for the best journalistic work. His production Buda, l’illa del Delta, won in August 2014 the Jury Prize and the Audience for Best International Documentary at the Columbia Gorge Festival (Vancouver, WA, USA), as well as the Best Film Award at the 2013 edition of the Memorimage Festival (Reus, Spain).

His advertising spot for the gastronomic multi-space El Nacional de Barcelona won in October 2015 the First Prize of the category “Gastronomy and wine” at the Art & Tur Festival 2015, celebrated in Vila Nova da Gaia (Portugal). His piece Festa Major (2009), produced as part of the Strobe videocreation festival, was distinguished with the Libélula Prize at the Contemporary Art Week in Mar del Plata (Argentina), in March 2011.

He has been a member of the jury at the following festivals: ArteTur – INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FILM FESTIVAL (Portugal, 2016-2024), MónFilmat (Amposta, 2016), the JAPAN WORLD’S TOURISM FILM FESTIVAL (2020-2025), the AMORGOS TOURISM FILM FESTIVAL (2019-2022) or the DEAUVILLE GREEN AWARDS (Deauville, France 2017-2024).

SPOMENKA SARAGA is Zagreb Tourfilm Festival’s Director, a festival seated in Croatia’s capital. Photographer, filmmaker, travel journalist and an avid adventurer, Spomenka travels to the most exotic corners of the world. Her film experience, gained in the famous Jadran Film Studio – referred to at that time as European Hollywood – was won through holding highly responsible financial and production posts and making films together with famous directors, actors and other producers.

After that she founded her own company, BALDUČI FILM, producing many successful documentaries, feature and tourism promotional films. Spomenka has been awarded numerous prizes in Croatian and International Film Festivals and is a Member of the Croatian Association of Film Workers, the Croatian Producers Association and the World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers.

Member of the Jury at the Deauville Green Awards – France, Baku International Tourism Film Festival – Azerbaijan, ART&TUR Portugal, SILAFEST – Serbia, AMORGOS International Film Festival – Greece, Cappadocia Tourism Film Festival – Turkey, Finisterra Arrábida Film Art & Tourism Festival -Portugal, ITFF Africa – Cape Town, South Africa,  JWTFF – Japan, etc.

Yanki is Associate Professor of Management at Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia. She earned MBA degree from University of the Philippines and obtained Master of Science and Doctor in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Universitas Indonesia. After gaining fifteen years of professional experiences in various industries as Human Resources practitioner, she then decided to take the plunge into the academic world. Since 2010, she has been invited to share her knowledge and disseminate her research findings in Asia and Europe. Her research focuses on leadership, cultural values, human resources management, and cyber behavior among multi-generational employees and travelers.