JURY 2026
Andrea Purcigliotti
Andrea Purcigliotti is an Emmy-winning Production Designer specializing in short-form comedy and fast-paced visual storytelling. As the Production Designer for the SNL Film Unit, she has developed a specialized design shorthand for Saturday Night Live’s iconic pre-taped segments—a role that has earned her two Emmy Awards (2023 and 2025) and an Art Directors Guild Award for her contributions to the show’s landmark 50th season.
Her approach is driven by the conviction that “design can be funny.” By meticulously curating space, color, and texture, she builds immersive worlds where the environment itself provides a comedic beat. This philosophy has made her a key collaborator for John Mulaney, leading the design for his Netflix hits Everybody’s Live (2025) and Everybody’s in LA(2024).
Beyond the realm of late-night comedy, Andrea’s versatility extends across non-scripted, reality, feature film, and documentary genres. Her credits include the vibrant, genre-blending production design of Vampires vs. The Bronx and the visually rich, nostalgic world-building of the HBO documentary Beanie Mania. Throughout her body of work, she remains dedicated to the idea that the physical environment is not just a backdrop, but a primary character in the art of storytelling.
Signe Baumane
Signe Baumane is a Latvian born, Brooklyn-based independent filmmaker, artist, writer, and animator. She has made 17 award-winning animated shorts. Her first animated feature ROCKS IN MY POCKETS (2014) screened at over 130 international festivals and opened theatrically in the U.S. through Zeitgeist Films. Signe’s second animated feature MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH MARRIAGE (2022) tells the story of a spirited young woman’s quest for perfect love and lasting marriage. It premiered at Tribeca Festival, screened at 110 festivals, winning 25 awards, and was released theatrically in North America through 8 Above. She is now working on her third animated feature KARMIC KNOT (2028). Signe is a Guggenheim Fellow and has a degree in Philosophy from Moscow State University.
Elizabeth Lo
Elizabeth Lo is an award-winning director, producer and cinematographer whose films have premiered at Venice, TIFF, Sundance, Tribeca, IDFA, MoMA, CPH:DOX, True/False and New YorkTimes Op-Docs. Elizabeth has been featured in Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film,” DOC NYC’s “40 Under 40,” and Cannes Lions’ “New Directors Showcase.”
She is a recipient of artist fellowships from Locarno, New York Film Festival, Yaddo and MacDowell, and was selected for the Concordia Studio Fellowship and Gotham/HBO Documentary Development Initiative. Her debut feature, Stray, won Best International Feature at Hot Docs and received nominations from the Independent Spirit Awards, Critic’s Choice Documentary Awards and Cinema Eye Honors after premiering at Tribeca in 2020. A New York Times “Critic’s Pick,” Stray was released theatrically by Magnolia Pictures and is now streaming on Hulu. Her short films — including Hotel 22, Bisonhead and Mother’s Day — have been acquired by colleges and libraries worldwide. Elizabeth holds a BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and an MFA from Stanford University. She was born and raised in Hong Kong and is a citizen of both Hong Kong and the US.
Brooke Berman
Brooke Berman is an award-winning playwright, filmmaker and memoirist. Her indie feature (and directorial debut) Ramona At Midlife premiered at Geena Davis’s esteemed Bentonville Film Festival and is currently streaming in the US and Canada.
Brooke’s plays have been produced and developed across the US at theaters including Steppenwolf, Soho Rep, Williamstown Theater Festival, Naked Angels, MCC, Primary Stages, The Humana Festival, and The Bay Area Playwrights Foundation. Internationally, her work has been developed at The Royal Court Theatre, The National Theatre Studio and Pentabus and produced at Red Stitch Theatre in Australia. Most recently she developed A Model City with Leigh Silverman for Stacey Mindich Productions.
James Madio
James Madio’s journey in Hollywood began at age 14 when he was discovered by Steven Spielberg for Hook, a break that quickly led to roles alongside Dustin Hoffman in Hero and Leonardo DiCaprio in The Basketball Diaries. His reputation for talent and versatility was solidified through his integral portrayal of Sergeant Frank Perconte in the acclaimed HBO mini-series Band of Brothers. Since then, Madio has continued to build an impressive acting resume with roles in Clint Eastwood’s Jersey Boys and various hit television procedurals like CSI: NY and Law & Order.
Beyond his work in front of the camera, Madio has proven himself a capable creator, writing and producing award-winning independent projects such as the short film Apple Box. His career continues to reach new heights with a prominent role in the HBO/DC series The Penguin and his recent portrayal of Willie Pep in The Featherweight, which earned a five-minute standing ovation at its Venice Film Festival premiere. From voice-over work in Shark Tale to prestigious dramas like The Offer, Madio remains a versatile and enduring presence in the industry.
