Jury Members of 2023 Edition

Alexa has over 20 years of experience acting on stage, on television, and in films.  She was seen in lead roles in the following Stage Productions: Days, Roundelay, A Lonely Summit, Metamorphosis, A Temptation, A Wish, Well, A Lying Truth, Amaranthine Thread, Menu Driven  The Pursuit Of Love, Odd Jobs, Menu Driven, 10 Minutes Early, Nuts and Bolts, and Eating Out. She has also had lead roles in independent films, TV, and the internet such as Gail Scott Key/ENOW, Enemy Minds, Penelope, PSA /Lung Cancer Reverse, The Project, Return to Innocence, Lost and Beautiful. Other television credits include principal roles in It’s All Geek To Me, The View, and Lucille Roberts.

In addition to acting, Alexa is a successful Commercial Model and a certified Personal Trainer and Aerobics Instructor. She teaches kickboxing, Pilates, spinning, aqua aerobics, and step.

Alexa works with individuals, couples, and families. She treats children and adults experiencing various issues related to anxiety, depression, PTSD, divorce, interpersonal relationships, communication/relational skills, domestic violence, and sexual abuse.

She was born in Korça and has been living in Athens for many years with her family.

She has two daughters, one with a diploma in the field of diplomacy and the youngest, a talented gymnast in the field of gymnastics.

Her literary work includes five novels, for which she has been awarded several prizes. In 2015, she was awarded the “Writer of the Year” award for the Albanian community in Greece.

Her works are:

1.” When we let the angels die” awarded with the Sotir Andoni award.

2.”Schizophrenia” best-seller at the first Albanian Book Fair in Greece, awarded with the “Faik Konica” award.

3.”Six fingers and a half” candidate for the “Ismail Kadare” grand prize.

4.”The glass beast” the children’s novel that, thanks to the topic it talks about, became a literary conversation in many middle schools in Albania, Greece, and Italy (in Albanian supplementary language schools)

5.”Spectrum” is her last novel that has been translated into the Greek language as well.

The author has a passion for poetry, even though she has no published volumes.

In 2011, she won the second prize in the competition “Jul Variboba”.

Genevieve Shi is an award-winning bilingual actress, singer, and director based in New York. She is honored to return as part of the jury team in NY True Venture FF 2023!

Gen’s director film debut RORY HOME which she also produced and starred in as the lead, was featured in Indie Wrap Magazine and has won 17 international awards in NY, LA, Chicago, Paris, Vienna, and Singapore. Including “Best Actress”, “Best Romance Film”, “Best Editing” and “Best Director”. Gen also played the lead character in the short film BAYARD STREET which won the “Best Narrative Short” at the 2022 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. Most recently, Gen was seen in Frozen  – The Egg Freezing Musical at Tank Theatre as well as performing solo at Carnegie Hall for her win at the American Protege International Vocal Competition 2022.

Previously Gen worked as the female principal with Emmy Award Winning actor Armand Assante in the upcoming feature film DON Q. She was invited twice to sing at the OSCAR CHINA NIGHT in Beverly Hills. Off-Broadway credits include – COMFORT WOMEN at Playwrights Horizons, GREEN CARD at Theatre at St.Clements, and Solo Concerts at Triad Theatre. Gen has also served as a jury member for New York World Film Festival, Bergen International Film Festival, Revolution Me Film Festival, and Hudson International Film Festival.

Giorgi Tkemaladze holds a Master’s Degree in Law from Sokhumis State Univerisity and a Film Director Degree from Shota Rustaveli Theater and Film University. He is also the author of three books in prose and poetry.

As a Film Director, Giorgi Tkemaladze was the Best Drama Award Winner of the New York True Venture Film Festival 2022 edition with his film “I AM YOURS”.

His projects: “THE ELDERLY”, “THE BIRDS”, “PAOLO JASHVILI”, “ROMANCE”, “CARE OF ANIMALS”, “HEART OF NATURE”, and “I AM YOURS” are winners of several internationally renowned festivals in countries like Georgia, India, Bangladesh, USA, France, Turkey, Canada, Serbia, Greece, and Ukraine.

Gjilberta Lucaj – Cohen is a New York City-based concert cellist with a critically acclaimed international career. A native of Albania, her solo career started at age 13, performing in Vatican City for Pope John Paul II. Her career has taken her to Mexico, China, South Korea, Europe, the Caribbean, and even to war-torn  Afghanistan.  

Nominated in 2016 by the President of Albania as one of the 100 most accomplished Albanian-Americans, she has been hailed across the world for her beautiful tone and mesmerizingly passionate performances. 

She has also played main characters in more than six independent movies and has gotten awards such as best actress, audience choice, best film, and many others. 

Robert Monegan – Award-winning Filmmaker and Director. Robert has produced his works for stage and film. His films, The Eyes Of The World, Double-A, and DRIVE continue screening in various festivals.

The Eyes Of The World won Best Make-up & Costumes at New York Long Island Film Festival 2022, DRIVE won Best NYC Film at Transparent Film Festival 2022, and both films picked up awards (one for Best Production and the other for Best Director) at New York True Venture Film Festival 2021 and 2022.

Robert is also a writer and illustration artist. His Glam Divas comic art (www.glamdivas.net) has been presented theatrically and at gallery exhibitions. Robert’s future projects include producing his play, Defiantly Fabulous – a gay/comedic twist on the classic 1958 Tony Curtis/Sidney Poitier film, “The Defiant Ones”.