Forget the typical film fest fluff. The SCI-FI-LONDON 48-Hour Film Challenge puts your work in front of people who actually know their craft.
Over the years, we’ve stacked our jury with heavyweights like Guillermo del Toro, John Landis, and Vincenzo Natali, ensuring that even a film made in a weekend gets a proper grilling from cinema’s elite.
It’s not just directors, either. We pull in expertise from every corner of the genre—from the acting of Benedict Cumberbatch and Warwick Davis to the technical wizardry of VFX master and five-time Oscar-winner Paul Arion. Add in the scientific rigour of SpaceX astronaut Dr Sian Proctor and the sharp imagination of author Adrian Tchaikovsky, and you’ve got a panel that values substance over sleep deprivation. If your film survives this lot, you’re doing something right.
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FILM DIRECTOR
Kelsey is an award-winning director who has worked as a writer, VFX producer, stunt performer, and actress, making her a versatile director who feels at home on both indie and studio sets. Her work has been called “sensual and savage”, “gorgeously imagined”, and “intriguing and visceral”.
Kelsey's debut feature, GLASSHOUSE, premiered at Fantasia and Fantastic Fest and won five SAFTAs and was featured in the New York Times column, “Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now.” Her second feature, THE FIX, was the closing-night film at SCI-FI-LONDON.
Kelsey’s other credits include Warrior, Raised by Wolves, Mad Max: Fury Road, and District 9.
ASTROPHYSICIST
Dr Alfredo Carpineti is a distinguished astrophysicist, science communicator, and advocate, holding a PhD in astrophysics. As the Space and Physics Editor for IFLScience, he translates complex cosmic phenomena into engaging narratives for a global audience. He is also the author of the acclaimed astronomy book Invisible Rainbows, which explores the universe beyond human vision.Beyond his research, Alfredo is a prominent activist for inclusion as the co-chair and founder of Pride in STEM, an award-winning charitable trust. An avid science-fiction enthusiast, he combines his professional expertise with a lifelong passion for speculative storytelling and queer visibility in science.
ACTOR & STEM ACTIVIST
Inspired by a childhood love for Doctor Who, David Hewlett transitioned from aspiring scientist to a celebrated actor known for playing brilliant, eccentric characters. Most famous for his role as Dr. Rodney McKay in Stargate Atlantis, Hewlett has collaborated extensively with directors like Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water) and Vincenzo Natali (CUBE).
His diverse filmography includes Rise of the Planet of the Apes and the upcoming The Boys prequel, Vought Rising. Beyond acting, he is a STEAM advocate, hosting "I’m With (Stargate) Genius" chats to explore cutting-edge science with experts from organizations like the European Space Agency.
SHORT FILM EXPERT & LSFF PROGRAMMER
Philip is the Artistic Director and co-founder of the London Short Film Festival (LSFF), which began in 2004. He spent 15 years as the short film programmer for the BFI London Film Festival and is now at the Dinard British & Irish Film Festival in France. He has also programmed events such as the East End Film Festival, the Branchage Festival in Jersey, Latitude, and for Curzon Cinemas.
He has been a jury member at many film festivals, such as Go Short in the Netherlands, Grimstad in Norway, Shortwaves in Poland, and several in the UK, including Sheffield DocFest, Encounters, Edinburgh, and Cambridge.
VFX EXPERT & PUPPETEER
Claire Roi Harvey is a puppeteer and puppetry director whose career in Creature Effects and puppetry spans some of the most ambitious science fiction and fantasy productions in recent contemporary film and television history.
Her credits include major sci-fi and fantasy projects within the Star Wars franchise, Jurassic World, Netflix’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and the upcoming science-fiction feature Project Hail Mary due for release March 2026.
SR. MANAGER, VIDEO STRATEGIC DEV, ADOBE UK
Byron has spent more than two decades shaping the tools that shape cinema. He has helped develop video editing and colour grading software at Apple, Blackmagic Design, and currently at Adobe.
Byron has collaborated on films with directors including Anthony Minghella, Tim Burton, Ridley Scott and Mike Figgis, and companies such as Warp Films, He has also worked as a Creative Technologist with musician and director Chris Cunningham on music video projects.