OIFF UNVEILS THE 2026 FESTIVAL JURY
OIFF is proud to announce the members of the 2026 festival jury. Led by president TIM MOLLOY, editor and co-owner of MovieMaker Magazine, this year’s jury brings together leading industry professionals from around the globe to determine winners in approximately 8 categories, including the festival’s Grand Jury Prize.
“At OIFF, we believe that juried awards should help celebrate and uplift filmmakers, not create competition,” says festival co-director Jake Abell. “The extraordinary filmmakers, curators, and journalists of this year’s jury share that ethos. We’re thrilled for our festival community to experience the wisdom, class, and heart of this globally-recognized group of leaders in our industry.”
Attendees will have the chance to hear jury president Tim Molloy interview Kiwi Smith about her career in screenwriting on the opening day of the festival. Stay tuned for more news about jury involvement during the festival.
TIM MOLLOY (jury president) is the editor and co-owner of MovieMaker, which covers films big and small. It is known for festival lists including 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee. He also wrote a silly novel long ago called How to Break Bad News, and more recently some screenplays that will go somewhere someday. He is from San Pedro, California and now lives in Massachusetts.
KIRSTEN “KIWI” SMITH co-wrote the hit films Legally Blonde, About You, She’s the Man, Ella Enchanted, The House Bunny, and The Ugly Truth. On the television side, she co-created and executive produced Trinkets, a multi-Emmy- winning series for Netflix based on her novel. Her producing credits include Whip It, directed by Drew Barrymore and starring Elliot Page and Kristin Wiig. She is currently writing a sequel to The House Bunny for Sony, as well as co-writing a sequel to The Idea of You for Amazon with director Michael Showalter. Other projects in development include an original romantic comedy/mystery to star Tessa Thompson and be directed by Showalter, an adaptation of the novel Sleep Toward Heaven with Miguel Arteta directing, and a sports comedy with actress Kathryn Newton starring and Jason Blum producing.
FRANCIS ROMÁN is a second-generation Ecuadorian-American writer/director with a deep passion for film and event production. As Senior Film & TV Programming Manager at SXSW, she oversees submissions and filmmaker logistics and leads Shorts and Independent TV Pilot Programming, championing new creative voices and bold storytelling. She has served as a juror, panelist, and mentor at film events and festivals around the world. Beyond SXSW, Francis co-founded The Direct Line production company and co-hosts How to Texas, a podcast highlighting below-the-line crew in the Texas film community.
KAYLA ABUDA GALANG is a filmmaker based in Austin, Texas, drawing from the humor and details of her communities, surroundings, memory, and the television that raised her. With curiosity and care for the fleeting moments that shape identity and belonging, she aims to spark unexpected connection and shared laughter across her work. Her work includes “When You Left Me On That Boulevard” (Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival) and “An Ongoing List of Things...” (World Premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival). She was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film, received the Ani ng Dangal from the National Commission for Culture and Arts of the Philippines, and joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a voting member in the Short Films Branch. She is currently developing her first feature film, “On Earth as it is in Heaven,” with Sleepover. She works as a video producer and editor at the University of Texas.
ROB MUNDAY is a Senior Programmer and Managing Editor at Short of the Week, where he has spent over 16 years championing the art of short film. Deeply passionate about the medium’s ability to spotlight emerging talent, amplify underrepresented voices, and share stories that might not be told elsewhere, Rob plays a key role in shaping the platform’s editorial vision. He is also the co-founder of Directors Notes, an independent film website dedicated to celebrating the work of innovative filmmakers worldwide.