Selection Team

Zoe Esser

A Minnesota native, Zoe brings her passion for film and dedication to every team she joins. With extensive experience in production, Zoe excels in collaborating with clients and agencies, ensuring the success of each project. Her work spans local broadcasts, feature films, and major brand collaborations.

Zoe is committed to nurturing young talent and fostering the growth of Minnesota's film and entertainment industry. Her enthusiasm and expertise make her an invaluable asset to the festival.

Mo Perz

Mo is a talented emerging artist with a keen eye for capturing images that engage and inspire viewers, and his journey as an editor has not only honed his technical skills, but also enriched his storytelling abilities. Through his work, Mo weaves together visuals and narratives that reflect his unique perspective and life experiences. 

His youthful energy and fresh perspective bring a dynamic and vibrant element to every project, and as a selection judge, Mo’s influence adds a valuable dimension to the evaluation process, offering insightful critiques and recognizing potential in emerging talent.

LIZA OLSON

Originally from Atwater, in west central Minnesota, Liza Olson is a professional Story Analyst in Hollywood, where she has evaluated scripts and books for Netflix, various production companies, talent agencies, managers, and writers.

Liza was the Vice President of Creative Affairs at a film finance company and has served as a judge for screenplay competitions, including for Silicon Valley’s Cinequest Film Festival.

Prior to working in the entertainment industry, Liza was a News Producer for the NBC television station in the San Francisco Bay Area and at KBJR in Duluth. She earned a B.A. in Communication from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and studied screenwriting and feature film development at UCLA Extension.

Dan Schneidkraut

Dan is a writer, director, editor, and occasional camera operator based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has been honored with two McKnight Fellowships (2010/2016) and The Creative Capital Award for Moving Image (2015), acknowledging his innovative work in both narrative and documentary filmmaking.

Employing unconventional structures, poetic imagery, and immersive soundscapes, Dan creates thought-provoking narratives that challenge conventional storytelling norms. Exploring themes such as technological isolation, destructive masculinity, generational violence, and the commodification of human suffering by the media industry, among other things.

His films have garnered international recognition and have been featured at esteemed venues and film festivals worldwide, including the Anthology Film Archives, The Walker Art Center, MoMA, Fantastic Fest, and the Ann Arbor Film Festival.