ABOUT US - International Film Festival Awards

Director’s Message

The International Film Festival Awards’ goal is to create a platform for your movie project to get exposure to audiences. We believe that this is a wonderful opportunity for investors and filmmakers from all over the globe to come together over a shared passion for film. It is our great honor at the International Film Festival Awards to promote your project and help it reach its highest potential. As the director of the International Film Festival Awards, it is my privilege to serve you.

EDDIE VCELIKOVA

Eddie is the co-organizer of the IFF Awards. She graduated from Macalester College in 2017 with a degree in Media and Cultural Studies. She attended the UCLA Film Institute summer of 2018. She has since worked on multiple film projects as a second assistant camera, editor and assistant producer.

Kendra Leroux, Co-Organizer

Kendra is a passionate creator, host, model, dancer, actor, and singer. In 2021, she was working with IFF Awards as the interview host on the red carpet. In the same year, she was also a featured model for LYB Events and produced social content for amazing brands such as Frill and Tea of a Kind. In 2019, Kendra wrote, produced, and starred in a drama short film, “Twisted Villain,” a cooking comedy “Flavor Fun Friends,” and an Earth Day short video, which all aired on BEE TV. She produced her own song, “Can It Be” and performed regularly in a band as the lead singer, produced by KGMC GigMasterz and was the lead role in a student-film, “Let’s Get Murdered.” Over the years, she has performed in several Theater productions such as: Peter in “Peter Pan”; Lumiere in “Beauty & The Beast”; Veruca Salt in “Willy Wonka” and Glinda in “The Wizard of Oz”. She is currently serving as an Outreach Officer for the Red Cross and National Honors Society.

Nabil Eldabh

Nabil is the graphic designer of the IFF Awards.

Jackie Nova- Host

Jackie Nova is an American Dominican Latina born in NYC, raised in NY/NJ. Jackie has been a part of Performing School of Arts since she was in grade school, and has always been a part of comedy, dance, theatre and music. Since Nova was a little girl she always knew that acting, dancing, singing and making people laugh was her destiny. What surely sparked Jackie Nova’s interest was this aha moment when her parents “Juan and Lucy” took her to see her aunt “Belkis Concepción- Las Chicas del Can” perform with their band. Jackie Nova and her partner soulmate Richard Ryan produced – co wrote and are both staring in their action suspense thriller “Art of Deception”, which has now been sold across Asia, making its way to Cannes (All of Europe) and coming soon across the USA. Globally the world will get to watch “Art of Deception”. “Art of Deception” movie trailer go to www.oxfilms.us While Jackie was attending high school, she was also in Performing School of Arts during the afternoon hours where professors there pushed her to work hard and that taught her that quitting is not an option. Jackie Nova has played the roles of Mimi on the musical Rent tour. Jackie Nova was so excited to have guest starred on Everybody Hates Chris opposite Terry Crews. Jackie also a comedian has frequently done stand-up comedy at Comedy store, and is now frequent at Flappers and Icehouse. Improv and Sketch writing with “The Second City” & “Groundlings”. Has worked with Dane Cook, Jamie Foxx and Andrew Dice Clay. Has done some national commercial spots in Spanish and a few in English for “Sears and AllState”. Jackie Nova’s passion is in comedy – action/suspense/thrillers and romantic comedy types of films. One of Jackie’s big dreams is to be on SNL. A sneak peak into other things that peaks Nova’s interest is that she is huge on athletics and excels in gymnastics, baseball, flag football, Ice skating and rollerblading and she does her own stunts. Jackie is all about family and giving back to the community. Operation Gratitude is one of the ways she gives back by volunteering. This helps get gifts ready for the holidays for those military men and women whom are over seas. Also- Homeward LA which helps with the homelessness crisis. Volunteers at pet shelters. Loves all animals especially her kitty cat Lynx. Nova is all about family, her son Jason is her proudest love & joy!

Richard Ryan – Host

Richard Ryan is an award-winning actor, filmmaker, and the founder and owner of Ox Films. Richard’s third feature film, Art of Deception, is selling worldwide. He is currently in pre-production of his fourth feature film. For more information, go to www.oxfilms.us. Fun fact, Richard is in the process of training for the Iron Man. Jackie Nova is a American Dominican Latina award-winning actress. Jackie lost her mother to cancer and is an avid supporter on Helping the Fight on Cancer. She loves encouraging and promoting health, wellness, and fitness. Richard and Jackie want to help keep the arts alive globally. Jackie is also a comedian and has guest starred in many TV shows. Richard and Jackie love animals and are active in animal rescue and safety.

Anjelica Tovar – Model

Anjelica’s first modeling job was when she won Little Miss Vegas in Las Vegas when she was three years old. Her next title was Miss Lindo Michoacan which was followed by the combined pageant and magazine cover for Miss Quinceanera and Brides. This was followed by winning Regency Internationals Junior Teen Nevada title two years in a row.

In 2016 she won the title of Latina International Beauty in Los Angeles. She went on to win titles such as Miss Cultural World USA and Las Vegas Carnavale International Queen. In 2019 she won Virgeia Productions Miss Teen Latina Global. This is the second year she is modeling in Samira’s Luxury Gala Viewing of the Oscars.

Anjelica also like spending time for charities such as Cure 4 the Kids, Childrens Heart Foundation, Manos Que Sobreviven, Hemophilia Foundation, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, where she has personally raised money and gifts and modeled for charity events and fundraisers.

Perhaps her favorite pastime is to support her twin brother and sister, Dylan and Madison, in their education and modeling efforts.

Finally, Anjelica has entered the business world starting with the production and online sale of specialty eye lashes and lip gloss.

MIchael Jun

International Coordinator of iffawards(Korea)

Graduated Kyunghee University in Seoul Korea- 2006 Jun’s Media &Investment President- 2007 Korea China Culture &Art Exchange Association Honorary Chairman- 2015 IBH EXPO Executive Committee Chairman.

Roland De Guzman

Producer and Photographer at International Film Festival Awards.

Arezoo Aref- costume designer

Arezoo Aref is an award-winning freelance fashion and costume designer. In 2004, she began her career designing costumes for theater. She has received awards for her costume designs and a certificate from Louky Brand Company.

Gunnar Kuepper

Gunnar has been photographing people, places, and events since his early childhood

After a successful career in crisis management, he started work as a photojournalist in 2010. Since then Gunnar has covered and captured a wide variety of

breaking news and events (from large wildfires and major disasters to law enforcement activities to public meetings to concerts to sports), people (from US President to high profile politicians to celebrities to demonstrations and parades to every-day people in cities, towns, and nature), as well as places (from sunsets to cityscapes to abandoned towns to wildlife and natural environments), and much more. Hundreds of Gunnar’s images have been publicized in online, social and printed media throughout the US and internationally.

He is a resident in Southern California for more than 25 years

JULIE RIGGS

Julie has been photographing people, places, and events more than 20 years. She has had her photos on front cover of many magazines.