Mark Arbitrario is a television producer and director in the USA and Asia. He was Executive Producer and Director of "Asia's Next Top Model 4" and as the Show Director for Character Media's "Unforgettable Gala Awards." Mark first started his career editing Emmy award-winning American series, "The Voice," "Survivor," and "The Contender." During his tenure with Fremantle Media Asia in Singapore, Mark directed "How Do I Look Asia?" featuring Jeannie Mai, "Canon Photo Face-Off" and produced "Asia's Got Talent," which secured the Best Format Adaptation at the 20th Asian Television Awards. In Shanghai, Mark directed "Elite New Face: China," for Elite Model Management that documented the prestigious Elite Model Look World Final. For Star China, he also directed "Look of the Year," an international modeling competition held in Xi'an, China. In Korea, for CJ Entertainment/Mnet, Mark created and executive produced "Short Notice," a cable television series spotlighting independent Asian-American filmmakers. Mark also directed several music videos for legendary Korean Rock band, "Boohwal." Notably, he directed the reality series, “Money Game” for Korea's Naver Webtoon, co-produced by Transparent Arts and Jubilee Media. In API media, Mark founded the San Diego Asian American Film Foundation and was an Artist in Residence and Festival Programmer for Visual Communications. He also edited "Recipe for Change" an Emmy nominated documentary featuring Asian American celebrities, chefs, and activists to celebrate API culture and discuss the historic acts of hate and violence against the API community. Most recently, in 2024, he directed the inaugural Manila International Film Festival Gala Awards. Mark remains actively involved with the Producers Guild of America, the Motion Picture Editors Guild, and the Television Academy.

Ifeanyi Ezieme is a DGA Award–winning filmmaker and George Lucas Scholar, holding an MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. His directorial vision has been experienced by major brands and organizations including ColorCreative, McDonald’s, and Varo Banking, with a reputation that has led to collaborations with public figures like Issa Rae and many others. While his commercial and branded work spans a wide range of high-profile partners, Ifeanyi’s creative heart remains firmly rooted in narrative filmmaking. His films have earned multiple “Best Short Film” wins & nominations and have been showcased at numerous Academy Award–qualifying festivals, including INDY Shorts, ABFF, LA Shorts, and the Pan African Film Festival. His work has also resonated internationally, screening in countries such as Canada, Nigeria, and China. Ifeanyi’s filmmaking is driven by a singular mission: to bridge the gap between people who are seemingly unalike. A guiding principle that has carried him through his career since first picking up a camera at the age of 10.

Kayla Ferguson graduated from Pepperdine in 2012, with a degree in film studies including a production emphasis. Following graduation, she worked in freelance film production before joining WME Talent Agency, working for as a story analyst and then as an assistant for a television agent. Kayla eventually transitioned to a career in the non-profit sector, working as a program manager for a national foundation based in Colorado. Most recently, she's been able to combine all her professional experience through documentary filmmaking with another Denver-based Foundation called The Denver Basic Income Project.

Christopher Jerabek is a theatre artist living and working out of Los Angeles. He was blessed to serve as the scenic designer for the world premiere of Davey Anderson’s The Abode, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and worked as the scenic and video designer for Pepperdine University’s 2020 TEDx event. His video design credits include Beloved and The Play You Want with the Road Theatre Company, Ayano with the Theatre Planners, and Deaf West’s production of Oedipus at the Getty Villa. Christopher recently graduated with a M.A. in Religion from Pepperdine University, studying the intersection between queer and religious story-telling. See more of Christopher’s work at www.jerabekdesign.com.

Smile Juneja is an experienced entertainment industry marketing professional at The Walt Disney Company. A proud Pepperdine alum, she values staying connected to her Waves community and is excited to return as a RSFF judge and support emerging student filmmakers.

As a Pepperdine Alum with a B.A. in Creative Writing and Film Studies, Alexandra is excited to stay involved in her Pepperdine community by serving as a judge. She currently works as a Post Production Coordinator in Unscripted & Documentary Television for a production company here in Los Angeles. She oversees and manages several projects in all stages of development, production, and post. With a good eye for what makes something pop, she can't wait to see everyone's work, and wishes you all the best of luck!

Kate Ryan, a Pepperdine media production alum (’16), built her career in Los Angeles film and production before moving to the Pacific Northwest, where she now focuses on storytelling and content creation for community‑centered local government work.

Alex Skinner is an actor and writer from Phoenix, Arizona, with a desert-dry sense of humor and a lifelong, frequently painful devotion to his hometown Phoenix Suns. He’s best known for his recurring role on Showtime’s Super Pumped, appearing opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt. 

HIs television work spans comedy and drama, with appearances on Silicon Valley, Never Have I Ever, Insecure, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, For All Mankind, and Grey’s Anatomy. He gravitates toward projects with sharp writing, grounded performances, and layered storytelling. An alumnus of Pepperdine and it’s Improv Troupe (PIT), Alex credits his improv background with sharpening his timing and ability to stay loose while performing along the likes of Issa Rae, Andy Samberg, Maitreyi Ramakrishan, Sandra Oh, and Thomas Middleditch. 

When not performing, he is busying writing and developing his own projects, corralling his kids, and asking his wife to read for his self-tapes—an arrangement she accepts with loving resignation.

J.J. Starr (Seaver, 2010) won Grand Prize at the first Reelstories Film Festival for his documentary "Awaken Honduras". In 2014 he released a full length follow up documentary titled "The Dust on Our Feet" which was purchased by Amazon Prime. He currently serves as the Lead Drone Pilot & Senior Photographer for the U.S. Department of Energy. Him and his wife live in Chicago along with their Honduran puppy named Flash.

Paige is a 2010 graduate of Pepperdine University and a founding member of RSFF. She began her career at Red Bull, transitioning from Logistics to leading global Sustainability initiatives in partnership with organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme and the EPA. Her passion for building relationships and engaging consumers guided her to Trade Marketing, where she established the FIJI Water/Wines Trade Marketing Department, now a Center of Excellence for The Wonderful Company. She now works in Private Equity building beverage brands. Named to the Path to Purchase Institute’s inaugural 40 Under 40 list in 2022, Paige has been recognized as a rising leader in commerce marketing. A proud cancer survivor, she now lives in Nashville, TN, with her husband, Eli, and their beloved dogs, McFly and Biff.

Writer, comedian, deluded Philadelphia sports fan—Emily S. Rauch is an underpaid triple threat. Prior to screenwriting, she worked in public service for six years, the last three of which were spent on Capitol Hill as a communications specialist. In 2021, she received her MFA in screenwriting from Pepperdine University. Her first comedy feature script "FRIEND FICTION" was a two-time semifinalist winner at the 2020 Austin Film Festival.