Steve Barr

Gold/Silver Screening Judge

Steve Barr 

Steve Barr moved to New Zealand in 2010 after working for 16 years in the Hollywood industry. He has been a studio suit for Universal Studios, a feature screenwriter for Walt Disney Pictures, and the vice president of development for indie production company SMASHfilms.

Steve has been hired to write over a dozen screenplays in the New Zealand, American, and Chinese industries, two of which have been produced – Timeslow and Born To Dance. He has produced nearly 20 short films and two features – Chronesthesia and Hang Time.

Steve has a BFA in Theatre from the University of Southern California, and has taught screenwriting for the New Zealand Film and Television School, the New Zealand Writers Guild, Massey University, and Victoria University. He is a member of the WGA, WIFT, SPADA and the New Zealand Writers Guild. From 2019-2023 he was the commissioner for drama and scripted comedy for Television New Zealand.

Meet the other Judges

Jon Helgren

Jon Helgren 

Gold/Silver Screening Judge

Grant-McKinnon

Grant McKinnon 

Gold/Silver Screening Judge

Mary Schaffer

Mary C. Schaffer

Gold/Silver Screening Judge

Steve McGillen

Steve McGillen 

Gold/Silver Screening Judge

Rob Malloch

Rob Malloch

Gold/Silver Screening Judge

Melanie Graham

Melanie Graham

Gold/Silver Screening Judge

Hilary Quick

Hilary Quick

Gold/Silver Screening Judge

Hamish Bennett

Hamish Bennett

Gold/Silver Screening Judge

Chris Dudman

Chris Dudman

Gold/Silver Screening Judge

Jean-Luc Azzis

Jean-Luc Azzis 

Gold/Silver Screening Judge