Advisory Committee and Esteemed Judges

Leadershi

The FromTheArt Foundation board and leadership members are all award-winning artists who breathe art in every moment of their lives. They are individuals endowed with a tremendous desire to contribute and a strong civic sense, offering their talents and know-how to bring social awareness into the world and create stronger, more united communities, starting with the most in need.

SERGIO BARBASSO

FOUNDER | PRESIDENT | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Sergio Barbasso is a multi-award-winning director, producer, writer, and animator, known for his exceptional contributions to the entertainment industry. As a voting member of Emmys® and Annie Awards®, he holds a significant role in recognizing and celebrating excellence in the field.
Arriving in the U.S. from Italy just before the pandemic, Sergio's journey is a testament to the power of dreams and determination. In a remarkably short span, he has positively impacted the lives of thousands of artists worldwide through initiatives like the Vegas Movie Awards™ and, more recently, the Vegas Movie Academy™, which provides filmmakers with educational content designed to elevate their careers and transform their lives.
Sergio's entrepreneurial vision and unwavering determination, coupled with effective teamwork, catapulted the Vegas Movie Awards™ into becoming the most popular Film Festival in Las Vegas and one of the most sought-after globally. It has become a regular gathering for luminaries in the industry, including attendees from the Oscars®, Emmys®, Golden Globes®, and Bafta® awards.
As a Social Entrepreneur and advocate for humanity, Sergio's mission is to connect like-minded individuals through art, fostering a sense of community among artists and those who may not yet realize their artistic potential. Through kindness and a shared commitment to the common good, he aims to reignite passion and community spirit in the artistic world.

ANNA ZANNINO

CO-FOUNDER | VICE PRESIDENT

Anna Zannino, an award-winning writer and designer, serves as the CFO and Programming Director at the Vegas Movie Awards™. Over the past decade, she has combined her passion for exploration and travel services, infusing deep sensitivity into every professional venture.
With expertise in marketing and social media management, Anna is a certified master trainer in Self-Leadership for Happiness. Alongside her husband Sergio, she is a proud member of Lions Club International and is currently enrolled in the Science of Well-Being program at Yale University.
Anna's purpose, manifested through the FromTheArt Foundation™ and her regular volunteer and tourism activities in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, is to forge profound connections with people. Her mission is to understand how each of us can thrive in life by harnessing sensitivity and multipotentiality, often perceived as weaknesses, as their most formidable assets—especially in the realm of artistic self-expression.

Advisory Board

ZACH THOMSON

DIRECTOR | PRODUCER | AUTHOR

For decades, Zach Thomson has directed and produced countless film and video productions. His career in film started as a PA on productions such as “Independence Day”, “Dumb and Dumber”, and “Touched by an Angel”, then later worked alongside James Cameron on the film “Avatar” and the WETA Workshop team in New Zealand.

Mr. Thomson now has a deep understanding of the film industry from initial development, finance, production, and on through to post-production, marketing, distribution, and merchandising.

Mr. Thomson has directed and produced hundreds of commercials and shows, edited thousands of videos and has raised millions in capital for many of his own feature film projects, and has a vast network in the film and finance arenas. Mr. Thomson worked in Marketing and Distribution for 20th Century Fox and has since structured distribution deals throughout North and South America, Europe, and China.

MICHAEL SCHILF

DIRECTOR | PRODUCER | WRITER

Michael is an award-winning filmmaker and co-founder of Lunar Door, an independent production company. His acclaimed crime thriller The Fixer, starring Jesse C. Boyd and Danny Trejo, has earned 90 international awards and 38 nominations, including 13 Best Director wins.

Michael is a producer on the indie drama The Fall. He is also directing and producing the social issue documentary Tears of the Field while producing the adventure, sports documentary Tracing the Divide. He is currently attached to direct three features: Ashes, Cane, and The Sins of My Father, based on his memoir.

VALERIO ZANOLI

DIRECTOR | PRODUCER | WRITER

Valerio Zanoli is a film director and producer who has been bringing to life socially conscious movies. His titles are part of the project Let’s Make a Difference (www.letsmakeadifference.info), talk of important issues (i.e. childhood cancer, bullying, Alzheimer's, homelessness), raise funds for charities and hospitals (i.e. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital), and move audiences to action. They feature Academy Award winners, are being distributed all over the world, and have won several awards (including a Social Commitment Award, an Excellence Award, and dozens of film festivals). It received support letters from the Office of the First Lady and UNESCO "Education for Children in Need."

Ambassador

NANCY HAMILTON PhD

DIRECTOR | EDUCATOR | RESEARCHER

Dr. Nancy Hamilton is the founder and co-owner of Golden Eagle Films, a 501c3 non-profit Christian film production organization situated in Pacific Grove, California. She currently works as the Producer/Director for Sierra Health and Wellness Centers in California. Nancy holds a Master of Science Degree in Digital Media from the University of Edinburgh and a PhD in Education from Liberty University. She has over 30 years of media and traditional experience. Nancy is proficient in all areas of video production and multimedia journalism as an Educator, Producer, Director, Independent Journalist, Video Editor, and Writer.
Nancy has produced scores of documentaries and feature films for the past 30 years. To date, her movies and documentaries have won over 100 International Film Awards. Her multimedia journalism reports have been featured on CNN, CNN International, The Weather Channel, and CBS News, among others. Her work has been distributed by Vision Video/Gateway Films, Amazon, Target, eBay, ABC, and the Christian Book Center. Nancy has also worked as an FAA Certified UAS Pilot in Command and Nest Manager for Google X at Project Wing.

ANDREA SAMBUCCETTI

DIRECTOR | PRODUCER | JOURNALIST

Andrea Sambuccetti is a National Emmy award-winning correspondent with over 20 years of experience, a journalist, an independent filmmaker, and holds an MS in Psychology. Currently serving as a National News Correspondent for Univision Network's "Aqui y Ahora" since July 2010, Andrea excels in developing short segments, documentaries, investigative reporting, and long-format content. She brings a wealth of experience from her roles at Univision Network's "Primer Impacto," "7 Days" and “Notcias 41” at WJAN 41 AmericaTeve from Miami, Florida. Her international experience includes time in Buenos Aires, where she worked at Ambito Financiero, C5N Canal 5 Noticias, and Infobae.com. Andrea's skills extend to production, writing, editing, photography, and music.

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