J U R Y LA 2 0 2 6
MICHAEL EDENBAUN
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followheart_fest Introducing Michael Edenbaum, Head of the Jury for the Follow Your Heart Film Festival Los Angeles 2026.
We are honored to welcome actor and producer Michael Edenbaum as Head of the Jury for our Los Angeles edition.
Michael's growing body of work spans American and International cinema. Including 2 Bollywood productions, The Verdict and Nirmalya. Among some of his other work, Dovey's Promise, Cyborg City, Anderson County, In God's Hands, Stairway, The Forever Watchman and many more. He also had Screen Time in the series, Brothers and 1923 as well as being a Texas Ranger on the series, Walker.
In the past 3 1/2 years, he has been cast in 30 films and 8 series.
His upcoming projects include: Dead Wives Club - where he has the lead role as well as being executive producer. The Jazz Man and Broken Gavel.
As a festival dedicated to discovering independent filmmakers and new creative voices from around the world, we could not imagine a more fitting person to lead our LA jury.
Welcome to the Follow Your Heart family, Michael. It is an honor to have you with us
STEPANYIE CHENG
Meet Stephanie Cheng, Jury Member for the Follow Your Heart Film Festival Los Angeles 2026.
We're honored to welcome actor, screenwriter, and director Stephanie Cheng to our LA jury.
Stephanie's screenplay Half the Sky, inspired by the story of the first Asian American female pilot in WWII, was named a quarterfinalist at the prestigious Austin Film Festival and a second-round selection at Sundance. Her upcoming project, A Chinatown Ghost Story, continues her commitment to bringing distinctive, culturally rooted stories to the screen.
Beyond filmmaking, Stephanie serves on the Board of Directors of the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center and is a proud Chinatown resident.
As an artist who understands storytelling from both sides of the camera, Stephanie brings exactly the kind of perspective we value on our jury: one grounded in craft, individuality, and stories that deserve to be seen.
Welcome to the FYH family, Stephanie. We're so happy to have you with us
AVA GOLBAN
Media strategist, producer, and founder of Media Productions USA.
Ava Golban specializes in viral marketing and innovative media promotion across
film, television, fashion, and digital platforms. Through her agency, she develops
high-visibility campaigns, secures editorial and TV placements, and creates
strategic collaborations with global media, talent, and cultural platforms.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm18298019/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_2_nm_6_in_0_q_AVA%20GOLBAN
SHARIFF SINCLAIR
Introducing Shariff Sinclair, a member of the Jury for the Follow Your Heart Film Festival LoS Angeles 2026.
Born in Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Shariff is an actor whose work spans film, television, and theater. His passion for performance began at an early age and led him to Sheepshead Bay Performing Arts High School, where he trained in theater and improvisation.
Shariff has built a diverse career across both screen and stage. Most recently, he completed the national tour of Super Freak: The Rick James Story, serving as the understudy for the title role and performing in venues across the United States. His theater work also includes Sister Act: The Musical, where he portrayed Officer Eddie Souther.
With experience in both live performance and screen acting, Shariff brings an actor's eye to our Jury: an understanding of character, authenticity, presence, chemistry, and the subtle choices that can make a performance truly connect with an audience.
We're excited to welcome Shariff to the Jury for our Los Angeles edition this November.
MAKSYM ZAKHARCHUK
Maksym Zakharchuk is an American commercial and film director and the founder of ZAKHARCHUK PRESENTS, whose professional work spans entertainment, advertising, music, celebrity projects, and luxury hospitality. Having completed more than 300 commercial and music projects, he has developed a distinctive approach to visual storytelling that combines cinematic language, commercial thinking, and a deep understanding of audience communication.
Originally from Ukraine, Maksym began developing his creative vision at an early age. At 17, he created a motivational film about Petro Litvyn, an athlete with a disability. The film was later acquired by the Jatomi Fitness Polska network. After moving to the United States, Maksym began his professional career in Chicago, where his work gradually expanded beyond event and commercial production into large-scale projects for international brands, artists, and entertainment industry professionals.
His professional portfolio includes projects for Bad Boy Records, Roc Nation, D’USSÉ, CÎROC, St. Regis Chicago, Four Seasons Chicago, ONEflight International, and other recognized brands. He has also worked on projects featuring internationally renowned personalities, including Kevin Costner, Mark Wahlberg, Kevin O’Leary, and the Jackson family. His experience spans music, luxury hospitality, sports, medicine, advertising, and entertainment, giving him a broad professional perspective on visual storytelling and an understanding of how it works across different audiences and industries.
Maksym Zakharchuk brings to the jury a unique combination of cinematic vision, commercial directing experience, and a deep understanding of emotional storytelling.
From music and advertising projects to collaborations with celebrities and luxury brands, Maksym’s extensive professional experience allows him to view and evaluate films through the lens of strong directing, emotional impact, and the ability of a story to stay with the viewer long after the screening.
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Website www.zakharchukpresents.com
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Instagram www.instagram.com/maksymzakharchuk
HORANE HARBIN
Introducing Horaine Harbin, a member of the Jury for the Follow Your Heart Film Festival Los Angeles 2026.
Brooklyn-based filmmaker Horaine Harbin brings a decade of experience in video editing and production to his work behind the camera. His debut short film, POME, marked his transition into filmmaking and earned him Best Short Film and Best Director at the 2026 Follow Your Heart Film Festival in New York City.
Drawing inspiration from the city that shaped him, Horaine brings the rawness, grit, and energy of New York to the screen, creating stories grounded in a distinct sense of place and atmosphere.
He is currently developing his next short film, ANACRON, a sci-fi drama set in 1984 Bed-Stuy.
After joining Follow Your Heart in New York as an award- winning filmmaker, Horaine now returns in a new role. A free spirit with a remarkably precise visual eye, he brings the freedom and instinct of independent filmmaking together with the cinematic polish of a major studio production. We especially value his eye for framing, angles, and composition, and his ability to see exactly what makes a shot work.
We're excited to have that perspective on the Jury for our Los Angeles edition this November.
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DENIS KORZHOV
Denys Korzhov is an internationally recognized master barber, educator, entrepreneur, and beauty industry expert with over 14 years of professional experience.
He has taught at MARAMAX Academy, served as Lead Instructor at the School of Barbers, and co-founded Mr. Solomon Barbershop.
He has conducted professional masterclasses in Moldova and Poland and is a winner of The Fashion & Beauty Awards.
Since 2024, he has been working in California, USA.
VITALII TOVCYHA
Director of Photography | Cinematographer | Video Producer
Los Angeles, California, USA
Professional Profile
Professional Director of Photography, Cinematographer, and Video Producer with over 12 years
of experience in cinematography, commercial production, and brand storytelling. Specialized in
cinematic visual aesthetics, strategic commercial content, and full-cycle video production for
corporate, luxury, and consumer markets. Founder of a U.S.-based production company
operating within the American market and delivering high-end visual content for both national
and international clients.
Experienced in leading productions from concept development through final delivery, including
directing photography, lighting design, production coordination, and post-production
supervision. Strong background working with corporate brands, luxury wedding productions,
and professional film crews under industry-standard production workflows.
Key Expertise
- Cinematography (lighting design, composition, visual dramaturgy)
- Commercial and brand content production
- Corporate video production
- High-end wedding cinematography
- Full-cycle video production (pre-production to final master)
- Production team leadership and coordination
- Strategic visual identity development
- Post-production supervision and editing
- Film set operations and professional production workflows
Significant Projects & Professional Achievements
Commercial & Corporate Production
Led and produced commercial and corporate video projects for U.S.-based and international
companies operating on a national and global level. Developed strategic visual content for brandscollaborating with major corporations such as Google, Amazon, Tesla, Walmart, Whole Foods
Market, Uber, and Red Bull.
Produced strategic brand and commercial video campaigns for Conexwest, one of the leading
container solution companies in the United States. Responsibilities included cinematography,
visual concept development, production management, and execution of marketing-focused visual
campaigns.
Collaborated with OLG in Canada, filming large-scale sponsored public events including the
Toronto Pride Parade in 2022 and 2023, where the company served as a primary sponsor.
Produced visual content for Maxymova, an Italian cosmetics company. Commercial videos
created for the brand were displayed at international exhibitions and airport advertising screens
in Italy.
Worked as the lead editor for a large-scale commercial content package produced for ROSHEN,
one of the largest confectionery manufacturers in Europe and globally recognized among the
world’s leading confectionery brands. Responsible for editing the primary promotional video and
a substantial portion of the campaign’s branded content package. One of the produced videos
continues to be featured on the company’s official website.
International Production Standards & Industrial
Organizations
Produced visual content for companies operating in compliance with international certification
and classification organizations, including American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s
Register, DNV, and International Organization for Standardization. These productions required
adherence to corporate compliance standards, industrial safety requirements, and high-level
production quality.
High-End Wedding Cinematography
Founder and Creative Director of a U.S.-based wedding cinematography brand specializing in
cinematic storytelling for luxury and destination weddings across the United States and Mexico.
Responsible for the full production cycle, including creative direction, cinematography, client
communication, post-production supervision, and final delivery.
Collaborated with internationally recognized wedding production teams including Balerina
Films, Kim Films, and Yuko Weddings on luxury wedding productions and destination events.
Film Industry ExperienceProfessional experience working within film production crews in multiple technical and creative
positions, including Director of Photography (DP), Gaffer, Electrician, Camera Assistant, and
Second Assistant Camera (2nd AC). Extensive hands-on experience operating under professional
on-set production standards, lighting workflows, and cinema production environments.
Business Activity
- Active commercial operations in the United States
- International client portfolio
- Independent production and project execution
- U.S. - based production company founder and operator
Portfolio & Professional Links
Cinematography Portfolio. https://vimeo.com/benfilmz
Instagram main. https://instagram.com/tovchiga_video
Wedding website. https://www.sunlitphotovideo.com
Wedding portfolio. https://vimeo.com/sunlitweddings
Wedding Inst. https://instagram.com/sunlit_weddings
Conexwest YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@conexwest
ROSHEN Promotional Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTHxnZ8RavY
INNA BAHRIANTSEVA
Inna Bahriantseva is a recognized international beauty industry expert, author of scientific publications, and a researcher in lash health, structural correction, and professional safety protocols based in Florida, USA.
She is the founder of ROYAL LASHES BY INNA LLC and the creator of the LRCA Method (Lash Recovery & Correction Architecture) — a proprietary system for the recovery and structural rehabilitation of damaged natural lashes. Inna's experience in the international beauty industry spans more than nine years. She is a licensed Lash Artist in Florida (USA), with her professional foundation rooted in European training.
Inna's expertise has been formally recognized by the international professional community. She is a member of the International Beauty Professionals Association (IBPA) in the Professional category, reserved for specialists whose work demonstrates measurable quality and active engagement in industry development. In 2026, Inna received the Woman of Motivation award, which honors women whose professional trajectory serves as a reference point for other specialists, and was a participant at the United Beauty Award & Conference in Miami — one of the key industry events in the US beauty community.
As a jury member of the Follow Your Heart Film Festival, Inna brings her deep understanding of visual aesthetics, facial architecture, and modern beauty standards to the evaluation of styling, makeup, and visual character creation in cinematic and fashion projects.
NATALIA NAGORNAYA
Film Editor / Film Director / Post-Production Producer
Natalia Nagornaya is a film editor, director, and post-production producer with more than 15 years of experience in film, television, documentary, commercial, and digital video production.
She holds degrees in Applied Mathematics and Film and Television Directing, and also has a background in music education. Natalia began her career on the set of the television series Doctor Zaitseva’s Diary and later focused on film editing, directing, and post-production.
She has worked as a Lead and Sole Film Editor on documentary films including The Thousand Goddess, which received awards at the Metaphysics Film Festival / former Esoteric Film Festival and the Buddhism International Film Festival, and The Way of Tao. She also directed and edited the short film Breakfast with Diana, which was selected for several film festivals.
Natalia has collaborated on commercial and branded video projects for major companies and brands, including Tinkoff, Sberbank, Avito, and Dyson. Her experience also includes producing post-production workflows, including her credited role as Producer Post-Production on BetBoom Dacha Dota 2 Dubai: Reveal (SUB).
As a jury member, Natalia brings expertise in film editing, directing, documentary storytelling, narrative structure, cinematic rhythm, and post-production workflow.
Selected works and collaborations:
The Thousand Goddess — Lead and Sole Film Editor
The Way of Tao — Lead and Sole Film Editor
Breakfast with Diana — Director and Editor
BetBoom Dacha Dota 2 Dubai: Reveal (SUB) — Producer Post-Production
Tinkoff, Sberbank, Avito, Dyson — Commercial and branded video projects
VALENTINA VARNAVSKAYA
Valentina Varnavskaya,
Fashion and executive director of one of the most famous fashion weeks in Russia - Sochi Fashion (for 6 years of the week) http://www.sochifashionweek.ru/.
Since 2017, the Sochi Fashion Week site has become one of the largest exhibition venues in Southern Russia. Trendy collections, a special atmosphere, spectacular performances, vibrant parties, celebrities both from the capital and the south, buyers and fashion business owners - Sochi Fashion Week rightfully occupies the main place in the calendar of fashion events in Russia! This is the first event - the official fashion week in the Krasnodar region. Since its inception, this event has been actively attended by the Sochi City Administration. Since 2017, the Sochi Fashion Week project has collected more than 300 shows by Russian designers.
My experience also includes working in teams for weeks at a time in fashion organizations in Italy, America and France. I am proud of the education I received at the Vyacheslav Zaitsev School.
Fashion Director in Paris for Paris Fashion Air events https://instagram.com/parisfashionair, https://parisfashionair.com.
Information about Paris Fashion Air at L'Officiel: https://www.lofficielmonaco.com/fashion/paris-fashion-air-the-luxury-fashion-hub-taking-the-industry-by-storm. We managed to attract May Musk and many other famous people in the modern industry to present this project.
I am a partner of Miami Swim Week, New York Swim Week and New York Fashion Week, as well as the first fashion shows.
Winner of fashion awards in Russia and America, member of the fashion association National Academy of the Fashion Industry (founded by V.M. Zaitsev), Fashion Group International (America).
Tatiana CHARON
Tanya Charon (Rebrikova) - Ballroom dancer and competitor.
Open Pro/Am Ballroom Dance Champion,
Open Pro/Am Showcase Champion,
Open Pro/Am 10 Dance Champion.
From a young age, Charon showcased innate talent in dance, captivating audiences with exceptional skills and dedication. Her journey began at age seven, stepping onto the dance floor for the first time. Since then, Charon has devoted her life to perfecting her craft, establishing herself in the competitive dance world.
She rapidly ascended through the ranks, impressing judges and audiences with her grace and skill. By the age of 16, she had secured first place at the Moscow Championships, setting the stage for a career filled with numerous accolades and victories.
From 2021 to 2023, she achieved numerous US national victories, including the USA Dance Championship in Orlando, the Grand National in Miami, and other US National Open Dance Championships.
Charon's notable achievement includes a captivating showcase to Mozart's 'Requiem,' where she and her partner skillfully choreographed intricate lifts, blending various dance styles to convey a poignant story. The performance has garnered breathtaking feedback from both judges and the audience, highlighting their ability to express characters' emotions through powerful techniques.
https://www.instagram.com/tanya.tux/
Edgar SAAKYAN
Edgar Saakyan - Media, Fashion, Pageant producer
Edgar Entertainment is a creative team specializing in creating and producing media content, digital experiences, fashion shows, beauty pageants, and collaborations with influencers.
We do media and content for New York Fashion Week, Miami Swim Weeks, Paris Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week!
We do promotion, media, and delegate contestants to pageants like Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Grand, Miss Earth!
We strategize and develop digital projects in Cryptocurrency, Art, Ai and have worked on projects such as Art Basel in Miami, Consensus in Austin, Blockchain Life in Dubai and CoinAgenda in Puerto-Rico!
You give challenges! We find solutions!
https://edgarentertainment.com/
https://www.instagram.com/edgarsaakyan/
https://www.instagram.com/edgar.entertainment/
VOLODYMYR BORYSOV