The Team
Jury Member: Lily Laramie, USA
Director of the Small Business Center, Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC)
Lily Laramie is the Director of the Small Business Center at Western Piedmont Community College. She is also a farmer, photographer, potter, and mechanic. At just 27, Lily has gained rich and diverse life experience: traveling across North Carolina, backpacking along a glacial river in California, climbing Table Rock, and living sustainably on a farm.
Her greatest achievement, however, she considers to be her work at the Small Business Center — helping people realize their dreams every day. Currently, Lily is reviving her photography and design business while also training the farm’s newest resident, a rescued Friesian horse named Cashew.
Jury Member: Elena Dimitrova-Tabanova, Bulgaria
Elena Dimitrova-Tabanova is the Chair of the Academy of Film and Television, General Director, and co-founder (together with Professor Dimitr Dimitrov, Doctor of Arts and Academician of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) of the International Film Festival “Slavic Fairy Tale.”
She graduated from the State Institute of Film and Television in St. Petersburg, as well as the St. Petersburg Trade and Economic College with honors. She holds a doctoral dissertation in Psychology.
Elena is a Corresponding Member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Arts and an Honorary Professor of ESRA (Skopje, Paris, Sofia).
Throughout her creative and academic career, Elena has made a significant contribution to the development of film, television, and cultural dialogue that unites countries and generations.
Chair of the Jury: Jane Cantwell,
USA
Jane Cantwell is an Instructor of American Studies and Humanities at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) in Morganton.
Her teaching and curatorial work focus on fostering critical thinking, intercultural dialogue, and creative initiatives among students. As the program curator of PlanetFrame, Jane helps bridge educational and cultural contexts while strengthening the festival’s connection with the local community.
NCSSM, Morganton
901 Burkemont Avenue | Morganton, NC 28655
School Mission: Igniting innovation, cultivating community.
Special Guest: Maggie McKinney, USA
Maggie McKinney is a journalist and community leader from Morganton, North Carolina. She is known for her publications in the Newsweek magazine and other outlets, where she covers cultural, educational, and social events in the region. Her writing is distinguished by a deep interest in community life and an attentive focus on human stories.
At the PlanetFrame festival, Maggie McKinney will appear as a special guest with a presentation of her new book dedicated to questions of faith and humanity. This work combines her journalism experience, personal reflections, and a search for cultural and spiritual values.
Her participation emphasizes the importance of dialogue about meaning, values, and the spiritual dimension of art, making her presentation a highlight of the festival.
Photographer: Naiomi Lott, USA
Founder & Lead Photographer at Lott Photography
Naiomi Lott is an experienced photographer and founder of Lott Photography. Based in the USA,
she specializes in capturing bright, crisp, and authentic images that reflect the individuality of her
clients. Alongside her professional work, Naiomi actively supports community initiatives and
collaborates with small businesses. As a mother of three and a dedicated creative, she brings both
warmth and professionalism to every project she is part of.
