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Texas Media Maker Announces AniFab 25 Jury: A Powerhouse of Art, Advocacy, and Animal Expertise - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - SAN ANTONIO, TX Animalis Fabula Film Festival (#AniFab25), presented by Texas Media Maker Magazine, has finalized its elite panel of judges for the 2025 competition. This year’s jury is a formidable collective of international film leadership, local creative powerhouses, and animal welfare expertise. We are proud to introduce the four visionary leaders tasked with selecting the best of the best in animal storytelling: The AniFab 25 Jury 1. Katy Lea Cannon: President of the Jury It is with immense gratitude that we name Katy Lea Cannon as the President of our 2025 Jury. Ms. Cannon brings the deep, esteemed tradition as the Festival Director of WorldFest Houston International, one of the longest-running and most respected independent film festivals in the world begun by her Father, J. Hunter Todd. Her guidance ensures every filmmaker’s work is evaluated against the highest standards of artistic integrity and global impact. Ms. Cannon’s career is a testament to the power of unwavering cinematic stewardship, making her the perfect choice to set the standard for the AniFab mission. 2. Catherine Laria: The Handler, The Healer Catherine Laria is a dynamic force who judges films with the insight of nearly three decades of elite achievement in dog sports. As the owner of K9 Country Club and Executive Director of K9SWAT.org, she trains service dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD. Catherine’s expertise lies in reading the authentic human-animal bond. She seeks films that demonstrate not just animal presence, but the profound, transformative power of the rescue and service dynamic. 3. Jay Kazen: The Anthropologist of Light and Wildlife Jay Kazen joins the jury as a highly accomplished wildlife and nature photographer whose cinematic eye is sharpened by a background in anthropology. His work is a dedication to wildlife conservation, creating moving images that aim to evoke profound emotions and inspire protection of global species. As an AniFab juror, Jay is not just looking for beautiful images; he is searching for films that successfully "kindle a fire in the hearts of viewers" - films that function as powerful, informed ambassadors for the planet’s denizens. 4. Tomas Vasquez: The Promoter, The Storyteller San Antonio native Tomas Vasquez is a veteran cultural architect who built the local arts scene by producing over 150 artistic events during his career. Now focusing on illustrating children’s books and writing movie scripts and producing short movies through Beyond The Canvas Productions, Tomas possesses the unique, dual perspective needed to judge AniFab entries. He knows the logistical reality required to produce a film and possesses the promoter's intuition—the ability of a story to transcend the screen and genuinely move a community. Action Item: Your Seat at the FestivalThis jury is ready to select the best of the best, but you need to be there to witness their choices. Tickets for all film blocks are on sale now! To ensure you don’t miss the Lifetime Achievement Award for Dr. Temple Grandin, the Romy Fay Experience, or the crucial Dogs of San Antonio Open Forum, secure the best value today: BUY THE $150 VIP PASS NOW! ➡️ https://www.animalisfabula.org/store/p1/AniFab25VIP  Katy Lea Cannon: The Guiding Light and President of the AniFab Jury It is with immense gratitude and profound honor that the Animalis Fabula Film Festival names Katy Lea Cannon as the President of our 2025 Jury. Ms. Cannon is the very epitome of festival excellence, bringing with her the deep, storied tradition of WorldFest Houston International, one of the longest-running and most respected independent film festivals in the world. Her presence at the helm of our judging process ensures that every filmmaker’s work is evaluated against the highest standards of artistic integrity and global impact. Ms. Cannon’s career is a testament to the power of unwavering cinematic stewardship. Under her guidance at WorldFest, countless independent voices—both domestic and international—have found their first, crucial spotlight. She possesses an unparalleled eye for discerning not just technical quality, but the authentic human and animal emotion that drives truly memorable storytelling. As President of the AniFab Jury, she brings this global vision and her lifetime of experience to San Antonio, setting the critical standard for how our stories of compassion and rescue are recognized and celebrated. We are deeply honored by her commitment and her generosity in lending her leadership to our mission, ensuring that #AniFab25 remains a beacon for meaningful cinema.  Catherine Laria: The Handler, The Healer, The Juror Catherine Laria is a dynamic force in the world of canine expertise and a vital returning member of the AniFab Jury. Her background is rooted in nearly three decades of elite achievement in dog sports, making her one of the most accomplished agility handlers and trainers in South Texas. As the owner of K9 Country Club and Training Academy in Bulverde, she and her Whirlwind Border Collies have competed and won at the highest levels, earning championships across national and international venues, including representing Team USA in the Netherlands. Her competitive success—especially her renowned ability to coach strategy and performance under pressure—is built on a keen sense for understanding what a dog is truly communicating versus what the handler thinks they are. This deep, intuitive understanding led her beyond the competition field into the realm of profound human service. Catherine is the Executive Director of K9SWAT.org, a non-profit dedicated to training service dogs and "battle buddies" for local veterans suffering from social isolation, MST, and PTSD—all provided completely free of charge. Furthermore, she created the Paws in Prison program at the Gregory S. Coleman Unit, focused on rehabilitating inmates by having them rescue and train shelter dogs for adoption. This work, featured on CBS's That Animal Rescue Show, demonstrates her belief in second chances for both humans and animals. As an AniFab juror, Catherine’s perspective is invaluable: she judges films based on the authenticity of the human-animal bond depicted, looking for cinematic proof that the rescue and service dynamic—that "incredible, magical bond"—is honestly portrayed and truly transformative.  Jay Kazen: The Anthropologist of Light and Wildlife Jay Kazen joins the AniFab 25 Jury as a highly accomplished wildlife and nature photographer whose cinematic eye is sharpened by a background in anthropology. His journey from athlete to artist was solidified during an archaeological field school in 2010, where the call to document the silent stories of the outdoors became his profound calling. Today, he transcends mere documentation, aiming to evoke the "profound emotions" of the sacred places he photographs. Jay’s anthropological background provides him with a powerful, unique lens for judging films: he seeks to understand the cultural context and the essential human-animal interactions woven into each narrative. His work is a dedication to wildlife conservation, striving to educate and inspire others about the significance of protecting species and their habitats. As an AniFab juror, Jay is not just looking for beautiful images; he is searching for documentaries and narratives that successfully "kindle a fire in the hearts of viewers"—films that function as powerful ambassadors for global denizens. His insight will be critical in recognizing films that blend artistic mastery with an informed, compassionate call to action.  Tomas Vasquez: The Promoter, The Storyteller, The Juror
San Antonio native Tomas Vasquez brings a unique, 20-year history as a cultural architect and visual artist to the AniFab jury. While he began his journey with a camera, his true calling lay in cultivating the local arts scene. For over fifteen years, Tomas was a relentless engine behind San Antonio’s grassroots creative community, producing more than 150 artistic events—from massive city-wide gatherings to intimate fashion shows. This intense, ground-level experience has given him an unrivaled understanding of what it takes for a project to connect with a genuine audience. Tomas has channeled his energy into pure storytelling, focusing on illustrating children’s books and writing movie scripts and producing short movies through his rebranded company, Beyond The Canvas Productions. This transition gives him the perfect, dual perspective for judging AniFab entries: he knows the blood, sweat, and logistical reality required to produce a film, and he possesses the creative eye necessary to recognize authentic cinematic vision. As a juror, Tomas seeks the films that demonstrate not only technical merit but the promoter's intuition - the ability of a story to transcend the screen and truly move the community.
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