The 4th
International Auto Film Festa
2026 Jury Members (Titles Omitted)
Yoshiyuki Shimizu
Founder of International Auto Film Festa / Japan 
A graduate of Musashino Art University, Shimizu has led advertising initiatives centered on automotive promotions across web and TV commercials, including photography, copywriting, casting, location coordination, and event management. Since 2006, he has been active in video production and currently works as an automotive videographer. In 2022, he launched the International Auto Film Festa.
Peter Lyon
Journalist / Author / Australia 
Born in Perth, Australia, Peter Lyon began his career as an automotive journalist in Tokyo in 1988. He has contributed to Car & Driver, Top Gear, Quattroruote, and currently writes for Forbes. Fluent in Japanese, he appeared on Nippon TV in 1989 and later produced English subtitles for films by Juzo Itami. He co-hosted NHK World’s Samurai Wheels with Ukyo Katayama and serves as a juror for Japan Car of the Year. In 2010, he placed fourth in class at the Nürburgring 24 Hours driving a Lexus IS F.
Daniel Wagner
CEO / Producer at Bifrost Pictures / USA 
Based in Hollywood, Daniel Wagner is the founder and CEO of Bifrost Pictures, a production and financing company known for bold, filmmaker-driven projects. His work spans critically acclaimed and commercially successful films, including Miles Ahead, the Miles Davis biopic starring Don Cheadle and Ewan McGregor, which closed the 2015 New York Film Festival. Bifrost’s projects also include Drunk Parents and Reasonable Doubt. Wagner continues to champion ambitious storytelling on a global stage.
Shinichiro Ehara
CEO of Auto BIld Japan / Japan
Representative of Auto Bild Japan, the Japanese edition of Auto Bild, the number one automotive magazine in Europe in terms of circulation.
A car enthusiast who became fascinated with classic cars after purchasing a classic Mercedes.
Shinichiro is also a movie fan, and while working at a commercial production company, he was involved in producing commercials for car manufacturers.
Satoshi Ubukata
Motor Journalist / Japan
Born in 1964, Ubukata worked as a systems engineer for a multinational IT company after graduating from college. However, driven by a passion for cars, he joined CAR GRAPHIC in 1992, starting a new career as a reporter. He later became a freelance editor and writer, contributing test drives and race reports to automotive media. He also manages editorial operations for websites.
Tom Inokawa
Editor-in-Chief, PRONEWS / Japan
Tom Inokawa is the Editor-in-Chief of PRONEWS, a professional web magazine dedicated to digital video production. Operating under the concept “Understanding today’s visual media — and its future,” PRONEWS delivers in-depth coverage of current trends, technologies, and creative practices in the video production industry. The publication is widely respected and supported by a broad range of professionals working across all fields of visual content creation.
Ukyo Katayama
Former F1 Racer / Director of Team UKYO / Japan
The 1991 champion of the Japanese F3000 Championship, Katayama competed in F1 from 1992-97, with a record 95 races for a Japanese driver. After retiring from F1, he competed in cycling and secured a 2nd place finish at the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2001, he founded Team UKYO, overseeing a cycling team and serving as team director for GSR’s GT300 Championship team. He has also climbed some of the world’s highest peaks and actively promotes environmental conservation through biofuel-powered participation in the Paris-Dakar Rally.
Sir Kevin C. Limjoco
Motor Journalist / Actor / Philippines 
Sir Kevin C. Limjoco is the former president and founding editor of C! Magazine, the Philippines’ oldest and longest-running premium mobility publication. A multifaceted figure, he has worked as a presenter, actor, entrepreneur, consultant, and columnist for The Philippine Star. He is also a royal member of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo, holding the title of Amir Bahar. Through his writing and advocacy, he continues to contribute to automotive culture and media. www.datudirect.com
Jaclyn Trop
Automotive Reporter / USA
An award-winning journalist with a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, Trop covers travel, transportation, and business. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Bloomberg Businessweek, Vogue, ELLE, Glamour, Marie Claire, Fortune, Newsweek, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Rolling Stone, Robb Report, Money, Discover, Consumer Reports, USA Today, and more. She has reported from five continents and sampled ice cream in over 60 countries. Trop is a jury member for the World Car Awards.
Mike Rutherford
Automotive Critic / Columnist / UK 
London-born Rutherford is a highly respected motoring journalist with a career spanning more than three decades. He has worked as a columnist and editor for major UK publications including The Sun, Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph, Independent, and Sunday Times. Currently, he serves as Chief Columnist for Auto Express and President of the British Motor Show. He is also a frequent commentator on BBC, Sky, and CBS, and a recipient of the 2022 Newspress Lifetime Achievement Award.
Masato Uchida
Designer / Japan
After graduating from a technical school, Uchida began his career at a graphic design firm. He later transitioned to a European car tuning brand, focusing on product design. With extensive experience, he became a founding member of a startup specializing in various aspects of the automotive industry for over a decade. Currently, he works at an automotive goods company, focusing on design. In 2021, he launched Honeycomb Design, based in his hometown of Shonan.
Masahiro Terada
Director, Columnist / Japan
Terada is an automotive journalist and director who has traveled extensively by car across more than 50 countries on five continents. His journeys range from major cities to extreme environments, including deserts, salt flats, and mountain regions. He has also participated in international rallies such as the Dakar Rally. Drawing on firsthand experience, he contributes to automotive storytelling and advises on world premiere videos for new car launches. He is a member of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS).