2025 Adjudication Committee

Aileen Norris- Adjudication Committee Chair

Aileen Norris (they/she) is an interdisciplinary artist, organizer, and community member. Hailing from Iowa City, IA, they earned a BFA in modern dance and BA in English from the University of Utah. Aileen co-founded Queer Spectra Arts Festival in 2019 and served as a co-organizer through 2023. She’s also choreographed, produced, and performed in freelance dance works, and ghostwritten several novels and nonfiction works. Aileen believes in accessible art, the importance of play, and liberation-based practice. They currently live in the Twin Cities and are getting gay married in June!

Bea Colon

Bea Colon (they/them) is a digital artist based in Utah county. Their work consists of character illustration and design with an emphasis on the reimagining of classic art and queer experiences.

Elliott Donaldson

Elliott (they/he) works as a mental health therapist for queer and trans adults. They enjoy reading horror novels and nonfiction about psychology. They love talking about books with others and started and run a queer horror book club (Scream Queers).

Pablo F Cruz Ayala

Pablo Cruz-Ayala (he/him), a Mexican-born, Utah-raised artist and immigrant advocate, explores migration’s impact on cultural identity through urban and Chicano-inspired materials. Currently, they are an MFA student at the University of Utah. Their work interlocks resilience and folklore, reflecting undocumented experiences in Utah. Engaging in art and community health research, Pablo redefines displacement, belonging, and adaptation narratives with poignant storytelling and community focus.

Scix Madix

Scix (they/he) has been in theater and performance since the 80s, and has been bringing Neo-vaudeville and variety to the stages of SLC since 2018 as producer, performer and emcee, not to mention a published author.

Russell Roots

Russell Roots, the Director of Film Exhibition with Utah Film Center, is responsible for delivering dynamic, inclusive, innovative and professional film programming to Utah audiences. Additionally, they are the Festival Director of the Utah Queer Film Festival and Program Manager of the Film Center's Black culture series, Black, Bold & Brilliant.  Russell has a background in journalism, radio, media literacy, and has led administrative efforts on the boards of other arts organizations. They focus their studies on the intersections of marginalized groups in cinema and the rise of white nationalism and other intolerance in the United States.