Igor Raevskii is a self-taught filmmaker who moved from Russia to the United States at 20. Drawing from his immigrant experience, his work explores identity, belonging, and emotionally grounded human stories across film, commercials, and music videos.

How many years have you been a judge?

This is my first year!

What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?

Taking part and seeing what actually grabs an audience.

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

First time on set was actually as a director. Learned to figure it out fast.

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

My most recent short film, Chanel.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

Substance over style. Storytelling that hits.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

Director, writer, producer. Love turning ideas into something real on screen.

What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?

Commercials, a new short film, and developing my first feature.