Judging Creative Excellence
Today we speak with Dmytro Zelenov – writer, screenwriter, and member of the international expert jury of the Travel to Art Award 2025.
Travel to Art Award is an annual international award dedicated to the creative industries, held each December in Miami during Art Basel Miami Beach week. The project is focused on promoting the creative economy in the United States, supporting international cultural collaboration, and recognizing leaders of the global creative industries – from art and design to media, fashion, and visual culture.
In 2025, the international jury brought together experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. Dmytro Zelenov was invited to join the jury based on his professional expertise in screenwriting, narrative structure, and creative writing.
In this interview, we discuss the responsibility of selecting emerging talent, the cultural significance of storytelling, the principles behind the judging process, and how the role of the author is evolving within today’s global creative economy.
Why were you invited to join the jury of Travel to Art Award 2025?
I was invited to join the jury based on my professional experience in screenwriting and creative writing. The organizers assembled an international jury panel featuring experts from the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine, and my expertise was considered highly relevant for evaluating creative works within a global context. In addition, I was previously recognized as the winner of Travel to Art Award 2023 in the category The Best Creative Author.
What was your role as a jury member in the Creative Writer category?
My role involved the professional evaluation of more than 120 submissions from 15 countries. I reviewed each project individually, analyzing it through the lens of structure, dramaturgy, originality, and the author’s unique voice.
How was the selection process structured, and what criteria did you apply?
The selection process was organized in two stages – semifinal and final rounds, followed by the award ceremony. At each stage, I conducted an independent evaluation based on several key criteria: originality of concept, depth of narrative, integrity of structure, and the cultural significance of the work.
How do you approach the responsibility of selecting talent?
For me, it is important to support authors who not only demonstrate a high level of professional mastery, but who also possess the potential for cultural influence. It is a responsibility to recognize and encourage those who are shaping the future of the industry.
How did your opinion influence the final decisions?
Each jury member provided an independent evaluation that directly contributed to the formation of the semifinalist and finalist lists. My assessments and professional judgments became part of the final ranking system and influenced the advancement of projects into the final stage of the competition.
