Biography Nina Kochelyaeva Chairperson

Nina Kochelyaeva, a doctorate in History, is a recipient of the Russian Federation Governmental Award for Education (2021). She is the Head of Department for the Development and Approbation of Film Education Methods. She is an educator at the Russian Academy for National Economy and Public Administration. With over 150 articles on cultural policy and film history in multiple languages, she contributes to various international film festivals and serves on selection committees, including the Moscow International Film Festival. Kochelyaeva is also a NETPAC member and a Producer of various Documentaries.

Biography Rosanna G Alonso

Rosanna G. Alonso has graduated in Journalism with postgraduate studies in the cultural field. She is the founder of StyleFeelFree (SFF magazine) in 2010, an international cultural publication, in which she regularly writes about Art and independent cinema, more specifically auteur cinema from a gender perspective seeking to promote gender equality. She has covered important festivals like Cannes, Venice, Rotterdam, Berlin, among others. Currently, she collaborates with Universities and Colleges instructing students in writing and analysis processes. She is a Member of FIPRESCI and Advisor at the Gijón International Film Festival.

Biography Azmeri Haque Badhon

Azmeri Haque Badhon, a Bangladeshi actress and model, gained prominence as the 2nd runner-up in the "LUX Channel I Superstar" beauty pageant (2006). A popular face in television dramas. Her big breakthrough came with the lead role in “Rehana Maryam Noor” (2021), the first Bangladeshi film selected for the Cannes FF. Badhon has won numerous awards in international film festivals including Best Actress at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. She also stars in Vishal Bhardwaj's Netflix film “Khufiya”. A mother to10-year-old daughter. She is a fierce supporter of women's empowerment and gender equality.

Biography Sekhar Das Chairperson

Sekhar Kumar Das, a national and international award - winning Director, Writer, and Actor, began filmmaking in 1999 and has directed 11 films since. Seven of them saw a theatrical presentation (“Mahulbonir Sreng”, “Krantikaal”, “Kaler Rakhal”, “Necklace”, “ESP- akti Rahsya gaolpo”, “Nayanchampar Dinratri”, “Jogajog”) and four of them were adapted from classics of Anton Chekov made for television release (“Uncle Vanya”, “Cherry Orchard”, “Three Sisters”, “The Seagull”). Mr Das received a National Award in 2003 (‘Prohor’- writer) and 2005 (Krantikaal-best language film, best character actor). He also received 2 international awards (Krantikaal) and 18 awards in different categories from the Bengal Film Journalists’ Association.

Biography S. Ravi

S Ravi is an Officer of the Indian Police Service, deeply committed to the domains of Art & Culture. He is a connoisseur of various Indian Classical Music and Dance forms and is also a keen sports lover and cineaste. An active Film Society member for over three decades he won a top award at a very young age in the Film Review competition conducted by Suchitra Film Society. Since then, he has followed the evolution of the medium as a serious art form and is also an observer of changing visual media and social media platforms.

Biography Bijaya Jena

Bijaya Jena is a National Award - winning filmmaker with globally acclaimed films like “Tara” and “Abhaas”. She has an expansive filmography as an actor with Odia and Bollywood films and TV shows under her belt. She is also an international juror and recently made a short film boasting a global crew who are known for the likes of Matrix and Cloud Atlas.

Biography Meghachandra Kongbam

Meghachandra Kongbam is a film critic and member of FIPRESCI-India. He won the Golden Lotus Award for the Best Film Critic at the 63rd National Film Awards in 2015. He served in the Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Manipur for 37 years and retired as Director in 2018. Currently, he is the President of the Film Society of Manipur set up in 1966 and the Advisor of the Manipur Film Journalists and Critics Association. He served on the jury at many International Film Festivals including the International Film Festival of Kerala in 2017 and the Jaffna International Cinema Festival, 2023. He is the author of the book- Manipuri Cinema (2021).

Biography B S Lingadevaru

B.S. Lingadevaru, originating from a Karnataka-based agricultural-trading family, has carved a niche for himself in the entertainment industry as a distinguished actor, producer, and director. His debut film, “Mouni”, marked the beginning of a noteworthy cinematic journey, leading to further acclaimed works such as “Kaada Beladingalu” and “Naanu Avanalla Avalu”. These films earned a spot in the Indian Panorama, IFFI. Securing several State and National Awards and underscoring Lingadevaru’s remarkable skill set. His most recent endeavor, “Viraatapura Viraagi”, a biographical film inspired by the life of Hanagal Sri Kumaraswamy, was celebrated at the 14th Bengaluru International Film Festival.

Biography Dr.P R Ramadasa Naidu Chairperson

Dr. P R Ramadasa Naidu is from a freedom fighter family. Entered the film industry in 1973 and since then he has written, produced and directed 11 films and is a recipient of 9 state awards in various categories. His films were selected in 35 international film festivals. Notably, he has contributed as a jury member in numerous film festivals, including the Indian Selection Committee for the Academy Awards. His interests are in the research of world cinema and being a researcher, he has now published 3 volumes on world cinema. He has been awarded by Kannada University, Hampi, Karnataka.

Biography Sanjay Krishnaji Patil

Sanjay Krishnaji Patil, a prominent figure in Marathi literature, theatre, and cinema, has won accolades for his poetry collections and literary works. His plays, acclaimed in experimental and professional theatre, paved the way for a successful transition to cinema. As a scriptwriter, he has contributed to five significant Marathi films, including award-winners like “Jogava”, “Pangira”, “72 Miles”, “Dashkriya” and “Bandishala”, earning him recognition as both the best scriptwriter and lyricist. Notably, he received a National Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Dashkriya”, further solidifying his impact on Marathi cinema. His published screenplay serves as a valuable resource for budding scriptwriters.

Biography Jadumoni Dutta

Jadumoni Dutta a National Award-Winning Filmmaker from Assam is known for his films like “Paani”, “Agnisakshi”, “Jetuka Pator Dare”, etc. His films have travelled to various national and international film festivals. His contributions for small screen and drama are also remarkable. He has the experience of serving as a Jury Member for National Film Awards, Indian Panorama, Mumbai International Film Festival (Miff), Kolkata International Film Festival, State Film Awards.

Biography Ch. Ha. Raghunath

Ch. Ha. Raghunath’s primary interests are movies and literature. He currently serves as the Managing Editor of the Prajavani group's publications, Sudha and Mayura. He has taken part in a number of literary symposiums as a resource person. His film reviews have appeared in newspapers as a cinema journalist. In addition, he has written books on poetry, short stories, and movies. For his writings, he has won numerous honors, including the “Katharangam” Award, the Gulbarga University Endowment Prize and the Gold Medal.

Biography Champa Shetty

Champa Shetty is a Kannada theatre director, voice artist and a film director. She is well known for directing women centric plays and movies and also active in street play productions with social concerns. Her acting talents opened opportunities in many popular Kannada television serials and her voice skills offered her a career as a voice artist. Mrs. Shetty made her debut as a film director with the movie “Ammachi Yemba Nenapu.” Her second feature film “Koli Esru” has seen official selections in over 18 prestigious film festivals and has won the Best Indian Film Chitrabharathi award at Bengaluru International Film Festival.

Biography Viera Langerova Chairperson

Viera Langerová is a Film critic, lecturer and scriptwriter. Who has worked as an editor in Slovak and Czech periodicals. After living in Kazakhstan and Pakistan she did her dissertation on Asian film. She is the author of Film Geography: Continental China, Hongkong, Taiwan and the travelogue book Urdu, Purdah, Burka. She also works as programmer for IFF Art Film Fest in Slovak city Košice, as expert for Media European Union programme and also a member of world film critics group choosing the best Arab film (organised yearly by Arab Cinema Centre). As FIPRESCI member (she has been a juror on IFF Dhaka, Bangladesh, Istanbul, Golden Horse Taiwan etc.) and Golden Globe voter.

Biography Han Tien

Han Tien is a film critic and writer, recognised for her selection to the Berlinale Talent Press in 2023. Her work appears in Taiwanese publications like Film Appreciation Journal, Funscreen, Filmaholic, and Unitas. She has served as a juror at multiple film festivals and is involved in film development projects.

Biography N Manu Chakravarthy

Prof. N Manu Chakravarthy taught English literature at the Undergraduate and Post Graduate levels for four decades. He now teaches Cultural Theory, Feminist Theory, Film Theory at several institutions as a Visiting Professor. He is a recipient of the Swarna Kamal, the President's Gold Medal, for Film Criticism. His book on Cultural Theory, “Madhyama Marga”, has received the Karnataka Sahitya Academy award and the V.M. Inamdar award. He is a member of the International Association of Film Critics and regularly functions as a member of the Jury at various Film festivals.

Biography Maxine Williamson Chairperson

Maxine Williamson (Australia) was listed recently as one of the most influential women in the Arts in Q Weekend Magazine, Courier Mail. In 2007, Maxine was influential in establishing the Asia Pacific Screen Awards as Film Director. She is also the Artistic Director of two international film festivals – Brisbane International Film Festival and Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, a member of The Society of Australian Cinema Pioneers. She has produced the acclaimed Indian feature documentary “Death in the City” and is currently developing the Italian/Australian feature documentary “China Was My Disco”, among other titles, through her production company Sorry State of Mind Prods.

Biography Andronika Màrtonova

Andronika Màrtonova is a film critic, researcher and university educator in Asian cinema. She is full time professor, PhD in Bulgarian Academy of Sciences – Institute of Art Studies, Screen Art Department where she is currently the deputy director. Màrtonova writes weekly as film critic in the online edition “Glasove”. She is author of numerous critical and scientific publications on the field of Asian cinema. As a film critic she was a FIPRESCI jury member of numerous international film festivals – in Warsaw (Poland), Bangkok (Thailand), Brisbane (Australia), Sofia (Bulgaria), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Bitola (Macedonia). In 2015 she was nominated by the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers and Bulgarian Film Academy for Best Film Critic Award.

Biography N Manu Chakravarthy

Prof. N Manu Chakravarthy taught English literature at the Undergraduate and Post Graduate levels for four decades. He now teaches Cultural Theory, Feminist Theory, Film Theory at several institutions as a Visiting Professor. He is a recipient of the Swarna Kamal, the President's Gold Medal, for Film Criticism. His book on Cultural Theory, "MADHYAMA MARGA”, has received the Karnataka Sahitya Academy award and the V.M. Inamdar award. He is a member of the International Association of Film Critics and regularly functions as a member of the Jury at various Film festivals.

Biography Dr. Rajappa Dalavai

Dr. Rajappa Dalavai hails from Anuvanahalli in Ajjampur town, Chikkamagaluru district. He did his MA from University of Mysore and a doctorate from Bangalore University for a thesis on Culture Nirvachana in Kannada. As a Writer, Actor and a Kannada teacher he has worked as Art Director for the movie “Karadipura”, actor in “Hagalu Vesha”, dialogue writer for “Nanu Gandhi”, scriptwriter, actor of “Charanti”, researcher in “Kannadabharana P. Kalinga Rao” and “Ismail Gonal” (documentary film 2016) and 'Kaddavar Yaranna Beejagala' (short film 2018).