Jury 2018

Maurizio Nichetti

It requires special skill to create satires, making socio-political-cultural commentary while hiding it in tongue-in-cheek humour. Maurizio Nichetti has been the master satirist of Italian cinema. Carrying different roles - as an actor, writer and, a director, through his career spanning over 3 decades and, more than 20 films, he has entertained the audience and, commented upon the tragic state of society. Born of 8 May 1948, he showed inclination towards performing arts and, writing at very early age. In 1971 he began working as a screenwriter for Bruno Bozzetto Film. He founded the theatrical group Quelli di Grock , in which he perfected the mimic and surreal attitude that will characterize his artistic career. In 1979 his first film, Ratataplan , achieved great success internationally, allowing him to start his career as an actor - director. He went on to create more successful films like: Hofatto splash (1980), Ladri di saponette (1989) and Volerevolare (1991). Ladri di saponette won the Golden St. George at the 16th Moscow International Film Festival. In 1998 he was a member of the jury at the 48th Berlin International Film Festival, and in 1999 of the Cannes Film Festival .From 2004 to 2010 he was the director of Trento International Film Festival . Over the years he has carried out teaching activities at the Experimental Center of Cinematography (CSC) Animation section of Turin, the Catholic University of Milan and the Civic School of Cinema of Milan. Currently he is a lecturer at IULM - Free University of Language and Communication and he heads the section of Milan of the CSC (Experimental Centre of Cinematography) dedicated to advertising.

Joanna Kos-Krauze

Joanna Kos-Krauze is one of the most important directors in contemporary Polishcinema. She has received over twenty Polish and international awards for filmswhich she co-directed: My Nikifor, Saviour Square and, Papusza. A prominent writer-director pair of Polish Cinema, Joanna Kos-Krauze and Krzysztof Krauze (1953–2014) made numerous highly successful documentaries and feature films.The artistic tandem’s successful collaboration started with The Debt / Dług (1999) and TV films, i.e. Great Things / Wielkierzeczy(2000), and continued with the widely internationally recognized productions: My Nikifor / MójNikifor(2004) – Grand Prix, Best Director and Best Actress Prizes at the KV IFF Grand Prix of the Chicago IFF and Denver IFF, and dozens of other awards around the world; Saviour Square / PlacZbawiciela (2006) – Best Director and Best Cinematography Prizes at the Camerimage IFF, Grand Prix of the Trieste IFF, Special Jury Prize and the Best Actress Award at the Valladolid IFF and many others; and Papusza (2013) – Special Jury Mention at the Karlovy Vary IFF, Best Director Prize at the Valladolid IFF, Open Horizons Prize at the Thessaloniki IFF, etc. Birds Are Singing in Kigali / Ptakiśpiewają w Kigali (produced by Joanna) is their last joint film. Joanna is also President of Guild of Polish Directors, expert at the Polish Film Institute, Polish Regional Film Funds, Regional Funds, EuroimageMember of European Film Academy. Joanna prefers to make something that strikes as awkward which will be a result of trying,instead of repeating the same thing to perfection.

Rodrigo Pla

Cinema, as an art form has always been frontrunner of creating social awareness or commenting upon the troubles in the society. Very few filmmakers, though; utilise this power of this medium to actually make a bold statement while creating some riveting dramas. Rodrigo Plá, a sensitive and, sensible director has presented compelling stories through his films while touching the social issue at its nerve. Plá studied photography, screenwriting and direction at the Centro de capacitacion cinematogrfica in Mexico City, where he has lived since he was 9 years old. In 1988 he directed his first short-film. His debut Feature, La Zona (2007) was an instant success. It commented harshly upon the social divide between the rich and, the poor. It went on to win multiple awards at prestigious festivals like: Venice, Toronto and, many others. His 2012 film La Demora went on to achieve remarkable success at many festivals including Berlin International Film Festival, where it won Ecumenical Jury Award and, Reader's Choice Award. It garnered lot of praise and, nominations across the globe in various award ceremonies and, festivals. It was selected as the Uruguayan entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards. His recent feature, Un monstruo de mil cabezas (2015) stirred up the society as it harshly criticises Mexican healthcare system. His unapologetic style of filmmaking makes him one of the strong filmmakers who can actually change something about this world for better.

Vimukthi Jayasundara

Conflicts can come in all sorts of forms, and situations. Vimukthi Jayasundara has explored the theme of conflicts - personal, social and, politicals through his remarkable films over the years. Vimukthi born in the south of Sri Lanka. He worked in the advertising industry and as a film critic before studying at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune from 1998 to 2001 . In India, he was much easier on movies, saw 500 productions and was impressed by the works of Andrei Tarkovsky and Satyajit Ray . After returning to his home country, he made his debut with the documentary The Land of Silence . The black-and-white study focused on the victims of the Sri Lankan War of Independence. Through a grant Jayasundara could continue his studies in France at the film school Le Fresnoy. In 2003, the 28-minute short film Vide pour l'amour that he directed became an entry point for Jayasundara to the series Cinéfondation of the Film Festival of Cannes. Two years later, Jayasundara again received an invitation to Cannes for his first feature film The Forsaken Land (2005), this time in the section Un Certain Regard . He received Caméra d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival for the Best Debut Director for the same. His subsequent films: Between Two Worlds, Mashrooms, Dark in The White Light and, Him Her The Other have been well received in prestigious festivals and, won awards. Vimukthi Jayasundara had received the commendation of being one of the great future hopes for the renewal of cinema in the world.

Dr. Bijukumar Damodaran

Dr.Biju also known as BijukumarDamodaran, is a Director who has won multiple national and international awards. He is a Homoeopathic Medical Doctor by profession and a self-taught filmmaker. He debuted with feature film Saira (2005). It was the opening film in the section Cinema of the World at the Cannes Film Festival 2007. VeettilekkullaVazhi(2010), his third film received India's National film award for the best Malayalam regional film.AkashathinteNiram, his fourth feature was world premiered at Shanghai Film Festival 2012 in official competition. Perariyathavar(2013), his fifth film won two of India's national film awards for the year 2013, for the Best actor and for the Best film on Environment preservation. The film had its world premiered at Montreal Film festival in 2014. Dr.Biju’s films have been screened at several film festivals and have won many awards.He also served as jury member for India's National film awards 2012, India’s Oscar selection jury member 2015, 30th Fajr International film festival, Tehran, Iran 2012 and International Film Festival of Kerala 2011. is sixth film ValiyaChirakullaPakshikal (Birds With Large Wings) got National Film Award for best environment conservation film 2015. His next film KaaduPookkunnaNeram (When the woods bloom) premiered at Montreal film festival. Film has been selected to Indian Panorama and got National film award for best sound design 2016. His new film Sound Of Silence also premiered in Montreal film festival 2017. Dr.Biju has been telling the tales of human lives and, the reason why we exist – nature, through his films. As a filmmaker, who has close associations with nature as a theme and a character, his films show talk about this symbiosis of man and nature and, its importance.

Mathieu Denis

Youth is full of possibilities. You can and has changed the world as we know. It is an untapped power, if channelled properly can do much more. Writer-Director-Editor Mathieu Denis' films have this common theme where he explores the troubles, hopes, relationships and, aspirations of youth - from different times and, through various age groups. Mathieu Denis is a filmmaker residing in Montréal, Canada. His first feature film, Laurentia (2011) had its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and then won Best International Feature at the Raindance Festival in London; Jury Grand Prize at the Percé International Art and Cinema Festival; and Best Director at the Polar Lights Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. His second feature, Corbo (2014) was selected in over 50 film festivals around the world, including the Toronto and Berlin international film festivals, and was nominated for 4 Canadian Screen Awards and 10 Quebec Cinema Awards. Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves (2016), Mathieu’s third feature, won Best Canadian Film at the Toronto International Film Festival; a special mention for the Cristal Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival; Best Avant-Garde Feature Film at the Buenos Aires BAFICI Film Festival; and was nominated for 3 Canadian Screen Awards and 4 Quebec Cinema Awards. Mathieu is currently working on his fourth feature film, Isla, which will go into production this year, as well as completing the script for his fifth feature, The Dictator’s Son.

Gelareh Abbasi

Portraying complex characters, getting the essence of them are just few of many qualities that Gelareh Abbasi is known for. A prominent actor in Iranian cinema, her work has been appreciated in many festivals and awards worldwide. Gelareh was born on July 20th, 1983. She is a graduate of Art University in the field of theatre and is also graduated from Iran Acting School. She has starred in many films and series which “Shiar 143” and “Nafas” directed by Narges Abyar can be mentioned as the important ones. These films have been awarded many accolades worldwide. She has played an important character in well known Iranian TV series, “Shahrzad” - a series which is has the biggest number of viewers in and out of Iran. She has taken part in three international festivals, Asia Pacific of America, Women Festival of France and Silver Horse Festival of Russia. She was awarded the best actress prize of Russian Film Festival for the film “ Objects in Mirror” and the best actress prize of Iran Alborz Festival for the film “Shiar 143”. She has starred in more than fifteen popular serials, eight movies and of course, is a member of “Iran House of Cinema”.

Jury 2018

Jury 2018

Festival Office