Mirona Radu Asian Cinema Competetion Jury

Biography : Mirona Radu is a filmmaker, researcher and cultural manager with nearly 20 years of experience. She is pursuing her doctoral studies with a Thesis on film as a therapeutic tool at the National University of Theatre and Film Bucharest and is the founder of the Film O’Clock IF, bridging Europe and Africa. She also runs the mentorship program Her Story, Her Future. She has curated cultural projects, served as a jury on prestigious festivals, and is the artistic director of ABIFF and the Palestinian FF in Romania.

Etami Borjan Asian Cinema Competetion Jury

Biography : Dr. Etami Borjan is a Senior Assistant at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, teaching Film Studies. With degrees in Italian, English, and Film Studies, her doctoral research focused on ethnographic film, leading to her book Others on Film: Ethnographic Film and Indigenous Filmmaking. She actively participates in international film projects and festivals, serving as a jury member and presenting her research globally.

Ashok Rane Asian Cinema Competetion Jury

Biography : Ashok Rane has been a film critic for over 35 years, winning the National Award for Best Critic twice. He is a visiting faculty member at Mumbai University and other prestigious institutions, teaching Film Criticism, Cinema History, Film Appreciation, and Scriptwriting. His contributions to cinema studies and criticism have made him a respected voice in the industry.

Shashidhar Adapa Asian Cinema Competetion Jury

Biography : Shashidhar Adapa is a renowned Indian production, set, and puppet designer, known for his work in Indian cinema. He founded Prathiroopi in 1984, specializing in set design for film, television, and stage. With over 35 years of experience, Adapa has worked on 78 Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, English, French and Dutch movies. He has received multiple awards, including 4 Karnataka State Film Awards, Chamanlal Memorial Award for stage design (2004), and Karnataka Rajyostava Award (2013), for his contribution to the modern theatre movement in Kannada.

H M Ramachandra Asian Cinema Competetion Jury

Biography : H M Ramachandra, a National Award-winning cinematographer, has worked across Kannada, Marathi, Hindi, Nepali, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films. He shot and co-produced THAI SAHEBA (1997-98), which won the Swarna Kamal, and earned a National Award for DWEEPA (2001). Known for his rich visual storytelling, he frequently collaborated with Girish Kasaravalli, shaping Indian arthouse cinema. His cinematography in films like KANASEMBA KUDUREYANERI, PUTTAKKANA HIGHWAY further cemented his legacy in Indian cinema.

Pankaj Saxena
Pankaj Saxena Indian Cinema (Chitrabharati) Competition Jury

Biography : Pankaj Saxena is an FTII, Pune alumnus with a diploma in film editing and a post-diploma in film direction. He has written, edited, directed and produced documentaries, short fiction films, TV programs and news stories. He often gives lectures on film appreciation and holds workshops on subjects pertaining to filmmaking.

Raymond Phathanavirangoon Indian Cinema (Chitrabharati) Competition Jury

Biography : Raymond Phathanavirangoon is a film producer born in Hong Kong and based in Bangkok. He co- founded SEAFIC, which helped to develop acclaimed films like PLAN 75 and AUTOBIOGRAPHY. He has worked as an international programmer for TIFF and a consultant for HKIFF and Cannes Critics' Week. He also co-wrote Samui Song, Apprentice, and Trinity. In 2017, he was named Asian Film Commission Producer of the Year. Some of his notable works include COTTONTAIL (2024), THIRTEEN LIVES (2022) and TOKYO SONATA (2008).

Premakumar Hariyabbe Indian Cinema (Chitrabharati) Competition Jury

Biography : Premakumar Hariyabbe, a veteran journalist, columnist, and writer, was born on May 7, 1952, in Hariyabbe, Chitradurga. He began as Sub Editor at Prajavani, later serving as Bellary and Dharwad Correspondent before retiring as Editor of Prajavani Sunday's special supplement. He continues to cover the IFFI even now. His works include SATTAVARU (1980), DEVAKANAGILE (2010), and AKALA (2021). He has won several awards, including the 2018 Karnataka Media Academy Award.

Subrata Beura Indian Cinema (Chitrabharati) Competition Jury

Biography : With two decades of experience in consumer finance and information technology services, Subrata Beura has immersed himself in films. Since 2017, he leads the Film Society of Bhubaneswar (FSB). Under his leadership, since 2018 FSB has been organizing, a documentary festival every September and a week-long feature film festival every January. These two festivals bring together films from across the Indian sub-continent. In 2023, FSB partnered with the SRFTI to host a film workshop for documentary filmmakers from eastern India called Small Town Big Stories.

K. Manju Indian Cinema (Chitrabharati) Competition Jury

Biography : K. Manju, born in Turuvekere, Karnataka, is a prominent Indian film producer and distributor known for his extensive work in Kannada cinema. He started with POLICE STORY, then founded ‘K Manju Cinemas’ and ‘Lakshmishree Combines’, producing many hits. Some of his best-known productions include MATHAD MATHADU MALLIGE, YOGI, KICCHA HUCCHA, RAMA SHAMA BHAMA, RAJA HULI, and SANTHU STRAIGHT FORWARD.

Dr. Bijukumar Damodaran Kannada Cinema Competetion Jury

Biography : Dr. Biju is a three-time National Award-winning filmmaker known for his concern for social justice, gender equality, and the environment. His debut film SAIRA was featured at Cannes in 2007. His films have won awards at Cannes, Montreal, Shanghai, and more. TREES UNDER THE SUN won Outstanding Artistic Achievement at Shanghai IFF 2019. He has served on juries at prestigious film festivals and was part of India’s National Film Awards and Oscar selection committees.

N. Sandhyarani Kannada Cinema Competetion Jury

Biography : N. Sandhyarani is a renowned journalist, writer and film critic from Bangarapet, Kolar district. She is known for her contributions to Kannada literature and cinema. A columnist for prominent Kannada e-magazines, some of her works include short story collections, Yaake Kaduthide Summane (Column), Estu Kaala Oattigiddu (Novel), Thumbe Hoo (Biography), and Purvi Kalyani (Drama). She wrote the screenplay for the National Award-winning film NATHICHARAMI.

Girish Rao Hatwar Kannada Cinema Competetion Jury

Biography : Girish Rao Hatwar, known as Jogi, is a renowned Kannada writer and journalist. Born in 1965 in Hosabettu, is the Magazine Editor of Kannada Prabha. He has contributed significantly to Kannada literature through novels, short stories, and columns. His works include Nadiya Nenapina Hangu, Yamini, Chitte Hejje Jaadu and Kathe Chitrakathe Sambhashane, He has won the Karnataka State Award and the Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize (2021).

Ratnaja Kannada Cinema Competetion Jury

Biography : Ratnaja is a Kannada film director known for his debut film NENAPIRALI (2005), which won multiple awards, including the Karnataka State Award for Best Director. He later directed HONGANASU (2008), PREMISM (2010), and PREETHIYALLI SAHAJA (2016). A Mechanical Engineering graduate, he trained under Dinesh Baboo and S.V. Rajendra Singh Baboo before establishing himself in Kannada cinema.

Yogish Dwarakish Kannada Cinema Competetion Jury

Biography : Yogish Dwarakish, son of the legendary Kannada actor-producer Dwarakish, is an Indian film producer who predominantly works in the Kannada film industry. He has produced and executive produced films such as MAANIKYA (2014), AATAGARA (2015), AAKE (2017), AMMA I LOVE YOU (2018), AYUSHMANBAVA (2019). He manages Dwarakish Chitra, continuing his father's cinematic legacy.

V.V. Maheshwar Rao Kannada Cinema Competetion Jury

Biography : V.V. Maheshwar Rao is a filmmaker, actor, director and international film festival consultant. He has produced and directed films like BLACK AND WHITE (2006), YELLOW POWER (2007), CANE (2008), BLACK (2009), MY LANGUAGE (2009), IN DREAMS (2010), and BLACK A COLOUR - A WAY OF LIFE (2013). As a jury member and film festival consultant, he has contributed to global cinema and cultural exchange.

Pierre Simon Gutman Indian Cinema Competetion Jury (By FIPRESCI)

Biography : Pierre-Simon Gutman, deputy editor of L'Avant-Scène Cinéma, studied literature at La Sorbonne and wrote his PhD on Michael Cimino. He has written for 3 Couleurs, Les Fiches du Cinéma, and Eclipse(s). A cinema professor at ESRA Paris and Bruxelles, he has also directed short films and was a Cannes Critics' Week programmer. In 2018, he served on the Caméra d’Or jury at Cannes.

Nino Kovačić Indian Cinema Competetion Jury (By FIPRESCI)

Biography : Nino Kovačić, a Croatian film critic, author and programmer, works between Amsterdam and Zagreb. He has collaborated with Animafest Zagreb, Zagreb FF, IFFR, GoShort, and more. A FIPRESCI member, he has served on over 20 festival juries. As a film educator, he has mentored analysis workshops for all ages and, since 2020, has been an external expert for EACEA.

Pranjal Borah Indian Cinema Competetion Jury (By FIPRESCI)

Biography : Pranjal Borah is a renowned film critic, academic researcher and film society activist from Jorhat, Assam. He holds a PhD in film studies from Dibrugarh University. An award-winning film critic, he is a FIPRESCI member and joint secretary of Assam Film Society. He has curated film festivals, served on juries, and continues to shape film culture through his writings, research, and activism.

Nomuunzul Turmunkh Kannada Cinema Competetion Jury (By NETPAC)

Biography : Nomuunzul Turmunkh, a Mongolian producer and screenwriter, studied Business Administration and Media Production in London. She has worked on acclaimed films like THE SALES GIRL (2021), WHITE BLESSING (2017) and SILENT CITY DRIVER (2024), earning international awards. A NETPAC member and Mongolian National Film Council advisor, she engages in top festivals like Busan, Tallinn, Adelaide, and the Far East.

André Raphaël Ivanov Kannada Cinema Competetion Jury (By NETPAC)

Biography : André Raphaël Ivanov, born in Kazakhstan is a French-Kazakh film activist, film festival director, talent agent, producer, and actor. He founded the Festival of Kazakh Films in France and Paris Meridian Production, promoting Central Asian cinema. His acting credits include REVOIR PARIS, ANNA and THE BUREAU. As a film festival founder and NETPAC member, he is dedicated to advancing cinema as a cultural exchange and mutual understanding medium.

Suresh V. H Kannada Cinema Competetion Jury (By NETPAC)

Biography : Well known as Mars Suresh, is a Kannada film distributor and former Vice President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), the apex body of Kannada cinema. He has been active in industry leadership. He has been associated with Mars Films, a production and distribution company. Under this banner, he has produced films such as NINAGOSKARA (2002), and CHIRRU (2010).