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Born in 1941 in Abadan, Nasser Taghvai is an Iranian screenwriter and cineaste who started his cinematic career after some experiences as a story writer. His short story collection, “That Year’s Summer”, promised the rise of a talented, skillful writer. Even though he eventually selected cinema, he has made most of his films based on acclaimed literary works in order to stay in touch with literature. Taghvai launched his cinematic career making documentaries, and further made his debut feature film, “Tranquility in the Presence of Others”, in 1973. Alongside Masoud Kimiai and Dariush Mehrjui, Nasser Taghvai is considered a pioneer of the Iranian New Wave. His major films include, “Sadegh the Kurdish”, “Curse”, “Captain Khorshid”, “Oh Iran”, and “Unruled Paper”.

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Born in 1952 in China, Tian Zhuangzhuang is a film director and producer. From a cinema family, Tian began his artistic career as an amateur photographer and then as an assistant cinematographer at the Beijing Agricultural Film Academy, from which he graduated in 1982. Along with his classmates Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou, he initiated the Fifth Generation Film Movement.

After graduation Tian was assigned to the Film Studio. In mid 1980s he achieved international prominence with a pair of experimental films- ON THE HUNTINGGROUND (1985) and THE HORSE THIEF (1986). He later emphasized mainly on producing and helping shepherded some of China’s new generation film directors with their projects. American director Martin Scorsese named THE HORSE THIEF as his favorite film of the 1990s.

SPRINGTIME IN A SMALL TOWN (2002) marks his return to world of directing after nearly nine years absence.

Tian is a professor and form dean of Beijing Film Academy since 2003.

Feature Films: 1985- ON THE HUNTINGGROUND,1986- THE HORSE THIEF, 2002- SPRINGTIME IN A SMALL TOWN, 2004- DELAMU, 2006-THE GO MASTER, 2009- THE WARRIOR AND THE WOLF.

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Born in 1960 in Barcelona, José Luis Guerín is one of Europe’s most influential and innovative non-fiction filmmakers, occupying a unique place in the vibrant and still largely underappreciated history of Catalan cinema.A brilliantly original director and a professor at Barcelona’s prestigious Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Guerín has brought a new dynamism and experimental spirit into Catalan and Spanish cinema.

Together with his colleague, the radical documentarian Joaquim Jordà, Guerín has transformed the Documentary Program at Pomeu Fabra into one of Europe’s most important centers for experimental non-fiction work and inspired a new generation of young filmmakers.

Guerín made his first film, LOS MOTIVOS DE BERTA / BERTA’S MOTIVES, in 1983. He followed this with EN CONSTRUCCIÓN / WORK IN PROGRESS (2001), which won the Goya Award for Best Documentary, IN THE CITY OF SYLVIA (2007), which was selected for Venice, and UNAS FOTOS EN LA CIUDAD DE SYLVIA (2007). In 2010 his documentary GUEST was screened at Venice. He co-directed CORRESPONDENCE with Jonas Mekas in 2011 and in the same year made MEMORIES OF A MORNING and TWO LETTERS FOR ANA. In 2015, he completed LE SAPHIR DE SAINT-LOUIS and THE ACADEMY OF MUSES.

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Born in 1966 in Istanbul. After graduating from Marmara University, Faculty of Fine Arts Cinema and TV Department, Atakan worked as an assistant director and producer in the television advertisement industry from 1986 to 1999, and co-founded her advertisement production company in 1994. In 1999, she transitioned to the film industry and began producing international film projects. In 2007, Atakan founded Zeyno Film.

In 2010, she won the European Film Academy’s Prix Eurimages European Co-Production award, and founded YAPIMLAB. Atakan has been the chairwoman of SE-YAP, the Turkish Guild of Film Producers, since 2011. Since 2014, she is the vice president of EWA, the European Women’s Audiovisual Network. She won the Bilge Olgaç Achievement Award at the 17th Flying Broom International Women’s Film Festival in 2014. Zeynep Atakan‘s last film is the Cannes Palme d’Or winner WINTER SLEEP.

Her selected filmography includes: LOLA + BILIDIKID (1999, Kutlug Ataman); IN NOWHERE LAND (2002, Tayfun Pirselimoglu); CLIMATES (2006, Nuri Bilge Ceylan); THREE MONKEYS (2008, Nuri Bilge Ceylan); ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA (2011, Nuri Bilge Ceylan); and WINTER SLEEP (2014, Nuri Bilge Ceylan).

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Born in 1969 in Cambrai, Emmanuel Prevost began his career in the French Army (ECPA) working as cinematographer and photographer. He produced more than 10 short films and won many awards. He also worked with Jacques Rouxel (the Shadoks – cult French TV animated show). After working as director at the Gaumont Multimedia Studio and producing many cartoon TV shows, he founded Avalanche Productions in 1999 to produce feature films. As part of his professional activities, he also co-wrote the cartoon CORNEIL AND BERNIE and the feature length film GO FAST.

Filmography (As producer):

THE BLINDS BAND (Mohamed Mouftakir), ARTHUR 3 AND THE TWO WORLDS WAR (Luc Besson), ARTHUR 2 THE REVENGE OF MALTAZAR(Luc Besson),GO FAST (directed by Olivier Van Hoofstadt), WEST COAST THEORY( Felix Tissier and Maxime Giffard),VAMPYRES( Laurent Courau),ARTHUR AND THE INVISIBLE( Luc Besson),NO BODY IS PERFECT (Raphael Sibilla),DIKKENEK (Olivier Van Hoofstadt), LE SOUFFLEUR(Guillaume Pixie), EXIT (Olivier Mégaton)

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Born in 1968 in Tallinn, Estonia, Ivo Felt has been active as producer and sound designer in the movies. He co-founded the production company Allfilm in 1995. He has created sound design for more than 50 feature and documentary films. Since 2005, Ivo has been focusing on film production and is currently working as a producer and CEO of Allfilm. In the last two years, he has earned one Oscar nomination with Zaza Urushadze’s THE TANGERINES and  two Golden Globe nominations with THE TANGERINES and Klaus Härö’s THE FENCER.

His credits as producer include: GEORG (2007, Peeter Simm); TOOMIK´S FILM (2008, Marko Ratt); TRIP TO VALHALLA (2008, Tõnis Lepik); FATHER, SON AND PHANTOM OF THEATRE (2009, Marko Raat); SILENT SURRENDER (2010, Liina Triškina); OLEG (2010, Jaan Toomik); BURNT MISTAKES (2010, Martti Helde); RAT KING (2012, Petri Kotwica); TANGERINES (2013, Zaza Urushadze); LANDSCAPE WITH MANY MOONS (2014, Jaan Toomik); FAST EDDY´S OLD NEWS (2015, Marko Raat); THE CALL OF SILENCE (2015, Madli Lääne); and THE FENCER (2015, Klaus Härö).

Ivo Felt is currently involved in production of Zaza Urushadze’s THE MONK; Marko Raat’s DIARY OF A CITY PRIEST; Lauri Lagle’s PORTUGAL; and Toomas Hussar’s THE POET AND THE SKY.

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Born in 1959 in Tehran, Majid Majidi started his artistic career in theater. He later joined the Circle of Islamic Art and Thoughts and started stage acting, screenwriting, and directing short films. His screenwriting and directorial debut, “Explosion”, was a 16mm short film, followed by his first feature film “Baduk”. Majidi is one of the most internationally accomplished Iranian directors. His 1997 feature film, “Children of Heaven” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 1998. He has directed a lot of films including, “Baran”, “The Willow Tree”, “Father”, “Muhammad, the Messenger of God”, etc.

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Golab Adineh was born in 1953 in Tehran educated in Economy. She has started acting since 1975 in theatre band “Piadeh”. Adineh experienced acting in TV series with playing in “King and Shepard” in 80s. while she was active in TV and cinema she never stopped her collaborations with theatre too. She has acted in rather than 20 films and has won Crystal Simorgh for best supporting actress for acting in “Blue Veil” from 13^th Fajr International Film Festival. Also she was nominee for crystal Simporgh for films “I’m not Diego Maradona”, Guest of Mama”, When Everyone Was Slept”, Fifth Season”, and “May Lady”. Alongside her main activities, she also active in casting and teaching acting.

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Born in 1984 in Kabul, Sahraa Karimi grown up in Tehran. When she was 17 years old, she emigrated to Slovak Republic, where she lived until the age of 28. In 2012 she returned to Kabul.

Sahraa Karimi has received her PhD Degree in the field of Cinema (Fiction Film Directing & Screenwriting )from the Academy of Music and Performing Arts, Film and TV Faculty in Bratislava, Slovakia (FTF- VSMU). She is the first and only woman from Afghanistan, who has a PhD degree in the field of Cinema. She is also the only Afghan filmmaker, who is an active member of Slovak Film and TV Academy. Karimi has made around 30 short fiction and documentary films in her filmography, which she directed during her study in FAMU & VSMU from 2002- 2012.

Sahraa Karimi is also the winner of many important international Film awards such as, Bilbao Int. Documentary and Short Film Festival, One World Doc. Film Festival, Sole Luna Film Festival, Morodas Doc, Slovak National Film and TV Awards, DIDOR Film Festival, Tajikistan and many other significant film festivals around the world.

Her film “ AFGHAN WOMEN BEHIND THE WHEEL” got about 25 prizes from important film festivals around the word and her film “ LIGHT BREZZE” got academy award from Slovak Film and TV Academy as a best short fiction film.

She is now working on her feauter film project “ A PIANIST FROM KABUL”

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Born in 1962 in Mumbai, Jaaved Jaaferi is a Shitte Indian actor, producer, director, anchor, emcee, VO artist, singer, song writer and much more. He has been an iconic figure in the entertainment industry for over 30 years donning many hats in his comical flamboyance.

With more than 2000 hours on Television, he has done more than 200 live Indian & International shows. His shows on TV include TELE HOUSIE, JBC (Jaaved Broadcasting Corporation), CHITRAHAAR, TRUCK DHINADHIN and CHAK DHOOM DHOOM.

In the film ‘Bombay Boys’ directed by Kaizad Gustad, he had done a great contribution for the scene involving the song “Mumbhai”. This song was both written and choreographed by him and this became so popular that it remained on top of the charts for a period of six weeks.

As a voice artist, he had dubbed the voices of Don Karnage, Goofy and Mickey Mouse in Hindi. He has also scripted the Hindi version of ‘Pixar The Incredibles’ and ‘Jungle Book 2’. Moreover, he has played the character of Charlie Ann in ‘Roadside Romeo’, an animated Indian film directed by Jugal Hansraj.

He has also served as commentator on ‘Takeshi’s Castle’, a Japanese show aired on POGO TV. Jaaved had hosted some of the top award ceremonies such as SCREEN, IIFA and FILMFARE.

Apart from this, he has done over 200 live performances in various countries all over the world.He has shared the stage with eminent personalities such as Amitabh Bachchan, Sharukh Khan, A. R. Rahman, Aamir Khan, Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, Akshay Kumar, and so forth.

He won his first IIFA Award for best comic role in Salaam Namaste in 2006.

His filmography consists of Bang Bang, Mr. Joe N. Varvalho, War Chhod Na Yaar- A Comedy movie, Besharam, Total Dhamaal, Chai Garam, Joker, Society, Fantastic, Seasons Greetings, Loot, Hello Darling, Lafangey Parindey, City of Life, Daddy Cool, The Forest, Paying Guests, Kambakth Ishq, 8 x 10 Tasveer, 3 Idiots, Roadside Romeo, Singh Is Kinng, Shaurya, Victoria No. 203, Dhamaal, Ta Ra Rum Pum, Salaam Namaste, Kaboom, Boom, Jajantaram Mamantaram, Gang, Hanuman, Earth, Fire, Rock Dancer, Karm Yodha, Tehelka, 100 Days, Jawani Zindabad, Junoon, 7 Saal Baad, Meri Jung and several others.

Jaaved Jaaferi is Founder cum Director of Maximum Media Pvt Ltd. , a company specializing in creating, developing and producing content and IP`s for Motion Pictures, Television Shows, Radio, TV Commercials, and the Digital domain.

He has Produced 2 National Awards Films. He is a Founder patron of Indian Documentary Foundation.

Jaaved Jaaferi has been honoured with the life membership of International Film And Television Club of Asian Academy of Film & Television.

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Born in 1962 in Kenitra, is an award- winning writer and director. In 1993, he made his first short fiction film L’EXPOSE, which was presented in Cannes Film Festival and Festival de Clermont Ferrant. It won the Prix SACD du meilleur court metrage in cannes and the special jury prize in Clermont Ferrant. In 1996, he made L’INCONNU featuring Catherine Deneuve et Miki Manolojvic.  Later on in 1999, he made his first television film PETIT BEN.

In 2004, Ferroukhi made his debut feature film LE GRAND VOYAGE. It was presented in many well-known festivals around the world such as Venice, Namur, Mar Del Plata, BAFTA, Fajr, Toronto and so forth. His film also won numerous major awards.  In 2007, he made another short film called LA PAIRE DE CHAUSSURE. Later on in 2011, he made his second long length feature film FREE MAN, and it was once again presented in major film festivals around the world such as Cannes, Toronto, Abu Dhabi, Fajr, Santa Barbara, etc… FREE MAN won multiple awards.

Ferroukhi is currently working on his third long length feature film MICA.

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Born in 1958 in Monza, Teresa Cavina is an Italian festival programmer and an expert in script evaluation and doctoring.  She started her career as festival programmer in 1989 at the Venice Film Festival where she stayed till 1997.

In 1998 she moved to the Locarno Film Festival which she co-directed from 2001 to 2005. Due to her passion for supporting producers and filmmakers and her love for contemporary art, she created IN PROGRESS, Moreover, she also co-created and co-directed OPEN DOORS, a program that supports cinema from all over the world.

In 2006 she started the Rome Film Festival where she stayed as artistic director till 2008.  In Rome she founded New Cinema Network, an International co-production platform with a training and support program for film directors working on their second film. From 2009 to 2012 she has been the artistic director of FIPA, the first festival presenting TV programs and documentaries.

From 2009 to 2014 she has been programming director of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival where she co-created SANAD, a fund that supports Arab filmmakers and films relevant to Arab culture and heritage.  While continuing her programming activity, her interest is now more focused on working for funds an script-labs in close contact with producers and filmmakers, co-operating with Premiosolinas (Italy) Sanad (UAE), AFAC (Lebanon), HAF (Hong Kong),  she is part of the readers’ team for Eurimages.

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Born in 1965 in Bamberg, Germany, Stephan Foerner studied catholic theology in Bamberg and Paris. He began his professional career in 1991 as a radio-journalist for the Archdiocese of Bamberg. In 1996, he was transferred to Archdiocese of Berlin as a radio-journalist. He later on became responsible for film in 1997 and press office in 2003 at Archdiocese of Berlin.  Since 1997, Foerner has been a member of the catholic film commission for KATHOLISCHE FILMKOMMISSION FÜR DEUTSCHLAND.

He has served as a member of ecumenical jury in international film festivals such as Cannes, Cottbus, Berlinale, etc…

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Born in 1956 in France, Magali Van Reeth is the General Secretary of SIGNIS France and President of SIGNIS Europe.  She is also journalist and film reviewer for the Signis website www.signis.net and for a network of French Catholic parishes and French Catholic Medias (radio, TV and magazines). Reeth is a board member of the Fipresci through the French Union of Journalistes de Cinema and member of different SIGNIS, Ecumenical and Fipresci juries since 2000.

She is also been member of SIGNIS juries in Amiens, Alba, Toulouse, Paris, Venice, Festroia, Mar del Plata and Ecumenical Juries in Karlovy Vary (2005), Locarno (2006), Berlin (2008), Erevan (2010), Kiev (2012), Cannes (2012). Signis representative at the inter-religious film festival Religion Today (Roma, 2007 and 2008). Member of the Fipresci Jury in Cairo 2008, Ankara 2013 and member of the Inter-Faith Jury at the Farj Film Festival in Tehran (2010 and 2014).

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Seyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad was born in 1946 in Qom in one of the noblest and most religious Shiite families. He entered to primary education of Qom Seminary (Hoze Elmiye Qom) until 1969 he could get “Mojtahed” (Priest). He passed most of his education under supervision of Master Morteza Ahmadi and passed Jurisprudence and analytic principles under supervision of grand Ayatollahs Amoli Larijani, and Morteza Haeri Yazdi and started teaching in Qom Seminary.

After B.A and M.A graduation from Tehran University in Islamic Philosophy and Law, he entered to International Law Section of French University of Levon of Belgium and in 1995 he got his PhD. In 1981, he was pointed as the head of Iran GIO and in 1986 he became member of professional board of Law School. In 1991, he became permanent member of Science Academy. Now he is professor of law faculty and head of Islamic studies of Science Academy and head of chiefs and scientific communities of several universities and scientific centers. He has written 16 books and tens of papers on law and philosophy of religion in English, Arabic and Persian.

He is permanent member of Academy and professor of Law in Shahid Beheshti University and he is , fluent in speaking Arabic, English, and Persian. He became best researcher in 1998, 2006, winner of first place of Jurisprudence , principles , Hadith and Quranic sciences international festival in 2009 for writing four volumes of grammar of Jurisprudence, one of the ten best researchers of Iran in 2009.

Some of his scientific records including member of scientific council of Grand Islamic Encyclopedia (since 1984), Professor and head of law department of Shahid Beheshti University (1986), Head of Islamic science and knowledge of Iran Science Academy (1991), member of jury board of experts without license and editor-in-chief of Science Academy Quarterly