Vadim Abdrashitov
Head of Jury, Russia
Obtained his first university degree in physics. Graduated from All-Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK). All Abdrashitov’s films received numerous awards, including awards at international film festivals, such as Venice IFF, Berlinale, Locarno IFF, etc. People's Artist of Russia. Vice-president of Nika Award. Professor at VGIK.
Cristina Velasco
Head of Jury, Mexico
Producer. Head of production of the Mexican Film Institute (IMCINE) that runs the FOPROCINE fund and the Mexican National Film Commission. Producer of “Eisenstin En Guanajuato” (“Eisenstein in Guanajuato”), “Liwa Mairin”, “Tropical Carmine”, “The Naked Room”, “Tijuana, Sonidos Del Nortec”(“ Tijuana, the Sound of Nortec”).
Nele Savichenko
Lithuania
Theatre and film actress. Received award for best female lead at “75 years of Odessa film studio” festival, “Mask of Gratitude” award, “Silver Crane” award, three “Golden Cross of the Stage” awards. Received Lithuanian Government Award for contribution to Lithuanian culture and art. Teaches at Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Stefan Laudyn
Poland
Director of the Warsaw International Film Festival. Founder and general manager of “Warsaw Film Foundation”. Founder of “CentEast Market”. Member of European Film Academy and Polish Film Academy. Co-wrote seven books of poetry. Recorded two CDs with classical music. Played concerts in ten European countries as a member of “The Festival Band”.
Damir Terešak
Croatia
Filmmaker, producer, production manager. Founder of “MaXima film” production company. Professor at the Academy of Dramatic Arts at the University of Zagreb. Member of Croatian Audiovisual Council, Board of the Producers’Union of Croatia, Croatian Filmmakers Union. From 1998 to 2000 he was vice president of Croatian Filmmakers Union.
Viktor Kopytko
Belarus
Composer, musician, author of music pieces in various genres, including opera, symphonic, chamber and choral compositions, theatrical music, soundtracks for fiction, animation and documentary films. His music received numerous awards at Belarusian and international film festivals.
Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson
Iceland
Actor, scriptwriter, producer. Graduated from The Icelandic Academy of the Arts in 1990. Has an extensive experience in theatre. Received People's Choice Award for Best European Actor for his role in “Englar alheimsins” (“Angels of the Universe”) at European Film Awards. Received seven “Edda“ Awards (Icelandic film prize) for the best actor.
Petr Shepotinnik
Russia
Born in 1956. In 1978 graduated from All-Russian State University of Cinematography. From 1979 to 1998 worked in “Iskusstvo Kino” (“Art of Cinema”) magazine. Directed numerous documentaries about people in art. Member of “TEFI” and “Nika Award”. Awardee of international and Russian TV and film festivals. Author of novel “Stereo” (prepressing stage).
Artchil Khetagouri
Head of Jury, Georgia
Documentary filmmaker, director of CinéDOC Tbilisi IFF. Studied at Film and Television Academy in Amsterdam. Award-winner of international film festivals, including Visions du Réel IFF and Rhodes Film Festival, etc. Founder of ”Noosfera Foundation” that manages projects like “Cinemobile Caucasus”; “DocStories Black Sea”, “Documentary Mondays”.
Yuri Goroulev
Belarus
Born in 1944. Graduated from the film-engineering department of the Leningrad Institute of Film Engineers in 1971 and from the camera department of the Film Institute VGIK in 1982. As a director made about 40 documentaries. The winner of the State Prize of the President of the Republic of Belarus “For Spiritual Revival”. Organizer and director of the IFF of Christian films and TV programs “Magnificat”.
