Jury

Brief Bio : Shivamani is a Kannada filmmaker known for politically charged, genre-driven cinema. Emerging from theatre, he made his mark with the thriller RAAJAKIYA. His films include DORE, SHIVA SAINYA, JAANA, GOLIBAAR, and JOSH, which won the Karnataka State Film Award. He also acts in Kannada and Tamil films.

Brief Bio : Suresh Urs is a celebrated Indian film editor from Karnataka, known for editing over 700 films, documentaries, and TV shows in Kannada and Tamil cinema. He has worked with leading directors and won the National Film Award for Best Editing for Bombay and Madhyantara, along with multiple state awards and lifetime honours.

Brief Bio : Maureen Gonsalves is an arts consultant invested in the Indian and international contemporary arts landscape. She was Head of Cultural Programmes at the Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Bangalore for 25 years, where she conceived, managed and executed high-impact initiatives across the visual arts, performing arts, digital media, film, music and literature sectors. During her tenure, Maureen organised five editions of the highly successful Indo-German Film Festival, bringing together top films and delegations from both countries. She also curated the German contribution to every edition of BIFFes, including the two where Germany was Country in Focus. Maureen enjoys sparking intercultural conversations, and has encouraged and facilitated meaningful dialogue and exchange between the film communities in Germany and Bangalore in several ways. These have included artist residencies, workshops, master classes and panel discussions, besides regular screenings with local clubs and partners.

Brief Bio : Abhaya Simha is an acclaimed Indian filmmaker, writer, and director whose work spans Kannada, Malayalam and Tulu cinema, known for blending artistic storytelling with mainstream sensibilities. Abhaya Simha studied Film Direction at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, graduating in 2007. He made his feature film debut with Gubbachigalu (2008), which won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film. His subsequent works include the bilingual drama Shikari (2012), starring Mammootty, the romantic comedy Sakkare (2013), and the critically celebrated Paddayi (2018) - a contemporary Tulu adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, which received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tulu and the state award for third best feature film. Beyond filmmaking, Simha is actively involved in cultural documentation through the Sanchi Foundation and contributes to film education as a visiting faculty at various prestigious institutions.

Brief Bio : T. N. Seetharam (born 6 December 1948) is a celebrated Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, actor, and producer prominent in Kannada cinema and television. He is widely respected for socially conscious films like Mathadana (which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada) and impactful television serials such as Mayamruga and Muktha, which helped redefine Kannada television storytelling. Starting out in theatre and collaborating with leading auteurs, he has written, directed, and acted across mediums, earning a reputation as a cultural influencer in Karnataka’s entertainment landscape. His work continues to engage audiences and shape regional creative discourse.

Brief Bio : Lakshmipathi Kolara, hailing from Kolar, is a journalist, poet, critic, playwright, and folklorist who has published poetry collections and works such as Dakshina Dandajeevika and Allamana Bayalata (a play). He has written dialogues for state- and national-award-winning films directed by Girish Kasaravalli and Nagabharana, and his films Beru and Mukhamukhi received the Karnataka State Film Award, along with two honors from the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi. His accolades also include the Veechi Literary Award, Joldarashi Doddana Gowda Award, and the Samsa Rangapuraskara Award. In 2013, the Vardhamana Award Chair of Moodbidri recognized Allamana Bayalata as the Best Emerging Literary Work of the Year, and he was also conferred the “National Culture Award,” instituted by Dr. G.Parameshwara.

Brief Bio : P. C. Shekar is an Indian film director and screenwriter who directed two short films—Ne Yen Nanban Da and My Imagination, a silent film—both of which received critical appreciation at film festivals. Encouraged by this response, his family supported his transition into feature films. Shekhar made his directorial debut with Kadhale En Kadhale, which won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film Portraying a Woman in Good Light. He later shifted focus to Kannada cinema, directing films such as Naayaka, Romeo (2012), Chaddi Dosth (2013), Arjuna (2015), Style King (2016), and Raaga (2017), a romantic drama about two visually impaired characters.

Brief Bio : Ishrath Nisar holds a Master’s degree in Kannada Literature and brings a multidisciplinary perspective to cinema and media. A trailblazer in Kannada journalism, she was the first Muslim woman to work in a mainstream Kannada newspaper. Her creative vision and engagement with storytelling earned her national recognition with the 52nd National Film Award for Best Costume Design for the Kannada film Haseena, directed by Girish Kasarvalli. This milestone highlights her ability to translate character, context, and cultural nuance into costume design. Her work reflects a deep commitment to creativity, meaningful storytelling, and cultural representation, making her a distinctive voice in Kannada cinema.

Brief Bio : Rekha Deshpande is a veteran Indian film journalist, critic, writer, and translator with a distinguished career spanning over five decades. She has authored eight acclaimed books on cinema in Marathi, including Nayika, Marathi Chitrapatsrushticha Itihas, Taramaticha Prawas, and Dastan e Dilipkumar, noted for their cultural and feminist perspectives on Indian cinema. She began her career with the Times of India group in the 1970s and later served as a film critic for Jansatta and Loksatta.

Brief Bio : V. K. Joseph is an Indian film critic, writer, and cultural advocate known for his influential work in cinema criticism and film culture. He received the National Film Award for Best Film Critic in 2009 for his “intellectual and aesthetic integrity” in writing about regional, national, and world cinema. Joseph has served as vice-chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, promoting Malayalam cinema, and holds leadership roles in film societies, including the Federation of Film Societies of India. He has authored multiple books on cinema and contributed to international film organizations and festival juries, reinforcing his stature in Indian film discourse.

Brief Bio : André Raphaël Ivanov is a producer and international talent agent with a wellrounded background in cinema and audiovisual arts. With expertise spanning production, casting, and performance, Mr.Ivanov’s career is shaped by his collaborations with prominent directors and artists across the industry. His production work includes roles as Music Supervisor and Co-Producer for Infiniti (2022) directed by Thierry Poiraud and as Creative Producer for Alla - Une Perle orient chez Dior (2021) by Berlin Irishev. He has also held Associate Producer roles on projects such as The White Crow (2018) by Ralph Fiennes and Polina, danser sa vie by Valérie Müller and Angelin Preljocaj (2016).

Brief Bio : A. N. Prahlada Rao started his career as a journalist and was the founder editor of Honnudi. Danivillada Dhani, a Book on B. R. Pantulu, Great Director, Producer and Actor in Kannada and Tamil, written by A. N. Prahlada Rao, published through Karnataka Chalana Chitra Academy has been released by Dr. Bharati Vishnuvardhan in November 2016 at Samsa, and he has published several acclaimed books. Rao has inducted into the PR Hall of Fame, and felicitated with prestigious PRCI awards at the 12th Global Communication Conclave held at Pune, March 2018.