Festival Dignitaries & Team

Actor • Director • President, Nadigar Sangam

Acclaimed actor-filmmaker with landmark roles (Roja, Bombay, Baahubali). Strong advocate of artists' welfare; multiple honours across states and national forums.

Nasser is one of India's most respected character actors, known for his powerful performances across multiple Indian languages. As President of the Nadigar Sangam (South Indian Artistes' Association), he has been instrumental in advocating for artists' rights and welfare. His career spans over three decades with more than 300 films to his credit.

Writer • Director

Pioneer of Indian new-wave cinema with Hyderabad Blues, Iqbal, Dor. National & international awards; mentor to emerging filmmakers.

Nagesh Kukunoor revolutionized Indian independent cinema with his debut film "Hyderabad Blues" (1998), made on a shoestring budget. His films often explore socially relevant themes with sensitivity and humor. He has received numerous awards including National Film Awards and international recognition at festivals worldwide. Kukunoor is known for his mentoring of young filmmakers and his workshops across film institutions.

Film Critic & Author

Maithili Rao is a respected film critic and author known for her strong writing on Indian cinema and women's roles in films. She has been honoured with the Satyajit Ray Memorial Award (2024) and the Bimal Roy Memorial Award (2023) for her contribution to cinema.

With decades of experience in film criticism, Maithili Rao has contributed to major publications including The Hindu, Indian Express, and Frontline. She is particularly noted for her feminist perspective on cinema and her analysis of women's representation in Indian films. Her books and essays have become essential reading for students of Indian cinema studies. Rao has served on numerous festival juries and is known for her insightful, balanced critiques.

Filmmaker & Former Film Critic

He is a National Award-winning filmmaker whose fiction and documentary films have been showcased at international festivals. He is a member of NETPAC and has served on juries at major events including IFFI Goa and the National Film Awards.

Utpal Borpujari transitioned from being an acclaimed film critic to an award-winning filmmaker. His documentaries focus on cultural preservation, indigenous communities, and social issues. As a member of NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asia Pacific Cinema), he has been instrumental in promoting Asian cinema globally. Borpujari's films have screened at festivals including Cannes, Berlin, and Busan, and he continues to mentor documentary filmmakers across India.

Documentary Filmmaker

Aarti Shrivastava is a national award-winning Indian documentary filmmaker and Asia 21 IPRYLI Fellow based in Mumbai.

Specializing in socio-political documentaries, Aarti Shrivastava's work focuses on marginalized communities, gender issues, and human rights. Her films have been recognized with National Film Awards and have screened at international festivals. As an Asia 21 Fellow, she works on cross-border documentary projects in the Asia-Pacific region. Shrivastava is also a founder of a collective that supports women documentary filmmakers in India, providing mentorship and production resources.

Screenwriter • Director • Editor

Biplab Goswami is an acclaimed Indian screenwriter, director, and editor with over two decades of experience across feature films, documentaries, and television. He completed a three-year Postgraduate Diploma in Cinema with a specialisation in Film Editing from the prestigious Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India.

Biplab's breakthrough came with his script Two Brides, which won the Second Prize at the Cinestaan Storytellers Contest 2018, selected from nearly 4,000 submissions in a global search for Indian screenwriters. The script later became the feature film Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan. Released in 2024, the film received widespread critical and commercial acclaim, earned numerous national and international awards, and was chosen as India's official entry to the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars).

For Laapataa Ladies, Biplab received several major honours, including the IIFA Award 2025 and the TOIFA Award 2025 for Best Story (Original). He also won the Pinkvilla Award and the SWA Award 2025 for his outstanding contribution as the story writer.

With a strong cinematic voice and a commitment to socially resonant storytelling, Biplab Goswami continues to shape compelling narratives for Indian and global audiences.

Filmmaker from Sikkim

Abhishek Chettri is a filmmaker from Sikkim who brings a unique perspective rooted in his Himalayan heritage. After completing a law degree and working as a set photographer in mainstream Indian cinema, he returned to his roots to tell stories from the Northeast region.

Currently in post-production on his debut feature film, Chettri creates stories that aim to authentically reflect the society he observes. His work focuses on capturing the nuances of life in Sikkim and the broader Northeastern region, addressing themes of identity, tradition, and modernity. His background in law informs his nuanced approach to social issues, while his experience as a set photographer gives him a keen visual sensibility.

Chettri represents a new generation of filmmakers from India's Northeastern states who are bringing regional narratives to national and international audiences. His upcoming film is eagerly anticipated in festival circuits for its authentic portrayal of Himalayan life.

Founder, Asianet • Chairman, Asiaville Interactive

Journalist, media entrepreneur, filmmaker; Founder & Chair, Media Development Foundation (Asian College of Journalism). Pioneered India's first regional satellite channel; strong voice on journalism ethics and education.

Sashi Kumar is a pioneering Indian journalist and media entrepreneur who founded Asianet Communications, India's first regional satellite TV channel. He is the Chairman of Asiaville Interactive and founder-chairman of the Media Development Foundation, which runs the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai. A former BBC correspondent, he has been a vocal advocate for media ethics, freedom of expression, and quality journalism education. His contributions to Indian media have been recognized with numerous awards including the B.D. Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Canadian film executive and cultural leader

She is known for her tenure as Executive Director of Bravo!FACT and Founder/Director of the Ageless International Film Festival. She has commissioned award‑winning short films, launched innovative platforms like Vucavu, and served on international film juries.

Judy Gladstone is a prominent Canadian cultural leader with over 25 years of experience in film commissioning and festival leadership. As Executive Director of Bravo!FACT (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent), she commissioned and produced hundreds of award-winning short films. She founded the Ageless International Film Festival, focusing on films by and about older adults. Gladstone also launched Vucavu, a digital platform for Canadian independent film. She has served on numerous international film festival juries and advisory boards, contributing significantly to Canada's cultural landscape and international film relations.

Writer • Director • Producer

SRFTI alumnus; former Director, MSFTI; Film Facilitation Officer (East), NFDC Kolkata; coordinated national language-documentation project; Joint Director, EIIFF (2025).

Alexander Leo Pou is an accomplished filmmaker and film administrator from Northeast India. An alumnus of Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI), he served as Director of Manipur State Film & Television Institute. As Film Facilitation Officer for Eastern India at NFDC, he has been instrumental in promoting film production in the region. He coordinated a major national language-documentation project preserving indigenous languages through film. Currently serving as Joint Director of the Eastern India International Film Festival (EIIFF), Pou has been a bridge between mainstream Indian cinema and the vibrant film culture of Northeast India.

Documentary Filmmaker

Radicalised Manipuri documentary cinema with Rude Awakening. Producer of National Award-winning AFSPA 1958; Secretary, MSFDS; Director, Eikhoigi Imphal IFF.

Sunzu Bachaspatimayum is a pioneering documentary filmmaker from Manipur known for his politically engaged cinema that addresses human rights, conflict, and identity in Northeast India. His film "Rude Awakening" brought a new radical aesthetic to Manipuri documentary filmmaking. He produced "AFSPA 1958," which won the National Film Award for Best Investigative Film, examining the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act. As Secretary of the Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) and Director of the Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival, he has created platforms for independent and activist cinema from conflict regions.