Adel Ramdani is committed to climate justice issues in Europe and the Middle East

Agi Veres is the Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Geneva, overseeing efforts to advance global development goals. UNDP, as the UN’s lead development agency, operates in 170 countries, striving to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and promote sustainable development, democratic governance, peacebuilding, and climate resilience.
In her role, Agi leads a multidisciplinary team to strengthen connections between UNDP’s global initiatives and the diverse actors in International Geneva. This collaboration involves partnering with governments, NGOs, academia, the private sector, and civil society to design integrated solutions for global challenges.

Communication Assistant

Alisa Kovalenko is a Ukrainian award-winning documentary director, based in Kyiv. Her debut film Alisa in Warland had its world premiere at IDFA 2015. Her second documentary Home Games was selected for more than 50 festivals, including Sheffield Doc/Fest (WP, 2018), IDFA (Best of Fests), FIPADOC etc., and became the first Ukrainian creative documentary acquired by Netflix. In 2019, Alisa started filming a teenage documentary set in war-torn Donbas – We Will Not Fade Away. After Russia invaded Ukraine she joined a volunteer combat unit and fought on the frontline for months, before returning to finish her film. We Will Not Fade Away had its World Premiere at the Berlinale 2023, won 20 international awards and was selected for the European Film Awards 2023.

Amanda holds a degree in Audiovisual Communication from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. She trained in the USA in the field of documentary production and directing. She has been the executive producer of the television series Les Coses Grans (TVC) and the documentary When a Dream Comes True (La Diferencia), co-producer of La Estrella (A Contraluz Films), and associate producer of The Frost (Alta Realitat). She has worked as a cost controller for films like A Perfect Enemy. She has written and directed short films and video clips. In the field of impact, she has written and directed videos for raising public awareness and funding campaigns for NGOs in a number of countries such as India, Ethiopia, and Ecuador.

Amira Mohammed is a peace activist, feminist and podcast host, a 67' Palestinian with Israeli citizenship and a uniquely international perspective. Born in the UK, she spent her teenage years in Sheik Jarrah in East Jerusalem. Amira works as a project coordinator for YaLa Young Leaders an initiative that provides leadership and civil society training for diverse groups from over 20 countries across MENA. She is also a sought-after speaker and runs workshops for NGOs in Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. She has worked extensively on projects that aim to develop regional economic and social frameworks that incorporate and empower Palestinians. “Unapologetic; the third narrative” the podcast she co-created and co-hosts, created after the October 7th massacre and brutal war on Gaza, has become a viral sensation, giving voice to a young generation of Palestinians pushing for a new path forward towards a just peace and an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Amuna Wagner is a German-Sudanese writer, journalist, and educator. She studied International Relations and Arabic at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, with a special interest in decolonising processes and the politics of gender. She works as North Africa correspondent at OkayAfrica and is currently pursuing an MFA in Literary Writing at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne where she is working on her debut novel. Amuna co-founded and edits Kandaka, a platform that imagines feminist futures at the intersection of art and activism.

Anamaria Antoci is an accomplished active producer in the European market and a member of prominent industry networks such as EAVE, ACE Producers, European Producers Club and Inside Pictures. Anamaria founded in 2017 the Bucharest based company Tangaj Production, being fully committed to all creative stages, with a passion for authentic, strong arthouse films, keen on pursuing ways to tackle audiences in a unique manner. Anamaria achievements include producing and co-producing feature and documentary films, such as Men of Deeds by Paul Negoescu (Sarajevo FF 2022, RO/BG), Panopticon by George Sikharulidze (Karlovy Vary IFF 2024, GE/FR/IT/RO) or Things We Said Today by Andrei Ujică (Venice FF 2024, FR/RO).

ANDREA VON SIEBENTHAL PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, EDITOR Andrea is a storyteller at heart. A former tv journalist, spokesperson and communicator in the humanitarian realm, she believes that stories have the power to create empathy and thus promote real change. Born and raised in Switzerland, she has worked extensively in post-conflict areas where she has witnessed the long-term effects of armed conflict first-hand. The topics of war and its consequences on civilians have always been at the heart of her work. Her desire to shed a light on forgotten conflicts and the human cost of geopolitical decisions continues to inform her documentary projects. Andrea holds a Master's degree in International Conflict Journalism, a CAS in Press Relations from the Swiss School of Journalism MAZ and a certificate in Documentary Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy. Previous productions of hers have won gold awards at both the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards and the Internationale Wirtschaftsfilmtage. andreavonsiebenthal.com

Anita Rehoff Larsen is producer and co-owner of Sant & Usant in Norway with partner and producer/director Tone Grøttjord-Glenne. Together they have been producing for international new talent and establish directors. She has produced award-winning films, including Gunda premiered at the Berlinale 2020 and made the Oscar shortlist, with premiere at theaters in 45 countries. She also produced All That I Am premiered at Hotdocs 2020 directed by Tone Grøttjord-Glenne, and Sisters on Track directed by Corinne van der Borch and Tone Grøttjord-Glenne, premiered at Tribeca 2021 for Netflix. Sant & Usant is also working on many international co-productions such as the 2022 Oscar nominated film Writing with Fire from black Ticket films and President, with Final Cut for Real and Louverture Films, which premiered at Sundance 2022.

Ann Megalla is an Australian Producer and Impact Strategist with a 20-year career collaborating with indie filmmakers, broadcasters and academia to enhance the power of storytelling and impact. Her focus on social, cultural, and environmental issues has shaped award-winning programs for ABC, Nat Geo, and BBC Studios. Ann’s contributions earned recognition including an AACTA Award for Strong Women documentary series (ABC) and serving as Discipline Lead of Production at the renowned Australian Film, Television, and Radio School. Currently, Ann is leading the impact campaign for Yurlu | Country.

After obtaining her Master’s degree in Media and Marketing Sciences from the University of Geneva, Anna worked for several years in the banking sector, mainly as a project leader. In 2013 she undertook a career shift willing to invest her skills and knowledge into documentary producing. She graduated successfully from Ecole Documentaire de Lussas in France and attended several European workshops for producers and filmmakers. Since 2015 documentary sales and distribution snapped her for the better and she now oversees all activities at Lightdox, with special care for Theatrical, TV and Festivals sales, and Impact Distribution.

For almost 20 years of work, Anna Gudkova has made dozens of feature films and series. Some of them have been shown in Cannes, Berlin and other world film festivals and markets. In parallel with her producers’ career, Anna established an international educational program for emerging filmmakers in CIS-countries with significant partners (TFL, BFI, Pop Up Residency etc). Anna also wrote and published the first manuaI on pitching in Russia which became a bestseller. In 2022 Gudkova spoke against full-scale invasion in Ukraine and left Russia. She became a Head of the educational department of the Alternativa Film Project and organized the first Impact lab in Central Asia (in cooperation with Think Film Impact company and Movies that matter film festival).

Anne-Marie Borsboom, an Amsterdam native working as a filmmaker and producer. Anne-Marie was the first camerawoman in the Netherlands, collaborating with a broad array of directors. Her entire filmography has been broadcasted in the Netherlands. 'Homesick', 'Caraval Woman ', and 'Boi, Song of a Wanderer ‘ that was nominated for Prix Europa and TIFF in the category Best International Documentary. Anne Marie Borsboom is the founder& CEO ShareDoc.

Documentary filmmaker specialising in Central Asia, where he has spent over 15 years exploring the region, from Mongolia to the Caspian Sea and the Hindu Kush to Siberia. He also collaborates as a videographer/photographer with International Organisations such as UNICEF or IFRC and NGOs like MSF, compelling stories through a human-centered lens.

Ayooshee manages the Kofi Annan Commission on Food Security, which provides policy recommendations to transform the global governance of food security. She has previously held diverse roles in project and programme management, research and policy development, and systems transformation at the UNDP, ICRC and the World Economic Forum. With experience as a facilitator and ethnographer, she focuses on social justice and social innovation, particularly in food security, climate action, and socio-economic transitions. Her work spans policy and programmatic initiatives in Small Island Developing States.

Diagnosed with autism at 35 after years of misdiagnoses, Beatrice LEONG founded the Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group (AIDA) to advocate for autistic inclusion and self-representation. An independent filmmaker and a gender disability activist, Beatrice uses her unique perspective to reframe the understanding of autism, particularly in women and girls. Her work has earned her recognition as a leading voice in the ASEAN disability rights movement, including accolades like Asia’s Most Influential by Tatler in 2022 and WikiImpact’s 100 Impact Leaders in 2023. She is also Malaysia’s first gender disability to advocate and deliver her brief at the CEDAW 88th Meeting in UN headquarters of Geneva. The Myth of Monsters is Beatrice’s first feature length independent documentary.

Camille joined the Mukwege Foundation in 2023 as a Programme Manager for SEMA, Global Survivor Network programme. Before joining the Foundation, she worked at DCAF – the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Reform, implementing gender and security projects. She also spent two years in Colombia, working at the UN Verification Mission of the 2016 Peace Agreement between the FARC and the Colombian government, and four years in Thailand in a regional network of women’s rights organisations. Her background is in human rights law, and she is particularly interested in conflict-related sexual violence, transitional justice processes, peace negotiations, and the links between climate change, gender and security.

Danish-Swiss Caroline Cuénod grew up in the mountains. At 13, she was developing her black and white images in her bedroom. Then she discovered Super 8. But it was with video that she found her preferred language.
Her studies in the history of criminal justice in the 18th century completed her toolbox of reflections, enabling her to scrupulously observe the society around her and listen to its smallest details.
In 2012, she released “Eyes everywhere”, a portrait of a woman who questions video surveillance cameras.
“Shoreless Island” (2017) reveals the little-known issues of a landlocked country.
Since then, Caroline has set out to meet the homeless of affluent Geneva, observing the flaws in the system and human downfalls.

Catherine Fegli works at the UN Information Service, where she organises public relations programs. She manages Ciné ONU Geneva, which uses films, followed by a discussion, to shed light on many issues of interest to the UN. She also manages programmes targeting young people and academics, such as the Young Reporters to the UN and the UN Geneva Information Programmes.

Graduated from La Femis (France) in distribution, Charlotte worked as a programmer in Paris, a project manager in Hong Kong and was head of development for documentaries and immersive contents, before joining SWISS FILMS in 2022 where she now holds the position of Deputy Head of Festivals & Markets.

Claire Mahon is an award-winning global human rights advocate and international lawyer, with 20+ years of international experience in civil society, UN, governments, academia, and private sector, in 30+ countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, Pacific, North America, Caribbean and Middle East. Previously a special advisor to world leaders, representative of NGOs (such as Amnesty International) to the UN in Geneva, and professor of international law at universities in Europe, USA, and Australia. Currently founder and Executive Director of Global Human Rights Group, a social enterprise consisting of a Geneva-based non-profit association and a boutique consulting firm.

Claire Moretto is a human rights professional with over ten years of experience in project management, advocacy, and international cooperation. She has worked across multiple regions, including Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific, engaging with diverse stakeholders on human rights and development initiatives. She currently manages field operations for an international NGO, supporting engagement with global human rights mechanisms. Her work involves overseeing projects, providing strategic guidance, and facilitating collaboration between civil society actors and institutional partners. Previously, she has led capacity-building initiatives for human rights defenders, coordinated advocacy efforts at international conferences, and managed multilingual publications focused on indigenous rights. Her experience also includes work on financial and administrative processes for development programs, refugee response coordination, and environmental advocacy. In addition to her professional experience, she has contributed to research and publications on human rights, including co-authoring a chapter on indigenous peoples and the United Nations. She holds a Master’s in Economics and Sociology, a European Master’s in International Humanitarian Action, and a Law degree with a specialization in international relations. Claire applies a multidisciplinary and international perspective to her work in human rights and sustainable development.

Claudia Campistol holds a PhD in Criminology from the University of Lausanne (2020). She is currently the coordinator and facilitator of the Objectif Désistance project at the Fondation Vaudoise de Probation. She is also co-vice president of the Swiss Forum for Restorative Justice and a facilitator in restorative justice. Her main areas of expertise include restorative justice, criminal desistance, and juvenile justice.

After obtaining her Master’s degree in Cinema from the Haute école d’arts et de design (HEAD) in Geneva, Claudia Dessolis worked for many years as an audiovisual technician in Switzerland for television and film.
During her time with the FIFDH, she developed a cultural mediation project for incarcerated individuals (adults and adolescents) in the Canton of Geneva, as well as for young people facing psycho-social difficulties at the Children’s and Adolescent Hospital of the University Hospitals of Geneva.
For the past four years, she has been a social worker in detention, specifically focusing on deploying and leading socio-cultural activities in closed environments.

Born in 1987 in Winterthur, Daniel Schneider is based in Zurich and holds an MA in Economics from the University of Zurich. He strives to create playful work that doesn’t compromise on meaning. When studying complex datasets and abstract economic models, he became fascinated by the power of visual communication and that of a good story, translating buck naked information into something relatable and joyful. Since 2021, he has been working as a junior producer at First Hand Films, a producer and sales agent for documentaries, as well as a distributor of fiction and non-fiction films in Switzerland.

Born and raised in a small village outside of Zurich, Danika holds a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Film production. Danika is working in the production and the world sales team at First Hand Films.

Dheeraj Akolkar is an award-winning writer, director and producer from India, living in the UK. He is the founder of a London based production company, Vardo Films. He has 15 years of experience and a current slate of 3 fiction and 2 non-fiction films in various stages of development and production. His most recent film Liv Ullmann ~ A Road Less Travelled premiered in 2023 at the 76th Festival de Cannes. Dheeraj is the co-founder of a charity, GRACE - The Global Reconciliation, Advocacy and Community-building Engagement in war-affected regions – based in the UK and working internationally in post-conflict societies for the rights and wellbeing of children born of sexual violence in wars.

Elisa Gazzotti works as programme coordinator for Human Rights Education
at Soka Gakkai International Office for UN Affairs. In 2018 she was
appointed as the chair of the NGO Working Group on Human Rights
Education and Learning, a coalition of non-governmental organizations that
advocates for human rights education at the United Nations, to ensure
implementation at the national and local level. From 2020-2022 Elisa served
as the co-chair of the Human Rights Engagement Task Team of the Global
Protection cluster led by UNHCR. Before joining Soka Gakkai International
Elisa was working with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome,
Italy and UNDP in Amman.
In her current job she uses movies and stories on human rights education as a tool for change.
For instance together with Amnesty International and the UN office for human rights we produced a tool called: ‘Changemakers: Stories of Young Human Rights Educators’.

Elise joint ISHR as Campaign and Mobilisation Manager (Maternity Cover). Previously, she spent three years in Haiti, first supporting a local organisation with communications and advocacy, then at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Prior to Haiti, Elise worked for the International Network of Human Rights in Geneva. She holds a BSc in Journalism and Human Rights from Roehampton University and a MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies from the LSE.

Ellie is a documentary producer, videographer, photographer, and writer with over 15 years of experience. Having worked extensively in Central Asia, MENA, and East Africa. Ellie’s expertise spans high-impact documentary storytelling, visual production, and editorial work, strongly focusing on humanitarian issues and women’s rights. Ellie is currently a Video Producer and Editor for Human Rights Watch, previously based in Afghanistan and Beirut, documenting stories for humanitarian organisations and news outlets.

Initially, I started as an illustrator when I was nine years old. My interest in Art & Design compelled me to explore more and more. As I grew, my interest in the stories around me strengthened, and I was deeply motivated to deal with the social issues surrounding our societies in a way that all the sentiments are respected and diverse communities are honored. I believe, through love and values, and through the right medium, we can challenge and rectify what is being shaped wrong. My documentary “Bangles: The Color Wheels of Pakistan,” bestowed me a national award and an international scholarship conferred by the State of Pakistan (ISPR and Ministry of Information) to study advanced filmmaking at the New York Film Academy. Since then, I have worked on fiction, non fiction, and animations. My journey started off with almost zero financial resources, however, I had always believed in turning my dreams into reality and capture narratives that matter.

Born and raised in Bern, Emily Hopf completed her Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Studies and Sociology at the University of Lucerne. Following her studies, she interned as a Production Manager at Mira Film, where she gained valuable experience in Impact Producing through her involvement in the international impact campaign for Among Us Women by Sarah Noa Bozenhardt and Daniel Abate Tilahun. Currently, Emily works as a production and distribution employee at Recycled TV AG in Bern while pursuing her Master’s in Film at the Lucerne School of Art and Design.

Born in 1965, Lausanne (Switzerland), co-founder in 1983 of the Cully Jazz Festival, the second largest jazz festival in Switzerland. Montreux Jazz Festival’s production & financial director (1990-1998). Head of the Special Events Department at Swiss National Exhibition (1999-2003). In 2003, he founded Dreampixies, a film production company. Co-writer and producer of many documentaries, such as: “Return to Gorée” (Pierre-Yves Borgeaud, 2007), feat. Youssou N’Dour, awarded among other prizes « Best Documentary » at the 16th Pan African Film Festival, Los Angeles and distributed worldwide. “Viramundo – a musical journey with Gilberto Gil” (Pierre-Yves Borgeaud, 2013) feat. Brazilian singer and former minister of Culture, Gilberto Gil. “Jean Ziegler, the optimism of willpower” (2016) directed by documentary multi-award winner Nicolas Wadimoff (Official section at 2016 Locarno Film Festival). “Citizen Nobel”, (Stéphane Goël, 2020) feat. Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2017 Jacques Dubochet. “After the Flood” (Fabiano D’Amato, 2023). He also produces fiction films, such as “Colombine” (Dominique Othenin Girard, 2022).

With a background in International Relations and Contemporary Conflicts, I integrate business strategy, media, technology, and marketing to design and execute high-impact campaigns that drive real change. As an Impact Strategist & Producer, I merge strategic thinking with storytelling, data-driven marketing with advocacy, and innovation with social transformation. My expertise spans: 1) Global strategy & business impact – aligning purpose with sustainable growth; 2) Media & technology – leveraging digital platforms for influence and engagement; 3) Narrative-driven change – shaping messages that shift perspectives and provoke action. Currently, I lead impact campaigns for: "The Messenger" – bridging science, policy, and public engagement. "The SAUTI Impact Campaign – empowering Tanzanian youth through music education, creativity, and cultural unity, fostering personal development, social cohesion, and economic opportunities in underserved communities. "London You Don’t Know Me" – addressing youth homelessness through storytelling. "Voices of Neswani" – exploring cultural identity and migration narratives. I create frameworks where ideas turn into movements, connecting filmmakers, brands, policymakers, and global audiences to amplify critical issues.

After studying political science, he worked as a journalist for various Swiss media and the InfoSud news agency. He did numerous reports in Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and West and Central Africa, and election observation missions for the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for the OSCE and the EU. He has been the head of communications for Caritas Switzerland in French-speaking Switzerland since 2016.

With a background in television, Farah holds a B.A in audiovisuel studies. Her 8 years in television were equally split between entertainment and news channels. In 2012, Farah shifted her career into the film festivals’ industry and worked with the Dubai International Film Festival for its last 6 editions managing their Cinetech, a digital library for the sales and acquisitions of films. Farah also worked with the Malmo Arab Film Festival, moderating its film market’s pitching sessions. In 2019, Farah joined the team of Beirut DC, the association for Development and Cinema where she is currently the director of programs with a special attention to the impact program. Beirut DC’s impact program includes regional and local impact labs, an Impact Fund and the Impact Producers’ Fellowship among other intersectional programing.

Co-founder at Bhaasha. We aim to create a more inclusive and equitable society by leveraging innovative technologies to enable migrants and refugees to communicate in crucial situations, by connecting to a local network of qualified interpreters. We work with public and private institutions as well as non-profits to empower key service providers such as medical professionals and social workers to communicate across language barriers.

Gudula Meinzolt has been working in film areas such as programming, promotion, festivals, distribution, exhibition and production. She was manager of the Mannheim Meetings and Head of Industry at Visions du Réel in Switzerland where she still is part of the Industry Advisory Board. With Ciné-Doc she founded and organized during two editions 2023/2024 the annual documentary month all over Switzerland Let’s Doc!. For 20 years she has been working as producer in Germany with Autentika Films and since 2020 also in Switzerland with Vollbild Film, Basel, now specializing in audience development and outreach/impact strategies. She offers training for pitches, project development, production and audience development / impact strategy. As “Green Consultant” she commits to a sustainable film production and distribution in Europe and is co-founder and co-president of AGF Aktion Grüner Film / Green Film Action, a network for a sustainable film and culture scene in Switzerland.

Han Yan Yuen is a filmmaker and producer who specializes in documentaries on current affairs and social issues. Along with other collaborators, she directed and produced When a City Rises, a feature-length documentary that won the CPH:Dox F:ACT Awards. Her films have appeared on Arte (France/ Germany), WDR (Germany), VGTV (Norway), Al Jazeera, Discovery Channel and more. She has also produced and directed more than 20 broadcast films for Hong Kong’s public broadcaster RTHK. She is also an experienced impact producer, having led impact campaigns on human rights in Asia.

Hasse van Nunen is originally a documentary producer, with her own company Een van de Jongens. In that capacity, she felt a great need to make more impact on society with the documentaries she produced. And so she - together with Bernadette Kuiper - founded the Impact Academy (now Impact Makers); a sector-wide collaboration between film funds, broadcasters, producers and filmmakers to introduce the impact producer in The Netherlands. This resulted in a number of new financing options for the development of impact campaigns and more awareness among producers and filmmakers of what is possible in the field of impact. Besides, they set up a course for impact producers. In the meantime, she continued as an impact producer herself (besides her producership). She has been working on (a.o.): the documentary series Classes, the Golden Calf winning My father, Nour and I and now the new films Writing Hawa (Najiba Noori) and All is well (Peter and Petra Lataster-Czich) that both premier at IDFA 2024. Besides that she is the founder of the new Dutch training for impactproduction called Impact Lab that will run from March till December 2025 for the first time.

Known for award-winning films such as: Afghan Star (2009, Best Director and Audience Award at Sundance, Grierson Award for Best Doc on a Contemporary Issue and Prix Italia); Smash & Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers (2011, currently under option for a new international drama series) and The Kleptocrats (2018) which played on BBC Storyville at The PM, the Playboy and the Wolf of Wall Street.
Marking also works as an Executive and Senior Producer on various premium docs and series inc Welcome to Earth (Disney+/Nat geo), Who is Gislaine Maxwell (C4) and The Accused (A&E). She EP’d Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer, To Hell and Back Again and The Russian Woodpecker which have been recognised with an Academy Award nomination and several Emmy and Sundance awards.

Ineza is a filmmaker based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A majority of her work focuses on working with Non-Governmental Organisations to highlight social issues. She believes marginalised communities in Malaysia deserve to be heard, and aims to enhance their voices in whatever way she can. In 2019, Ineza co-Produced and Directed M for Malaysia, her first feature documentary that went on to screen at film festivals all over the world including CAAMfest in the US, DocEdge in New Zealand, and Busan International Film Festival, Korea. M for Malaysia was also Malaysia’s official entry for the 2020 Academy Awards. Since M for Malaysia, Ineza has focused on producing narrative shorts, music videos, and visual arts pieces. She is currently developing her first narrative feature as a Producer.

Brattabø is a researcher working in the field of prevention, detection and follow up of children being victims of child maltreatment. She is one of the creators of the research based interdisciplinary training program against child maltreatment: All that I am, educational storytelling. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100094
Brattabø leads the interdisciplinary research project “Children at Risk and Oral Health” https://www.childrenatriskandoralhealth.com/ funded by the Research council of Norway and the Norwegian directorate of health. By enhancing knowledge, competence and interdisciplinary collaboration the project aims to strengthen professionals in their role as mandated reporters and create a more coordinated and supportive environment for children at risk, ensuring they receive necessary health care and protection.

Brattabø holds a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene, a Master of Science in Biology, Practical Pedagogical Education, and a PhD from faculty of Psychology.

Inna Sahakyan is a documentary film director/producer from Armenia. Her films are revealing forgotten stories and exploring humanity. Her works include the award-winning "The Last Tightrope Dancer in Armenia" and "Mel," a recent documentary highlighting the journey of a transgender weightlifter from Armenia. Her animated documentary "Aurora’s Sunrise" (2022) garnered critical acclaim, winning multiple awards like the Asia Pacific Screen Awards 2022 for Best Animated Film, Movies that Matter 2023 for Special Mention and Audience Award, and the Grand Prix at FIFDH - International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights in Geneva 2023, among others.

Iryna Shostak is a Ukrainian communications expert, impact producer, and documentary filmmaker based in Kyiv, Ukraine. With over 8 years of experience in strategic communication, she has worked on campaigns for local and international NGOs, charitable funds, and corporate social responsibility initiatives. As the communications lead at Linza Agency since 2019, Iryna has managed a wide range of impactful projects, providing expertise in 360 communication strategies, PR consulting, content creation, and media collaborations. Iryna has contributed to notable campaigns such as “From the Fight for Freedom to the Fight for Inclusivity,” a motivational project for war-affected Ukrainians, and the Mastercard Sensory Brand Campaign at Atlas Weekend, which transformed the festival into a cashless and inclusive space. She has also worked on projects for organizations such as Go Global, East Europe Foundation, IREX, EU Delegation to Ukraine, the Red Cross, and UN Global Compact, La Strada Ukraine, Transperancy International (Ukraine), Chenomics International, providing creative and strategic communication support for impactful initiatives. Alongside her communication work, Iryna is an active member of Ukraine’s documentary community. Her short documentaries explore themes of existential search, identity, and memory preservation, including My Dad: The Lightning Researcher (2023) and Between the Ends of War (2024).

Isabella Phoenix is a global leader, changemaker, and passionate advocate for sustainability and human rights. She is the creator and leader of HP Amplify Impact an award-winning global sustainability program empowering over 4,400 businesses across 48 countries to drive meaningful change in climate, human rights, sustainable business and within communities. With over 30 years of international leadership experience in strategy, sales, marketing, and channel development across technology, FMCG, and emerging markets, Isabella brings a unique perspective on business as a force for good. A firm believer in the power of film to inspire action, Isabella has integrated video storytelling throughout her career to engage key stakeholders and amplify critical messages. She is also the co-founder of Architects of Air , whose Luminarias have captivated over 3 million visitors in 44+ countries. Committed to human rights, climate action, women’s rights, and disability rights, Isabella has actively supported organizations such as WIN, Refugee Voices, and Aquaverde, serving on advisory boards to drive impact. She is an IMD alumna and continues to champion initiatives that merge sustainability, social justice, and the arts.

Baumann Fruttaldo Isabelle Contact : Isabelle Baumann Fruttaldo, 21 rue des Etuves, CH-1201 Genève Tel. 0041 76 4192506 Email.​baumannisabelle@yahoo.fr Formation 4 ans​ESBA,Ecole Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Genève, section cinéma. Diplômée septembre 2004 4 ans​Université de Neuchâtel, Faculté de Lettres. Diplôme du BESI : Brevet d’Enseignement pour le français, l’allemand, l’anglais. Activités professionnelles 1996-2009 Animatrice socioculturelle: organisation de festivals, expositions, fêtes. ​Enseignement de la photo. 1999-2023​ Responsable de l’intégration de jeunes immigrés (15-18 ans), en collaboration avec le SCAI (Service des Classes d’Accueil et d’Intégration) ; activités culturelles et sportives. 1996-2002 Membre du collectif Chronik Records, label indépendant, Responsable image. Organisation de tournées. Manager du groupe Karacters (Paris Groove Up , Eastwest France). 1995-1996 Enseignement de la photo dans le cadre du programme l’Art et les Enfants, DIP Genève. 1982-1990​ Enseignement, éducation (délinquants mineurs), canton de Berne Filmographie 1996 ​ Zaqueando : écriture, réalisation, montage, essai, 16 mm 1997​ Soret 22 : écriture, réalisation, montage, essai, high 8 et super 8 2004​ Pasta e fagioli : écriture, réalisation, fiction, super 16, 11 mm, film de ​diplôme. 2024-2025​ En attendant Nakri : écriture, réalisation, essai, dv et photographies ​ En cours. Festivals et primes. 2004​ Genève fait son cinéma​Pasta e fagioli 2004​ Léman Bleu​ Pasta e fagioli 2005​ Journées cinématographiques de Soleure​ Pasta e fagioli 2005​ Prime à la qualité du canton de Genève​Pasta e fagioli Participation à d’autres projets cinématographiques 1998​Assistante de production. Pourquoi est-ce toujours les trains qui partent et jamais les gares ? de Laurent Nègre Photographie 1997-2002 Photographies pour diverses pochettes de disques : Odjila, Paris, Le Doux Parfum, Karacters, Verek, Celia Ferri, Genève, Tzaboo, Barcelone. 1998​Exposition collective de photographies au Palais de L’Athénée, Genève​ 1997-2003 Photographies pour diverses pochettes de disques : Odjila, Paris, Le Doux.Parfum, Karacters, Verek, Genève, Tzaboo, Barcelone. 2001​Lauréate du concours de photographies Bains urbains quotidiens. 1998​Exposition collective de photographie au Palais de L’Athénée, Genève​ 1996-2002 Reportages photo pour la presse, théâtre et concerts. Stages de photographie​ Arles 1996, avec Xavier Lambours Arles 1995 avec Raymond Depardon Arles 1994 avec Patrick Zachmann Arles 1990 avec Jane-Evelyn Atwood Théâtre 2 ans​Cours de théâtre avec Françoise Courvoisier, metteur en scène et directrice du Théâtre de Poche, Genève Langues Français :​​langue maternelle Suisse- allemand, allemand :​courant Anglais :​​courant Espagnol : ​basique ​ ​ ​

Born in 1970 in Santa Maria, Val Müstair, Switzerland. 1992-96 Studies architecture at the
ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich). 2003 Receives degree from ESBA
(École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Geneva), film and video department. 2004 Founds Alva
Film. Since 2008 lecturer for documentary film at HEAD – Genève (Haute école d’art et de
design) Geneva. Two-time recipient of an artistic grant by the canton of Grisons. Since 2018 board member of the Swiss Filmmakers Association ARF/FDS.

Jacques is currently the audiovisual producer at CERN, where he plays a key role in managing the institution’s audiovisual productions. In this role, he worked with Ron Howard to facilitate the making of the film Angels and Demons for Imagine Entertainment and Columbia Pictures. He also worked with Netflix on some documentaries set at CERN.After studying physics at the University of Nancy, graduating in 1994, and training in audiovisual production in Paris, he founded Marie Productions in 1996, a company specialising in the production of short films financed by institutional films. He then joined France Télévisions as a cameraman before joining CERN in 2001. n 2013, Jacques launched his second company, Quasar M4 Productions, through which he made his first feature film, *Léa, un ange dans ma maison*, available on Amazon Prime. Since 2016, he has been working on a documentary devoted to consciousness and the scientific research around this theme.

Jana is producer and owner of Mia Media, a production company based in Leipzig, Germany. She has 27 years of experience as journalist and in filmmaking; 20 years of experience as director for German broadcasters (ARD, ZDF; RTL Media Group) in documentaries, serial docuseries, feature length docus, and 13 years of experience as producer (up to 20 x 52’’ series and 60’’ feature lenght). She loves telling empathetic stories of interesting people and current affairs topics. Open minded, curious and passionate, she loves to connect to people. And she is proud mother of 3 wonderful children (2004,2014,2021).

As well as Directing and producing documentaries, Jane loves helping people to tell their stories effectively. She mentors and trains documentary makers the world over and is Editorial Consultant for the film and podcast documentary fund, The Whickers. She is currently Executive Producer for Blue Sweater With a Yellow Hole (Ukraine) and Concrete Land (Jordan) and was Associate Producer on the film Devi (Nepal).
She trained as a journalist on newspapers then worked in broadcast media creating and leading BBC London on tv, on radio and online before holding senior roles at commercial broadcasters (Discovery, Turner, UKTV and Current TV in the UK) before focussing on documentary.

Jenni Wolfson is a fierce human rights advocate and a trailblazer in the art of storytelling for social change. As the CEO of Chicken & Egg Films, her strategic vision has evolved the organization into a powerhouse of support for women and gender-expansive documentary filmmakers. A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and BAFTA, an Aspen Ideas Fellow, and a Dial Fellow of Emerson Collective, Jenni has been honored with the Women’s Media Center Lifetime Achievement Award and DOC NYC’s Leading Light Award.

I’m a digital content specialist with a background in journalism, communication, and project management. With experience at Médecins Sans Frontières and now Action Education, I’ve worked on digital campaigns, social media, and audiovisual content, focusing on humanitarian and environmental issues. I’m passionate about storytelling, photography, and videography.

Since 1994, she worked in television as a journalist and producer for international
events in France or Canada. Later she was director in daily live sports tv shows. In Europe she works in Panorama Films in Rome. Since 2006, starts in Warner Bros Madrid for advertising an tv shows. In 2012 he worked for Canal Encuentro in Buenos Aires as tv shows producer. Since 2013, back in Spain, he founded La Comunal and then refounded the Implicate in 2018 with current partners Carlos Martín and Begoña Ruiz. Implicate has produce documentaries and branded content.
2011 – Mis ahorros su botín- Documentary Feature Film
2019 – All I need is a ball-Documentary short film – Filmin/Prime
2020 – Una cancha llamada Madrid Film Documentary – Telemadrid / Telemedellín
2020 – Mula -Documentary Animated Short Film – Online
2023 – Remember my name -Documentary film – Movistar+ / Aljazeera / France Television
Coproduction: Boogaloo (Cataluña) – Les Films D’ici (París)
2023 – Oido Odio – Documentary film -MRS

Ji San is an activist with a longstanding commitment to promoting peace, social justice, and reducing gender inequality. A native of Kachin from Myanmar, she has worked with several civil society organizations focused on human rights, women’s empowerment and conflict resolution in Thailand and the United States in the late 2000s and 2010s. She has engaged in Myanmar-related advocacy at a regional and international level – including at the United Nations – for over a decade. She holds a BA in Government and International Studies and a master’s degree in Non-profit Management (MNPM).

Jigar Ganatra is an award-winning Tanzanian visionary filmmaker whose eco-philosophical documentaries challenge humanity to rethink our connection to nature. With a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling and a thirst for truth, Jigar has made films with communities living in the East African Savannah, the lush Amazon Rainforest and the towering peaks of the Himalayas. His evocative works aim to preserve and promote the cultural richness and ecological diversity that is at the heart of our planet. As the founder of the African School of Storytelling (AFRISOS), Jigar mentors emerging African filmmakers, empowering them to share their unique stories with the world.

Building and leading the Olympic Refuge Foundation since its creation in 2018, Jojo is a strategic and innovative leader with nearly 20 years’ experience using sport for positive social change within and outside the Olympic Movement. Jojo uses storytelling throughout her work having graduated in documentary making from Sydney Film School and served for more than 5 years on the Board of Documentary Australia Foundation. She has a track record leading and working with teams executing large-scale, cross-functional initiatives through her expertise in using sport for positive social outcomes and a proven track record of delivering high-impact programs, change management processes. She is adept at navigating complex stakeholder landscapes across global contexts and cultures and affecting systemic, sustained positive change in communities. A recent highlight was leading the Refugee Olympic Team to compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and win their first medal and working alongside the documentary team to support the making of We Dare to Dream about 5 of these Refugee Athletes and ensure it was screened to key audiences.

Juan Mejia Botero is an award-winning film director with over 25 years of experience in feature documentaries. His work has focused primarily on human rights abuses and struggles for social justice around the world. He has worked extensively in Latin America, The United States and the Caribbean where he has directed and produced a number of films and documentary series on forced displacement, ethnic autonomy, race and racism, immigration, policing, state violence, and the competition for natural resources.

Juan E. Yepes is a Colombian Film Producer, Production Coordinator, and Post-Supervisor. Juan’s most recent feature production, the documentary IGUALADA which tells the story of Vice President Francia Marquez, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. His work has been celebrated with the Audience Award at Doc NYC and Cine las Americas, the Grand Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival, and Bergen International Film Festival, and recognition at the Environmental Film Festival at Yale.

Dr Julia Hammett-Jamart is one of the pioneers of the French impact production sector. Former Managing Director of Best Impact Movies and now heading up Catalyst, a non-profit which creates global impact campaigns for film, television and immersive media. Recent projects as impact producer include the award-winning Zinder (France, Niger, Germany) and a forthcoming documentary, Inside Gaza (Factstory Docs). Julia brings to impact producing a wealth of experience across film and television production, policy and education in the European, African and Asian-Pacific contexts. She has produced and directed drama and documentary films (AFI Distribution, SBS-TV), was a senior policy executive at Screen Australia and holds a PhD in Social Sciences, Media and Communication. Julia has published widely on screen policy issues and is actively engaged in industry outreach - conducting training workshops and roundtables for key industry events including Venice Biennale College - Cinema Immersive, EURODOC, New Images Festival, Sommet des Arcs, l’Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art, Festival des Trois Continents, Katuu (Togo) – as well as teaching at the Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris) and at the Institut de Journalisme Bordeaux Aquitaine. Julia consults to high level international organisations including the European Audiovisual Observatory and STEPS South Africa. She is a member of the Global Impact Producers Alliance.

Julie Manoukian est productrice au sein de la société 4 Humans, une société spécialisée dans les enjeux climatiques, aux côtés de Camille Etienne et Solal Moisan. Elle est également Directrice administrative et financière d’Avant l’Orage, une association qui produit des contenus audiovisuels gratuits pour sensibiliser aux enjeux climatiques et sociaux. En parallèle, elle est directrice de production indépendante sur des projets variés (clips, documentaires, séries, et court-métrages de fiction primés), s’impliquant principalement sur des projets ayant une dimension sociale ou environnementale. Parmi ses projets les plus marquants, elle a accompagné des documentaires engagés comme “Pourquoi on se bat”, à propos de la fonte des glaciers, ou “Toxic Bodies”, dénonçant les polluants éternels. Julie soutient également l’orchestre Curieux, un jeune ensemble de musicien.nes professionnel.les dont le but est de rendre la musique orchestrale accessible à tou.te.s. Elle produit également le podcast 507 heures, un podcast qui met en lumière les métiers de l’ombre du cinéma et de l’audiovisuel ; et s’implique dans l’ARA, l’Association des Assistant.e.s Réalisateur.ice.s en tant que Déléguée à la production. Forte d’une expertise en gestion technique et financière de films et de sociétés, elle met ses compétences au service de productions qui sensibilisent et inspirent le changement pour un avenir durable.

Born in 1973 in Maui, USA. Based in Zurich, Switzerland, he holds joint Swiss and American citizenship. 1992-96 Attends Alfred University School of Art and Design, New York, art and video department, BFA Cum Laude. 2002-05 Attends HSLU Hochschule Luzern, Design & Kunst), film and video department, earning a Designer FH degree with honors. Works internationally as an independent author, director, producer, and cinematographer. Founder of LA BELLE FILM GmbH in Zurich, he is an alumnus of Emerging Producers 2024 and a member of the Swiss and European Film Academy.

International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) Founder and CEO Karen Tse has been instrumental in implementing groundbreaking measures in judicial reform in developing nations. Karen’s interest in the nexus between criminal law and human rights began as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, after observing Asian refugees detained in a local prison. As a U.N. Judicial Mentor, she pioneered rule of law initiatives, established the first arraignment court in Cambodia and trained the country’s first core group of public defenders. Karen founded International Bridges to Justice in 2000 to promote systemic global change in the administration of criminal justice. She is a graduate of UCLA Law School and Harvard Divinity School, and has been featured in publications such as Forbes and The New York Times. As a leading social entrepreneur, she has been recognised by the Skoll Foundation, Ashoka and Echoing Green.

Researcher.

Karolina is a filmmaker with a background in sociology and visual art, currently in production for her first feature film. She previously worked in journalism, producing content for Eurovision News and leading editorial projects to combat misinformation in the context of elections with First Draft. For FIFDH she has worked as Project Manager on previous editions of the Impact Days.

Kathleen Holmlund is the Managing Director at Giving Women, a membership association which seeks to build a community of informed women philanthropists and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of girls and women in need all over the world. A communications specialist at heart and by trade, she has worked in a number of countries across various corporate and nonprofit sectors for over 20 years. These include consumer electronics, automotive electronics, gender, human rights, climate and food. Her support for women’s rights and human rights has been part of her DNA since birth as both her parents were active advocates in the field. Kathleen also serves on the board of Women for Afghanistan, a Swiss registered association dedicated to uniting and amplifying their voices of Afghan women on the global stage.

From the study of law she moved to experimental television at the beginning of the 2000s. Has a training in different areas of cinema and documentary.Attended workshops from Javier Corcuera, Belikis Vega(EICTV), Nicolas Philibert, Luis Patiño, Eva Valiño, Joan Gonzalez and others. As a freelance has worked in Switzerland, Mexico and Spain. Mainly with public institutions and third sector entities generating pieces or in their communication campaigns. Between 2019/2022 directed the International Womens Film Festival in Zaragoza as executive producer, artistic director and designing the 25th edition. Nowadays works with other festivals in communication, production, programming or the development of activities that promote cinema under paradigms that question the politics of the gaze and the production of the dominant image. In 2024 was an alumni of the 'Seminar of the Public of the Future' at FICUNAM/IBERMEDIA (Mexico). In 2014 started filmming "The Righ to Dream. A hacker & indigenous community starred fable' a documentary that pushes what we know about technology and human cooperation.

Khadidja is president of Impact Social Club, the think tank for impact in France, and an advisory committee member of GIPA. She trains film industry professionals and students internationally, acts as a panellist and runs impact workshops (Berlinale, IDFA, FIFDH, DOK Leipzig, Movies That Matter, Sunny Side…). She has designed award-winning documentaries' impact campaigns and advised over 50 film teams on their impact strategies.

Kristie Robinson is an impact producer who has been working in the field for over a decade, initially with DocSociety on Good Pitch events across the Western Hemisphere between 2013 and 2019, where she worked with mostly Latin American film teams on impact strategy and campaign building. Kristie was based in Argentina for 12 years before relocating to Spain in 2018, and since then her work as an impact producer and consultant has bridged Europe and Latin America. Kristie is a member of GIPA (Global Impact Producers Alliance).

Lara Twerenbold is a strategic communicator with a degree in International Affairs, specializing in gender, peace and conflict. Passionate about how narratives shape our perceptions and inform our responses to global challenges, she recently co-founded Another Narrative, a creative consulting agency dedicated to driving change through storytelling. Rooted in multidisciplinarity and powered by collaboration, Another Narrative specializes in impact campaigns, storytelling consulting and content production for impact-driven organizations and businesses.

Laura has worked for over 20 years in the documentary industry. She's been actively involved in the organization and development of some of the most important international markets and festivals dedicated to linear and non linear factual programmes, with a particular interest for human rights, social justice, environment. In 2019 she has launched the Impact days, in the framework of the FIFDH: an unprecedented event where filmmakers can connect with NGOs, International Organizations and Foundations to enhance their capacity to create social change through the power of documentaries which since has been growing since.

Laura is currently serving as the Head of Industry and Film Programmer at the Movies That Matter Film Festival. She curates and coordinates the festival’s short and feature film programs and leads the festival's industry program, coordinating impact trainings and rough-cut sessions to support filmmakers in developing socially relevant narratives. Previously she directed the short film festival Leiden Shorts, and contributed to IndieLisboa Film Festival and to Cinekid Film Festival in the industry and new media department.

I have a passion for storytelling and organising for social change. I hold three Master's degrees ( two from UCLouvain and one from Kingston University) and I keep learning through a variety of training courses. I have worked as a documentary filmmaker, a communication officer, and a research assistant in various fields and contexts. Since 2022, I have also been a volunteer coordinator of the Greenmotions environmental and sustainability film festival, where I contribute to raising awareness and promoting social change through the power of cinema.

Liel Maghen has been involved in the field of peacebuilding for over a decade. Working in both top-down and bottom-up initiatives, his experience includes working with the Israeli Knesset and the Palestinian Authority, the United States Congress, and the EU together with co-directing IPCRI and managing programs for leading peacebuilding organizations such as Seeds of Peace, Givat Haviva, MEJDI Tours, and AIES. Within the city of Jerusalem, Liel co-managed an EU-funded project focused on grassroots community organizing and advocacy, led cross-communal delegations to other cities in conflict and co-founded the Sinsila Center for Urban Sustainability in East Jerusalem. He holds an M.A degree in International Development from Glocal and a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies, both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Liliana Jauregui is a Chilean economist and senior Environmental Justice expert at IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in the Netherlands. With over 18 years of experience, she focuses on nature conservation, human rights, and environmental justice, especially for indigenous and local communities. She designs programs for Environmental Human Rights Defenders globally and coordinates efforts against environmental crime in Latin America. Previously, she contributed to the documentaries Arica (Chile/Sweden, 2020) and Tigre Gente (USA/Bolivia, 2021). She’s currently producing the documentary Tigre Eléctrico (USA/Colombia).

Linda is a freelance investigative journalist and filmmaker with a focus on social and environmental topics. She holds a Master's degree in Cultural and Social Anthropology from the University of Vienna (Austria). For several months she lived in a Bedouin village in the south of Israel for her field research about feminism in the Middle East. Ever since Cultural and Social Anthropology shapes her approach in storytelling: observe, listen, participate. She authored and directed three short documentaries, wrote a script for a feature length documentary. 2024 she accomplished her first feature length documentary „Scars of Growth“.

Madeleine Corbat, born in Bern, has built a dynamic career in the film and cultural sectors. She began as a film journalist and later transitioned into PR and marketing roles in film distribution and cinema. In 2008, she completed training as a cultural manager. Since 2010, she has served as a production manager and producer at Recycled TV AG in Bern, where she became co-owner in 2022. Madeleine has been the president of the Cinéville Association since 2012 and serves on the board of GARP.

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Born in 1980. Studied religious studies, English literature and social anthropology at the University of Fribourg (Masters 2008) and screenwriting and dramaturgy at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (Dipl. 2014). Since completing her studies, she has lived and worked in Zurich. Manuela writes and directs cultural projects in various fields, mainly documentaries. She has experience in working with NGOs as well as government agencies. She worked part-time for a communications agency for several years, as well as in the asylum sector for the State Secretariat for Migration.

Marcela Lizcano is a director, audiovisual producer, and impact strategist. She founded Viceversa Cine, a Colombian production company focused on international documentary co-productions, including AISLADOS and COLLAB VR, as well as the feature films A Loss of Something Ever Felt and Suspensión, which have been showcased at festivals such as Cannes, IDFA, HOT DOCS, HABANA, and DOKLEIPZIG, among others. She is currently producing En Tierra and leading Nodo Sur, an initiative dedicated to strengthening the social impact of cinema in Latin America.

Maria Kaur Bedi is a Swiss film director with a focus on projects with inspiring heroines. She studied film directing in Zurich and the US, further refining her craft with industry legends like Susan Batson, Slawomir Idziak, and Judith Weston. She has achieved international festival success with short films such as Goodbye Boyfriend (2011) and Beatrix (2014). Her acclaimed television feature Die Einzigen (2017) was broadcast several times on SRF 2 during prime time. Her poetic cinema documentary feature The Curse (2022) about love and addiction was nominated for the Prix de Soleure and the German Camera Award and it won the Zurich Film Award 2023 for the artistic concept. In 2023 she collaborated with legendary Clemens Klopfenstein on Cinema Bruciato (2024) which premiered at International Film Festival Rotterdam 2024. Currently, she finalizes her third feature Kalari (2025) about female martial artists in Kerala, India.

Mariam Davtyan, born into a family of cinematographers, has started her career in the film and television industry since she was 16. It was a long journey from director assistant to producer. With an extensive background in documentary, a little in fiction filmmaking, and TV she has worked on numerous projects as a producer and line producer. Mariam's academic journey began at the Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinema, where she specialized in documentary film directing. She furthered her education at the St. Petersburg State University of Cinema and TV, specializing in Cinema and TV producing. She completed her postgraduate studies at the Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow, focusing on Film - TV and other screen arts.

Publications and Audio-visual Officer @ GSF

Executive Producer, Director and Journalist at dev.tv, Founder of the Young Activists Summit Marina Wutholen has built over 20 years of experience in video production. She serves as the Director of dev.tv, a non-profit production NGO specializing in sustainable development and human rights. Marina Wutholen filmed in the DRC, Kenya, Egypt, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Her reports have been broadcast by BBC World News, Al Jazeera and TV5MONDE among others. In 2019, Marina Wutholen initiated the 'Young Activists Summit (YAS)' which is organized by dev.tv, the United Nations and Swiss TV (RTS). World-renowned public figures have taken part in the Summit, including Angelina Jolie, Dr. Jane Goodall, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and the climate activist Vanessa Nakaté.

Michelle is a cultural organizer with more than 6 years of experience in film festival production and impact producer based in Mexico City. She led the first edition of the Good Pitch program in México 2020, as the Outreach and Partnerships Coordinator at DocsMX, a documentary film platform in Mexico City. Regional field building has established positive and productive relationships amongst filmmakers and organizers, which she aims to continue to support through workshops, forums, and overall creating spaces to recognize the power of thoughtful, ethical and fundamental storytelling processes as the social change ecosystem continues to grow in Mexico. She is also part of Impacta Cine, the first film & social impact collective in Mexico directed to work alongside filmmakers to design and implement impact campaigns.

Milena Stokar is an experienced documentary producer based in Switzerland. With a strong background in project coordination, production and budgeting, she has worked for over 10 years with RSI Radiotelevisione Svizzera, but also with Aura Film Sagl and First Hand Films. Milena specializes in documentary development, distribution strategies, and international sales, having participated in numerous prestigious festivals and markets. She holds a Master's degree in Cultural Studies from the University of Lucerne, a CAS in Green Consulting from Hochschule Luzern and a CAS in Fundraising from Hochschule Winterthur. Fluent in five languages, Milena is deeply passionate about documentary filmmaking. She is currently working with the Filme für die Erde festival, where she curates environmental-themed documentaries to be featured during the Festival held in 9 Swiss Cities.

Miriam is an impact strategist and cultural producer based in Nairobi, Kenya. She has over a decade’s experience working at the intersection of art and activism, designing and implementing programs and outreach initiatives within a range of social impact areas and artistic mediums. She is currently serving as the co-coordinator of the Global Impact Producers Assembly (GIPA). Previously, she worked as the impact strategist/producer for award winning films including Softie (Kenya, 2020), Los Hermanos/The Brothers (Cuba/USA, 2021), and No Simple Way Home (South Sudan/Kenya, 2022). At the heart of her work is a commitment to centering and amplifying under-represented stories and voices.

Monika Grassl was born in Vienna, Austria. From 2000 to 2005 she studied journalism and graduated by writing a thesis about "The nature of documentary filmmaking". To put theory into practice, she then studied documentary film directing at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In 2012 she directed her first documentary WHERE TIME STOPS. Her second film GIRLS DON'T FLY, about Ghanaian girls who face a cultural clash at an aviation school led by a British instructor, had its world premiere at Hot Docs and won the Max Ophüls Prize for Best Documentary. In her latest documentary SCARS OF GROWTH she sheds light on the paradox that mining is set to increase in Europe in the name of the green transition. Since 2016 she has been working as a freelance filmmaker in Paris, France.

Nadja Lapcevic is an independent producer from Serbia. She graduated Film and TV Production from The Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. Awarded an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, Nadja graduated in 2021 from the Kino Eyes Movie Masters. She is a LiM | Less is More, MIDPOINT Series Launch, and IDFAcademy alumna. She produced a short documentary Mother’s Milk which had its world premiere at Dok Leipzig and was nominated for the Silver Eye Award. In 2021, Nadja founded Varda Pictures, a production company based in Scotland and Serbia, through which she is working on a slate of projects. As a freelancer, she works for established production companies in Scotland.

Nader Alrozzi is a passionate cinematographer from Gaza, Palestine, specializing in media and visual storytelling. At just 20 years old, he has already made his mark on independent filmmaking, demonstrating a deep commitment to capturing powerful human narratives. His work includes poignant street cinema screenings and documentary projects that highlight pressing social issues.

The communications and marketing expert Nadja Scherrer is responsible for the pilot project "Inland Promotion" as the new Head of Marketing and Partnerships at SWISS FILMS.

Natacha Cornaz is a Swiss communications and fundraising specialist with a background in communication for development, international relations, and international law. Since 2019, she has worked with Peace Brigades International (PBI) to support and raise awareness for human rights defenders. She has experience in migration, armed violence, and advocacy.

Experienced in co-production and finance through her work with international companies, Natalia Libet is a producer and a co-founder of the women-led production company “2Brave Productions” based in Kyiv/Ukraine. She has produced several successful feature debuts, including Kateryna Gornostai’s “Stop-Zemlia” (2021 Crystal Bear Berlinale Generation 14+), Mantas Kvedaravicius’ “Parthenon” (2019 Venice FF’s International Critics’ Week) and Anna Buryachkova’s “Forever-Forever” (2023 Venice FF’s Orizzonti Extra). She holds a U.S. MBA as a recipient of the 2000 Edmund Muskie Fellowship Award. She is a member of European and Ukrainian Film Academies, an alumna of EURODOC 2021, Emerging Producers 2022 and Nipkow Program 2023. In 2024, Natalia became a Film Independent Global Media Makers fellow.

Across a 25+ year portfolio, Natalie is known as a multi-award-winning, highly trusted and sought-after producer and her track-record combines ideation, business-winning, fundraising across both public and commercial sectors, detailed hands-on editorial delivery, sensitive access, welfare and compliance. Before launching Glasgow’s Storyboard Studios, Humphreys held a number of senior roles including leading factual for BBC Studios and controller of factual for BBC Television. She was in charge of a £100M+ portfolio which included the world-renowned BBC Natural History Unit, Science and Documentaries and was editorial lead for the BBC’s partnership with PBS.

I am an independent filmmaker, Ukrainian-born researcher and the cinema-related events organizer for different NGOs and public insitutions.

Natasha Freedman is a creative director and producer with experience of opening up spaces for the exchange of ideas between disciplines and communities, questioning dominant ways of thinking and enabling new narratives to emerge. She has directed organisations and programmes in collaboration with NGOs, education, health and environment sectors, using creative practice and different forms of storytelling to agitate for greater equity and inspire co-operation.

Business Doc Europe is the voice of the European documentary industry.

Olimjon Bakhtaliev is the UN Advocacy and Network Officer at CIVICUS and is based in Geneva. He is a human rights professional who has over eight years of experience working with international organizations in Central Asia and Geneva. Previously, he worked at the UN OHCHR's Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section in Geneva and worked with INGOs such as Saferworld, ICNL, and UNDP to strengthen civil society and advance human rights in Central Asia. Apart from this, Olimjon represents Pamiri Indigenous Minorities from Tajikistan and has been a dedicated advocate for the rights of Pamiris, bringing their issues to the global stage, particularly within the UN.

Oliver Petrie is the co-founder of Momentum Production.
A documentary photographer, filmmaker, and journalist, he has been a member of the Hans Lucas collective since 2019. Having grown up in a multicultural environment between East Africa, the Middle East, and France, he has developed a unique sensitivity that he expresses through his projects.
Fascinated by the complexities of our societies, he places human stories at the heart of his work. His field of exploration ranges from war reporting to documentary filmmaking, as well as event coverage and institutional productions.
Since 2015, he has collaborated with numerous clients such as MSF, AFD, AIDES, CARE International, Lemonaid & Charitea, BBC Global, Apple Music, and more.
He is currently working on a feature-length documentary film on the youth of Myanmar amidst the revolution.

Swiss writer-director Orane Burri studied at 3IS and worked in Paris in documentary and advertising for 12 years, before relocating to her native Neuchâtel, Switzerland in 2012. Keen to give a voice "to those who are fighting against the absurdity of a world that we'd like to believe is unchanging", she has made films that are as committed to the cause as documentaries (Penaber, Tabou, Nettoyeurs de Guerre, Le Prix du Gaz- une résistance citoyenne and l'Allié) and fiction (short films Dublin, Non, SIS). 
Always seeking to involve audiences in her projects, she explores different forms and formats (documentary, fiction, animation, installations, transmedia, theater). With this in mind, she created her own production "les Regardiens" in 2016. The "Inestimable Forests" project was born of a collaboration with the Neuchâtel Botanical Garden. 
For further information: www.oraneburri.com or IMDB

Co-founder of M’GO FILMS, Panuksmi produces fiction, documentary and multimedia installations. She is focused on co-producing projects with international partners; stories that are intricately linked to the shared histories of Southeast Asia. Believing that cultural diversity is significant and inherently complex have led to collaborations with like-minded partners. Born in Jakarta, Panuksmi spent her formative years in New York City until she moved to Montreal to pursue her studies in film and begin her trajectory as a producer. She lives and works in Singapore.

Patricia is founder Story Matters which provides strategy and produces programs for artists, organisations and funders around nonfiction storytelling and impact. Her prior roles include: Impact Fund Director at The StoryBoard Collective, Creative Producer, Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program , Festival Director of Silverdocs: AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival. She worked Doc Society, overseeing several editions of the Good Pitch. Clients and partners include: CPH:Dox, Documentary Campus, Double Exposure, FIFDH/Geneva, Movies that Matter and Sunnyside of the Docs.

I have worked at Java Films since 2021, during which time I have worked to establish our thriving digital distribution wing, and more recently taking on the UK market. Founded in 2005 by Roch Bozino, Java Films rapidly established itself as one of the world’s leading independent distributors, providing pre-sales and distribution for documentaries, specialising in current affairs investigations, human rights, history and environmental films. Our boutique feature department takes on 6 – 8 feature documentaries a year, while our TV department works with approximately 60 – 80 titles per year.

Poppy is Chief Growth and Impact Officer at WaterBear: a B Corp-certified impact media platform using storytelling to drive change. WaterBear produces and distributes impactful documentary content and other media to drive tangible change across the world. At WaterBear, Poppy oversees three core business units: multi-channel marketing and platform editorial, impact strategy and campaigning and commercial development. She was also part of the founding team. Prior to WaterBear, Poppy held client-side roles at National Geographic and FOX, and has spent 14+ years’ working on global campaigns for FMCG brands such as Unilever, Accor Hotels and Carlsberg and TV/film launch campaigns like My Octopus Teacher, Genius and The Walking Dead. Poppy sits on the Netherlands board of the UN Global Compact and on the advisory board of the Aegean Film Festival.

Prince (Austin) Nyambok II has a storied background mainly in: Strategic Communications, Media, Arts, Entertainment and Education Circa. 2013-2018 he was the host of The Great Debaters Contest a national TV show that aired on Citizen TV and KBC Channel 1. Moreover, He was the Main Content Creator and moderator of Great Debaters Contest; Connect Edition a spin-off of the main show. Currently, Nyambok is the Communications Officer at DocA – Documentary Africa. Where, he’s notably been involved in the Co-design of the DocA Real Reel Impact Program (RRI) that seeks to holistically support documentary producers/filmmakers with their Impact Campaigns. Outside film, he is the founder of a noisy music company called MAD Royal Entertainment.

Priscilla, formée en anthropologie et sciences des religions, avec une spécialisation sur l’Asie, a construit son parcours autour des droits humains et des dynamiques sociales à l’échelle internationale. Son expérience au sein d’ONG et d’organisations engagées lui a permis de développer une expertise en recherche de fonds, coordination de projets et communication.

Les questions de justice sociale, de cultures et de communautés marginalisées sont au cœur de son engagement.

A lawyer since 1992 for the Protestant Social Center (CSP), a local NGO that provides free advice and support to the population, I have specialized in migration law and debt issues. Since 2012, I have been a member of the board of Dettes Conseils Suisse, an association that advocates for indebted individuals by promoting better practices and more suitable laws to address over-indebtedness. Finally, I am also a member of a federal commission responsible for drafting the proposed new debt relief law, which will be discussed in the federal parliament this year

Roberto Perez-Rocha is the Director for the International Anti-Corruption Conference Series (IACC) with Transparency International as its secretariat.
Gathering around 2,000 people from circa 140 countries, the IACC is the world’s leading independent forum for all those committed to achieving social justice. In its last edition, Korea 2020, the IACC gathered in its virtual format more than 10,500 people from over 180 countries.

Ruth Terpstra Go-Founder ShareDoc, she is a freelance sound technician in the film industry with extensive experience in project innovation and management.

Sabine is Professor in Modern History at the University of Birmingham, UK. Her research has spanned a range of themes in contemporary history from post-war diplomatic history and the history of European integration to interdisciplinary global research on the social consequences of armed conflict with particular emphasis on conflict-related sexual violence and children born of war. She has led several international and interdisciplinary research projects in these fields, including a Horizon20-funded intersectoral, international and interdisciplinary doctoral training network on children born of war as well as collaborative research peacekeeper-perpetrated sexual exploitation and abuse. Sabine is passionate about creating impact from participatory research, and focusses on the use of film for this purpose.

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Sandra Whipham is one of the five co-directors of Doc Society. She heads up the Democracy Story Unit, which will bring storytellers into an ecosystem with academics, activists, journalists and social scientists to think together about what narratives about democracy are most needed and most effective. Previously, Sandra managed the BFI Doc Society Fund, distributing National Lottery funding to UK filmmakers. She has also been a producer and commissioning editor at Channel 4.

Originally from Sri Lanka, Sanjeewa assumed the role of IBJ’s International Program Director in October 2006 after over 12 years of experience in project management in Asia. He began his career as the Asian Coordinator for International Young Christian Students (IYCS) in 1988, where he conducted social awareness and leadership training programs for students in 14 Asian countries. In 1995, he joined the Asian Legal Resource Center (ALRC), a regional human rights NGO based in Hong Kong, where he assisted human rights-related legal training programs for different groups including civic group leaders, lawyers, and judges from the Asia-Pacific region. He represented ALRC at numerous UN forums including the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Human Rights Committee in Geneva, preparatory meetings leading to the World Conference against Racism in Warsaw and Bangkok, and the Committee against Torture. Sanjeewa was the East Asian focal point for the NGO Coalition for International Criminal Court (CICC). He has undergone human rights training at the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague and the Danish Institute (formerly Danish Centre) for Human Rights (DIHR) in Copenhagen. He obtained his Masters of Law (LLM) (Human Rights) at the University of Hong Kong in 2004.

Sarah Bel is a seasoned media and communications strategist with over a decade of experience at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where she leads media relations across Europe and engages with journalists worldwide. As a spokesperson and Senior Communications Advisor, she has played a pivotal role in shaping UNDP’s narrative, managing high-profile media campaigns, and providing strategic communications support to senior leadership, including the UNDP Administrator.
Her expertise spans high-stakes media engagement at major global forums such as COP, Davos, and World Bank meetings. Sarah has extensive experience navigating complex policy landscapes, particularly in climate change, sustainable finance, and international development, ensuring impactful storytelling that resonates with diverse stakeholders.

Sarah is the Founder & CEO of Together Films, a marketing and sales company serving the international film community from our offices in London & NYC. She has acted as the Head of Marketing for leading Film Festivals including Sheffield DocFest (Sheffield, UK), DOC NYC (NYC, US), Human Rights Watch Film Festival (London, UK & NYC, US), and the Athena Film Festival (NYC, US). She is passionate about serving filmmakers to increase their social impact, reach, and revenue for multi-award-winning titles like For Sama, Unrest, The Tale & Roll Red Roll. Sarah is a graduate of the prestigious Inside Pictures film leadership course and was selected for the Mayor of London’s International Growth Programme (including trade visits to NYC & LA). In 2023, Together Films expanded into international sales representation backed by the BFI’s Global Screen Fund. The debut slate includes Life After (Directed by Reid Davenport, premiering at Sundance 2025), and Your Fat Friend (Directed by Jeanie Finlay).

Satindar Singh Bedi, born in India, is a 2ilm director and author. He shuttles between Switzerland and India since January 2022. After working in the 2inancial sector, he turned to 2ilm making in 2008. He completed his training at the renowned Film and Television Institute of India (FTII,Pune) in 2015. His medium-length 2ilm KAMAKSHI premiered at the Berlinale, was shown at 40 festivals around the world and won 20 awards. He also took part in the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab in 2016 and the Zurich Film Festival Master Class in 2019. Together with Maria Kaur Bedi, he shot the poetic documentary THE CURSE in 2022, which was nominated for the Prix de Soleure and the German Camera Award and won the Zurich Film Award 2023 for the artistic concept.

I’m Sergio Martínez Álvarez, a passionate communications professional and multimedia creative with experience telling stories that resonate. I am currently working at the United Nations in Geneva and throughout my career, I’ve worked with international organizations such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the Organization of American States (OAS), producing compelling video content, photography, and multimedia for high-impact projects. I’ve always been fascinated by the power of visual storytelling to drive change, whether capturing the essence of a community or producing content that amplifies important global issues. My work spans across documentaries, promotional videos, and event coverage, where I bring creativity, technical expertise, and a deep commitment to authenticity. When I’m not working, you’ll find me behind the lens, capturing life’s moments through photography, or playing guitar, always looking for new ways to express stories visually.

Simona is a seasoned Ecosystem Builder and Impact Producer with a decade of experience leading over 150 projects, events, and campaigns for global brands, policymakers, investment funds, and community initiatives. As a certified Green Productions Assessor, she seamlessly integrates her expertise in sustainability and experience design with her passion for driving positive behavior change. Currently pursuing her research at the prestigious Les Roches Switzerland, she is exploring tourism as a catalyst for cultural preservation of vulnerable indigenous communities. Fluent in eight languages and with a wealth of experience across Europe and Africa, Simona creates transformative projects that connect deeply with diverse cultural contexts.

Stella is an impact strategist of Above and Below the Ground, a film capturing leadership of Indigenous Kachin women and artivists (BLAST, a punk rock band) to protect a sacred river from a foreign mega-hydropower project in her ancestral land in Kachinland, northern Burma/Myanmar. Stella has worked as an international rights advocate for inclusive peace and justice in Burma/Myanmar. As an independent political writer, her writings have been published in various Burmese national and international media platforms concerning peace and conflict, justice and accountability, gender equality as well as land and resource issues of her home country. As an academic activist, she explores theories and practices of non-Western peace building, decolonisation, Indigenous self-determination and Indigenous feminism. Her goal is to pursue social justice and transformational change in her native Kachin society.

Subina Shrestha is a filmmaker and a journalist who likes to push boundaries in storytelling. Her work ranges from print stories in the New York Times, to short fiction in virtual reality. Her news coverage on Nepal’s earthquake and its aftermath earned her multiple awards including an Emmy nomination. Subina has been speaking, hosting and moderating at national and international conferences that focus on gender, development and journalism. She was nominated for the Rory Peck Award for her camerawork while undercover reporting in Myanmar during cyclone Nargis. She was a 2017 Nieman fellow at Harvard and a 2019 Global Media Maker fellow at Film Independent and a 2022 Ochberg fellow at the Dart Center in Columbia University.​​​​​​​ Devi, her first feature documentary, premiered at HotDocs in 2024.

Suium Sulaimanova is a documentary filmmaker and producer with extensive experience in film production. She graduated in Law from the International Slavic Institute and in Public Administration from the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kyrgyzstan. In 2019, she co-founded the “Creative Center” production hub. Suium worked as an executive producer at Ernest Abdyzhaparov’s “SEA” studio (2013–2017) and is currently working on two documentaries with the support of “Kyrgyzfilm.” In 2023, her documentary “The Sky of Our Childhood” won “Best Documentary” at the Central Asian Academy of Cinema “Ak-Ilbirs.”

A human rights advocate/NGO worker hailing from Hong Kong, currently based in Geneva.

Of Iraqi origin, she was born in the Valais and grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. When she was younger, she started painting, which led to her real passion, cinema. She graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor in Cinema from HEAD-Geneva (Haute école d’art et de design). Her first short UN PAPILLON (2021) was selected in the Schools Competition at the Int. Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, LES FANTÔMES DU PARADIS (2021) at the Geneva Int. Film Festival, and her graduation film MY HOMELAND (2023) won multiple awards.

Tamara Milosevic was born in Frankfurt am Main. She studied documentary film directing at the Baden-Württemberg Film Academy in Ludwigsburg and earned a specialized degree from EICTV in Cuba. She is interested in controversial topics, with a focus on society and politics. She has received several awards and nominations for her work. Since 2022, she has been Co-Owner of Recycled TV AG, a film production company based in Bern, Switzerland. She works as a Producer and documentary filmmaker.

Tania Cotton is the founder of MovementWise Productions. MovementWise specialise in films on Health and Human Performance that reveal how people can overcome physical and mental health challenges to do things in their lives they previously believed impossible.

Tay Blyth-Kubota is Creative lead of UNICEF’s High-value partnership content. His specialism lies in creating films and multimedia content (including producing, directing, filming & editing) within the human rights and humanitarian sector. With close to 15 years of experience working with numerous NGOs, international organisations and national & international broadcasters, he is in his third year with UNICEF. He holds an MA(Cantab) in Anthropology from the University of Cambridge, and an MA in Filmmaking from the London Film School.

Tetiana Hanzha is a documentary film director based in Kyiv, Ukraine. In 2020 she graduated from Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Ukraine) with a Master's degree in Theory, History of Literature and Comparative Studies. From October 2020 to May 2021, Tetiana participated in the Documentary Film Lab for Young Filmmakers Indie Lab, under the direction of Dmytro Tiazhlov and Ella Shtyka (Kyiv, Ukraine). Her short documentary Books versus Asphalt, which premiered at the American Independent Film Festival (Kyiv), was created in this programme. In 2021, she took part in a series of workshops for young filmmakers Young Europe (Poland), led by Jacek Blawut, Miroslaw Dembinski, Pawel Lozinski, and Lidia Duda. In the summer semester of 2022, she studied in the International Class at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg (Germany) where she developed the project Women Occupied (working title) which she is co-directing with Zoia Volk for ARTE Platform. In 2023, Tetiana studied editing as a guest student at the Lodz Film School (Poland) where she completed her debut medium-length documentary Bouquinistes (Poland, TVP Dokument S.A.). Bouquinistes premiered at Molodist FF in Kyiv, 2024.

Tone Grøttjord-Glenne is an award-winning Norwegian director and producer. In 2005, she established Sant & Usant AS with a vision to create strong visual documentary films. The company has produced and co-produced more than 40 films including titles as All that I am, Sisters on Track, Gunda, 69 Minutes of 86 Days, I am Kuba and Bravehearts. With a strong interest in creating change using documentaryfilms, Tone established an impact-company Educational Storytelling Publishing and Film, which focuses on creating tools for public services using a new method of learning; combining research, true story-elements and expert knowledge.

Virginia is a film, television, and podcast production lawyer. Virginia initially worked as a project finance lawyer for an international law firm A&O Shearman in the UK, Hungary and Australia. She then moved into the film industry and worked as a film finance lawyer for the British Film Institute’s Film Fund on fiction and documentary independent films produced across Europe, North America and Australia and New Zealand. Virginia then moved to New York where she obtained a Master in Laws at Columbia Law School before working in Reed Smith’s Entertainment & Media Practice for 2 years before joining Apple’s Apple TV+ streaming service in 2020. Virginia is currently the Global Production Legal Lead for Non-Fiction (including documentary series and feature films) and Podcasts at Apple TV+.

Vivian Schröder is the co-founder of The Good Media Network and herself an Impact Producer and field builder. In the past she has worked on the impact campaigns for the film TOTAL TRUST, directed by Jialing Zhang as well as NOT JUST CELSIUS, a campaign amplifying the voices of global youths to bring the worlds biggest problem to the worlds highest court. She has organised and co-hosted a Climate Story Lab in Berlin in 2020 as well as a Climate Justice Story Lab in May 2024 in The Hague. She now heads the Good Media Lab & Pitch program together with Anna Ramskogler-Witt, Germany’s first film and impact program. Under the umbrella of their joint company Anna and Vivian also organise the Dokumentale, Berlins new non-fiction media and film festival. Vivian is a member of GIPA.

Xinyan Yu is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker based in Washington DC. Born and raised in China, Xinyan started her journalism career in 2012 as a producer for BBC News in Beijing. She has covered major breaking news across Asia and North America for a decade, and won a White House News Photographers Association award and an ONA Digital Storytelling award. Now an independent filmmaker, Xinyan has directed content for international broadcasters including BBC, NHK, PBS NOVA and PBS Frontline. She is a New America National Fellow, a Firelight Media Doc Lab fellow, a Brown Girls Doc Mafia Sustainable Artist fellow and an alumnus of the Yaddo Residency.

Yaara Bou Melhem is an Australian writer, director and producer specialising in social justice films that often tackle the most pressing issues of our time. Her debut feature, Unseen Skies (2021), interrogates the inner workings of surveillance and artificial intelligence and was produced with Participant (USA). She recently wrote, directed and co-produced The Whiteley Art Scandal (2023), a 2 x 1hr series about one of Australia’s biggest art fraud trials for the ABC. Her award-winning shorts range from following the creation of a secular democracy in war-torn Syria to profiling disinformation campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa. Yaara’s films have earned multiple accolades including two UN Media Peace Awards and five Walkley Awards. Yurlu | Country is her second feature film.

Yannic Bucher is a photographer and creative director passionate about driving change through storytelling. Combining his background in international affairs and the creative sector, he recently co-founded Another Narrative, a creative consulting agency specializing in impact campaigns, storytelling consulting, and content production for impact-driven organizations and businesses.

Wen is a Malaysian documentary filmmaker and journalist. In the last decade, she has worked on international documentaries for Netflix, BBC, History Channel, Crime & Investigation Network, Euronews and CNA. Her documentary on female circumcision, The Hidden Cut, won the Society Of Publishers in Asia 2019 Awards for Excellence in Reporting Women’s Issues. She is also a Pulitzer Center grantee. Wen is an alumna of IDFAcademy and American Film Showcase. In 2019, her debut feature documentary, Eye on the Ball, about Malaysia’s blind football team premiered in London. Most recently, Wen’s #MeToo short documentary, The Boys Club, won the NETPAC Award during its world premiere at the Busan International Short Film Festival 2022. Currently, she’s working on a documentary about marginalised communities in Malaysia, Queer As Punk, supported by Hot Docs CrossCurrents Fund.

Yik Kei Leung is a Senior Project Officer at Think-Film Impact Production, Europe’s leading impact media company operating at the cutting-edge intersection of art and social change with extensive experience at the highest levels of law, policy, and film, and with credits including Oscar and BAFTA winner “Navalny” (CNN Films / Warner Media), Emmy and Peabody winner “The Territory” (National Geographic), and legacy Hollywood feature “Dark Waters” (Participant, starring Mark Ruffalo). Yik Kei has been a long-standing member of the Think-Film team since 2021 and has led successful film impact campaigns covering a variety of issues from freedom and democracy, toxic chemicals and health, and Ukraine culture and education.

Yuval Orr is an Israeli writer, director and producer. His writing, directing and producing credits include Down the Deep, Dark Web (Israel-France, 2016), Earn a Living (France, 2017), Advocate (2019) and the forthcoming The Day After (Israel), a documentary feature film about the peaceful resolution of The Troubles in Northern Ireland as seen through the eyes of an Israeli and Palestinian filmmaking crew. Yuval's work has screened at film festivals around the world, including IDFA, the Jerusalem Film Festival, DOK.Leipzig and DocAviv, among others, and has been nominated for numerous international awards, including the IDFA DocLab Competition for Digital Storytelling, the BANFF Rockie Award for Best Interactive Content, the Digital Media Award at Prix Europa, and an Ophir Award (Israel's Academy Awards) for Best Documentary. Advocate (Israel-Switzerland, 2019), a feature film documentary about Israeli human rights Lea Tsemel, on which Yuval served as production manager, was short-listed for the Oscars in the Best Documentary Feature Film category. Yuval is the co-founder of No Man's Land, a Tel Aviv-based production company.

After training in the field of cinema, I increasingly practice painting and am currently focused on representations of microorganisms that live within each of us. My inspiration originates from the multiple medical examinations I have had to undergo for years. My work is based on the fascinating images that these examinations often produce from viruses or bacteria that reside in our bodies. "The cellular constellations I propose thus constitute a pictorial reinterpretation of the cells that make up our bodies. My work thus offers an artistic reinterpretation of these microscopic images that I associate with galaxies, nebulae, planets, and stars. Living with HIV for over 30 years, I have gone through these dark years without too much damage, and for the past 10 years, I have been the volunteer president of the PVA Geneva association, which helps migrant people living with HIV. Our field actions in the City of Geneva can be followed on our website www.pvageneve.ch and my artistic activities are also on my page www.zaqguimaraes.ch

Zoé Boissel's mission is to define, manage and implement RSF’s communication strategy with the aim of increasing RSF’s visibility and the financial resources available to it. A graduate of the Aix-en-Provence Institute of Political Studies with a master's degree in international political journalism, Boissel began her career as a journalist in the print media and radio. Since 2009, she has continued her career in communications in organisations as Initiative France and the French Banking Federation. In 2015, she entered the social and solidarity economy by joining the communications department of France Active as brand content manager. This pivotal experience took her to Simplon.co, where she led the external communications team until 2021. Before joining RSF, Boissel was director of communications and marketing at the social start-up Entourage.