SHORT FILMS JURY

GIORGIO CUGNO

Italy
PRESIDENT OF THE JURY
 
Born in 1979 in Torino. Director, screenwriter, and actor. He studied direction and sculpture in Torino at the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts. After graduating, he became interested in the fields of art and film, primarily taking up the relationship between fiction and the documentary image. He has produced numerous shorts and documentaries, both warmly received at home in Italy and on the international festival circuit. The drama “Vacuum” (2012), is his first feature film, was be presented at the 13th European Film Festival of Lecce, where it won four awards, including the Special Jury Award and the FIPRESCI award. Among other, it has been chosen for the 47th Karlovy Vary IFF, 36th Göteborg IFF and also selected for the 35th Villerupt's Italian Film Festival, the 57th Seminci Valladolid IFF and the 13th Tbilisi IFF. “Alien Food”, his new feature film during his development was selected by the Torino Film Lab – FeatureLab section (post-production award), MMP (Mannheim-Heildelberg IFF), Apulia Film Forum, Venice Production Bridge (Biennale Cinema – Venice GAP Financing Market) and Torino Film Lab Coming Soon section. “Alien Food” had its world premiere in the 52nd Rotterdam IFF – Official Selection 2023.
 
 

ALYONA BABENKO

Russia
 
Stage, film and TV actress, producer. Merited artist of Russia, holder of the Order of Friendship. Born in Kemerovo. In 2000 graduated from VGIK (class of A.Romashin), debuted in the TV series “Kamenskaya”. An actress of the Sovremennik Theatre. Winner of the Nika and Golden Eagle awards as well as of numerous national and international film festivals for her part in the film “A Driver for Vera” (2004), of the MTV Russia award for “Indi” (2007) and other awards. She appeared in the movies and TV series “Give Me Life as a Present” (2003), “In Upper Maslovka” (2004), “Love Me” (2005), “Andersen. Life without Love” (2006), “Ferris Wheel” (2006), “Carnival Night 2” (2006), “To the Sea!” (2008), “High Security Vacation” (2009), “What Else Men Talk About” (2011), “Once Upon a Time in Rostov” (2012), “And There Was a Day…” (2015), “Papillon” (2016), “Salsa” (2017), “Holiday” (2019), “Vertinsky” (2021), “Lovers” (2022) and others.
 
 
 

JUBORAJ SHAMIM

Bangladesh
 
Independent filmmaker. In 2014, he made his first short film “A Family” which won the Sheikh Russel National Award by Bangladesh Children’s Academy for the best film in 2016. In 2017 his second short film “Contrast” went to several international film festivals. Not wanting to wait for a producer to make his film, he decided to be his own film producer. In order to raise money for his first feature film “The Instinct”, he started to sell shares of the film. It was completely financed by common people. “The Instinct” world premiered in the 44th Moscow IFF and begged Special Jury Award and NETPAC Jury Award as well. Then it was premiered in the 25th Religion Today Film Festival in Italy and it was also premiered in New York at 12th Queens World Film Festival and won “Best For Fest” award. This film also begged Best Fiction Award in international category in the 10th Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival. Founder of a social organization called Aamader (Our) in his hometown Tongi just outside of Dhaka. Aamader operates a community library and a night school for laborers. He hosts regular film screening and post screening discussions in the library and school.
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