Sri Lanka
Pre-Jury

​A pre-jury of more than 30 local science education and science communication professionals from the participating countries are closely involved in the selection of the films.

In South Asia the pre-jury in 2025 consisted of the following members:
Arifur Rahman

Arifur Rahman is a Dhaka-based global filmmaker (Writer/Director/Producer) from Bangladesh. Through his work, he strives to create a positive societal impact by telling compelling stories ranging from human relationships towards society to nature. He has produced films in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, the UK and Korea. Arifur Rahman’s produced films have been screened at international film festivals such as Venice, Rotterdam, Busan, Seattle, Singapore, Shanghai, Melbourne, Raindance, Tallinn Black Nights, the International Film Festival of Kerala, and the Shanghai International Film Festival.

His latest produced film, “Barir Nam Shahana”, received the Gender Sensitivity Award, Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival, 2023 & Audience Award, Karawan Fest, Rome, Italy, 2024.

His directed documentary about the first female surfer (Nasima) from Bangladesh got the Best Pitch award in Tokyo Docs for “Beyond the Waves” in 2016. His directed documentary “In Search of Karam: A Tale of Climate Crisis was screened at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP24). His other-directed documentary, “One in 36 Million: Story of Childhood Lead Poisoning in Bangladesh”, got the Grand Prix Award in the "Better Health and Well-being" category of WHO's Health for All Film Festival, 2023.

His directed web fiction film “Scooty” addressed the issue of women’s public transport problems in Dhaka City, screened at the WOW Festival by the British Council in Bangladesh and streamed on the popular local OTT platform, Chorki. In 2024, he joined the Bangladesh Film Advisory Committee, later on, January 6, 2025, in the governing body of the Bangladesh Cinema and Television Institute. The same year he became the head of the Producing Department of BCTI (Bangladesh Cinema and Television Institute). Arifur frequently speaks at various forums, conducts workshops, and utilizes his filmmaking skills to foster interactive communication, share knowledge, and inspire action.

Science Film Festival - Pre-jury - SAS - Arifur Rahman

Dhaka-based global filmmaker (Writer/Director/Producer) from Bangladesh

Siddhant Sarin

Siddhant is a co-founder of Docustan and his films delve into the quotidien lives of people through observational methods. With an intimate and delicate approach, he traverses the interplay between individuals’ internal and external worlds. He was supported by Asian Cinema Fund (Busan), Docedge, EIDF & Lithuanian Film Centre for his national award-winning film, ‘Ayena (Mirror)’, that premiered at festivals such as Krakow Film Festival, Dokfest Munich, Puerto Rico IFF, Kino Pavasaris amongst others. He represents his production ‘Teh Films’ that formed the world’s very first Indian, Lithuanian and S. Korean co-production team. His recent short documentary ‘MUM’ premiered in Fipadoc, Cinemajove, Guanajuato IFF and won awards at IDSFFK, Kerala, Brussels IFF and Caminhos do Cinema Português. He graduated as a scholarship student at Docnomads and has previously studied cinematography at DFFB and FAMU. He graduated from Govt. Law College, Mumbai before pursuing his filmmaking career. His initiative - Téh Films - envisions author-driven artwork that is reflective and socially relevant.

Science Film Festival  - Pre-jury - SAS: Siddhant Sarin

Co-founder of Docustan

Payal Arya

India

Payal Arya creates site-specific and immersive installations that people inhabit blurring the parameters of the room. She explores the concept of nonlinear time and notions of distance, position, and bodily tolerance, to rethink what it means to have agency.

She currently is an Assistant Lecturer at Jindal Global University and teaches in the BFA department. She has created multimedia exhibitions over the years.
She was invited to Film Akademie Baden Wurttemberg - Germany where she co - directed, co- produced and did production design for the film 'PIPIO' created a VR experience and an interactive installation. Her film “मुडपानदी ईच्छा An Intangible Claim” was showcased at the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and on IkonoTV screening platform and at Divvy Film Festival at Lahore in 2023.
 

Science Film Festival - Pre-jury - SAS: Payal Arya

Assistant Lecturer at Jindal Global University

Aditi Kulkarni

India

Aditi Kulkarni, is a multidisciplinary artist based in Pune, India. Her practice deals with the concepts of time, alienation of space, momentum using the laws of physics, collective memory, and the politics of every day.
Aditi is British Council Fellowship-Charles Wallace India Trust Awardee for Research Residency at Spike Island Bristol, 2009, and French Embassy Travel Grant. (2010). She was among the top twenty finalists for The Skoda Prize 2012. Aditi has also participated in various international residencies, film-video festivals, museums, workshops, and exhibitions/shows.

Science Film Festival - Pre-Jury - SAS: Aditi Kulkarni

Multidisciplinary artist based in Pune, India