Awards

Iris Petit is a French documentary and experimental filmmaker whose work spans both artistic creation and cultural education. For the past eight years, she has been active as a cultural mediator for the Geneva International Film Festival on Human Rights (FIFDH), where she engages diverse audiences in critical dialogue through film. In addition to her festival work, she teaches film in schools and regularly conducts workshops that introduce young people to the language of cinema and visual storytelling.

Her artistic practice extends beyond filmmaking into photography, illustration, and ceramics, allowing her to explore different forms of expression. Across these mediums, she consistently addresses pressing social and environmental issues, using art as a tool to raise awareness, spark reflection, and inspire change.
 

Dương Yến is a lecturer at the University of Science VNU-HCM, specializing in STEM education and science communication. She integrates interdisciplinary teaching, climate change education, and project-based learning into teacher training and community outreach.

In the framework of the Science Film Festival, she mentors students in organizing screenings and discussions to spark curiosity about science, technology, and environmental issues. Her work is driven by a commitment to expanding access to science through creative formats and encouraging young people to explore future-oriented careers that contribute to a more sustainable world.

Arifur Rahman is a Dhaka-based filmmaker (Writer/Director/Producer) from Bangladesh whose work spans themes of society, human relationships, and nature. He has produced films across Asia and Europe, with screenings at major festivals including Venice, Rotterdam, Busan, Singapore, and Melbourne. His recent production Barir Nam Shahana won the Gender Sensitivity Award at Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival (2023) and the Audience Award at Karawan Fest, Rome (2024).

His documentaries have been showcased at forums such as COP24 and WHO’s Health for All Film Festival, where One in 36 Million won the Grand Prix (2023). In 2025, he joined the governing body of the Bangladesh Cinema and Television Institute, where he now heads the Producing Department. Arifur also regularly speaks at forums and conducts workshops, using cinema as a tool for social impact.

Siddhant Sarin is a national award winning filmmaker & educator from India. He is a co-founder of Docustan and his films delve into the quotidian lives of people through observational methods. With an intimate approach, he traverses the interaction 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 has graduated as a scholarship student at Docnomads and has previously studied cinematography at DFFB (Berlin) and FAMU (Prague). He graduated from Govt. Law College, Mumbai before pursuing his filmmaking career. He envisions author driven artwork that is reflective and socially relevant.

Theodros Atlaw Woldegabriel is an accomplished editor, translator, and cultural curator with over a decade of experience cultivating dialogue and creative expression. As founder of the Critical Reading Platform in Addis Ababa, he fosters thoughtful engagement with contemporary texts and ideas, attracting diverse audiences. His distinguished career includes serving as a Senior Editor at the Ethiopian Academy Press, part of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences, where he was instrumental in shaping scientific publications for clarity, accuracy, and broad accessibility.

This role highlights his robust background in science publishing and popularization, driven by a commitment to impactful science communication. With a keen editorial eye and a deep appreciation for narrative, Theodros skillfully bridges cultural and intellectual domains, exploring how literature, media, and film illuminate scientific concepts and engage global audiences.