Goethe-Institut

Pakistan
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 2023 consisted of the following members:
Bidhan Rebeiro
Science Film Festival - Pre-jury - SAS - Bidhan Rebeiro

Critic, writer, journalist, and teacher

Bangladesh

Bidhan Rebeiro ist ein bangladeschischer Filmkritiker, Schriftsteller, Journalist und Lehrer. Er ist Herausgeber von Cinema Dorshon, einer kleinen Online- und Offline-Kinozeitschrift. Seit 2005 ist er als Journalist tätig. Er hat für RTV, Boishakhi Television, ATN News, NTV Online und andere Medien gearbeitet, sowohl auf Vertragsbasis als auch zeitweise. Er hat einen Abschluss in Informatik und hat seinen Master an der Fakultät für Massenkommunikation und Journalismus der Universität Dhaka mit einem Stipendium der norwegischen Regierung gemacht. Seinen zweiten Master absolvierte er an der Stamford University in Film- und Medienwissenschaften. Später absolvierte er einen Kurs zur Wertschätzung von Filmen an der FTII in Pune, Indien. An der Jahangirnagar University unterrichtet er als Lehrbeauftragter in der Abteilung für Journalismus. Seine bemerkenswerten Bücher sind Film Lesson Guide, Film Judgement, Shahbag: Politics, Religious Consciousness, and Miscellaneous Lack: Leonardo Lalon Lacan, Bollywood Bahas, etc. Neben seiner Tätigkeit als Dokumentarfilmer war er auch als Juror bei verschiedenen internationalen Filmwettbewerben und -festivals tätig. Als FIPRESCI-Juror nahm er an den 75. Filmfestspielen von Cannes, dem 20. und 21. internationalen Filmfestival von Dhaka teil.Alisha Sadikot is a public historian and educator who uses walking tours, both physical and virtual, as a tool to encourage creative and critical public engagement with Mumbai's urban histories, art and museum collections. Her practice focuses on broadening and deepening art, museum and heritage conversations through the Inheritage Project (since 2015) and Art Walks Mumbai, which she co-founded in 2017. Formerly, Alisha was Curator, Education & Outreach, at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum from 2012 to 2015 where she helped develop the museum’s popular learning programme. She continues to work with the museum part time as outreach and education consultant.

Yoshida Menon
Science Film Festival  - Pre-jury - SAS: Yoshida Menon

Independent Educator

India

Ms. Yoshida Menon is an independent educator who believes in making science relevant, engaging and accessible to children while making connections to the larger picture of a sustainable planet. After completing her Master’s in Physics, she worked as a software analyst, implementing supply chain solutions in the US and UK for 10 years. She later joined the school system and took roles to manage and implement global school partnerships and education for sustainability programs. Currently, Yoshida, along with her partner Preveena, work with organizations like Goethe-Institut, US Consulate and Rotary Clubs to curate and implement hands-on exploratory workshops for children, that kindle curiosity and encourage inter-disciplinary learning. The duo has been part of the Science Film Festival for 5 years now and have also written and produced 2 films which were shortlisted for screening in multiple countries.

Peer Varma
Science Film Festival - Pre-Jury - SAS: Peer Varma

Founder of Openivy Media

India

Preveena Nandakumar is an architect, glass artist and an independent education professional focusing on creating and delivering information on science and sustainability. She started her career as an architect in Bangalore and worked on a variety of projects including the Tsunami rehabilitation project in Puducherry. She was part of a study, analysis and execution of a Sustainable Earth Dome construction in Auroville along with a team of Architects. While living in London, she studied Art & Design (Glass), where she used recycled glass to elevate them into meaningful art. Currently, she works on Education for Sustainability focusing on curiosity based exploration. She also undertakes freelance architectural and interior design projects. Her keen interest in reclaiming, reusing and reimagining has given her opportunities to add value to mind, material and space.

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

Multidisciplinary artist based in Pune, India

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.

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

Assistant Lecturer at Jindal Global University

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.