Sergei Bodrov - President
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker, writer, producer and director Sergei Bodrov was born and raised in Siberia. He worked as a journalist, before becoming a scriptwriter, with over 20 productions to his name including co-writing ‘East-West’. He is best known for his 1996 Oscar-nominated film ‘Prisoner Of The Mountains’, which also won a FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at Cannes. His most recent production, ‘Mongol’ (2008) also received an Academy Award Nomination for ‘Best Foreign Film’. He lives in Moscow, Germany, Kazakhstan and Arizona.
Lebleba
One of Egypt’s best known actresses, Lebleba has appeared in over 80 films, working with the likes of Youssef Chahine, Niazi Mustafa, Ali Idris. Having been honoured by film institutions around the world, she remains an icon of North African cinema. She is also a popular singer, best known for her children’s songs including ‘Papa Habibi’ and ‘Hasalty’. She has regularly sat on committees for a number of film festivals.
Ahmed El Maanouni
Born in Morocco in 1944, filmmaker Ahmed el Maanouni studied at the International Theatre University and the Sorbonne, in Paris. He is a founding member of the Arab Filmmakers Association in France. During an illustrious career, he has been repeatedly honoured for his films, many of which revisit key moments in Moroccan history. Key works include ‘Al Koloub Al Mouhtariqua (Burned Hearts)’ (2007), (Grand Prize, Critics Prize and Best Sound Prize at the 2007 National Film Festival in Tangiers; Muhr Award for Best Cinematography, Dubai International Film Festival 2007), a documentary trilogy ‘Morocco-France: A History In Common’ (2006) and ‘Al Hal’ (1982).
Ahdaf Soueif
Ahdaf Soueif is a bestselling Egyptian author, political and cultural commentator, widely regarded as one of the most eminent voices of contemporary Arabic literature today. Based in London and Cairo, she has published a series of best-selling works, including ‘The Map Of Love’ and‘In The Eye Of The Sun’, and a collection of political analysis and comment. Last year, Ahdef Soueif established Engaged Events, a UK-based charity which launched the Palestinian Festival Literature which took place in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Ramallah this year.
Christoph Thoke
As executive for production and acquisition for Taunusfilm and CineMedia, Christoph Thoke oversaw international production activities, before launching Thoke + Moebius Film in 2003, which to date, has produced over 330 festival selections and 70 award-winning titles. He has recently launched a new firm, Mogador Film.