LIFF JURY 2025
İhsan Kabil
İhsan Kabil is a Turkish film director, critic, and festival director. As an adviser to the Korkut Ata Turkish World Film Festival, he plays a key role in promoting cinema from across the Turkic world. Guided by the motto “Unity in Language, Idea, Work”, the festival has grown into a major platform showcasing films, panels, and cultural exchanges that strengthen cooperation and highlight shared heritage.
Satish Anand
Satish Anand is the Chairman of Eveready Pictures, one of Pakistan’s oldest and most influential film and television companies. With over four decades of experience, he has overseen the production and distribution of hundreds of films and dramas, playing a pivotal role in shaping South Asian cinema. Respected for his integrity and cultural vision, Anand continues to champion stories that celebrate humanity, heritage, and cross-cultural dialogue.
Zulkifli M. Osman
Dato’ Zulkifli M. Osman is a Malaysian filmmaker and actor, the son of veteran singer Allahyarham M. Osman and actress Afidah Es. He began acting in 1976 with Sayang Anakku Sayang and later directed his first feature Mira Edora(1990). Known for hit films such as Suci Dalam Debu (1992), Kekasih Awal dan Akhir (1993), and Diari Romeo (2003), he has also won Anugerah Skrin awards for Jutawan Segera and Badrul Oh Rahul. In 2016, he returned with Misi Operasi X. Honored with the titles DPMP and DIMP, Zulkifli remains a respected figure in Malaysian cinema.
Bensalem Bouabdallah
Bensalem Bouabdallah discovered his passion for filmmaking at the age of 12 and soon gained mentorship from established UK film professionals. Growing up with both Arabian and French cultural roots, his unique vision has shaped acclaimed works such as 1492: The Shattered Utopia, Andalusian Encounters, 500 Years of Silence, The Makkah Clock, and Córdoba. His films, celebrated in cities including London, Paris, Doha, Granada, Venice, and Istanbul, explore universal themes with fresh perspectives. Bensalem’s upcoming feature, The Clock Maker, promises to further reveal the mysterious meaning of time and existence.
Zakir Hossain Raju
Zakir Hossain Raju is a Bangladeshi film director, story writer, and screenplay/dialogue writer. A graduate of the University of Dhaka, he made his directorial debut in 1996 and has since become known for popular romantic and family films. Raju has won multiple National Film Awards, including for Bhalobaslei Ghor Bandha Jay Na (2010) and Moner Moto Manush Pailam Na (2019). In 2024, he was appointed as a member of the Bangladesh Films Certificate Board.
Pijush Saha
Pijush Saha is an Indian film producer, director, and story writer from Kolkata, and the founder of Prince Entertainment P4. Known as the Star Maker of Tollywood, he has launched several leading actors including Soham Chakraborty, Subhasree Ganguly, Ankush Hazra, Rubel Das, and Prince. His notable films include Satrur Mukabela, Kartabya, Bajimat, Neel Akasher Chandni, Kellafate, Beparoyaa, Tui Amar Rani, Hari Ghosher Gowal, and Jaalbandi. With multiple projects lined up, Saha remains one of India’s top independent film producers.
Janak Deep Parajuli
Janak Deep Parajuli (b. 1975) is a leading Nepali filmmaker, lyricist, and media professional. He is the Chairman of the Film Directors Guild of Nepal and founder of Janakdeep Production, with acclaimed works in films, documentaries, and music videos. Internationally active through London Cine Eye Production (UK), he is also dedicated to social welfare and cultural development in Nepal.
Gulbara Tolomushova
Gulbara Tolomushova is a film scholar and film critic. A graduate of the Faculty of Screenwriting and Film Studies at VGIK (Moscow), she is an Honored Worker of Culture of the Kyrgyz Republic and a member of the Union of Cinematographers of Kyrgyzstan, of FIPRESCI, and of NETPAC. She serves as the Program Director of the Young Cinema Forum “Umut” and is the Editor-in-Chief of the Cinema Development Fund’s website kyrgyzcinema.com. She also contributes to Kinokultura.com. Specialist of the Cinema House named after Chingiz Aitmatov in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan). She has published a number of scholarly works both in Kyrgyzstan and abroad. In 2024, she was named an Officer of the French Order of Arts and Letters.
