Mariam Hamdy is a Film Professor at the American University in Cairo. She is a film programmer at Aswan International Women Film Festival as well as an independent filmmaker.

Ms Hamdy is engaged as a mentor for various age groups to pursue their filmmaking career in different Egyptian Youth Summits, and active member in various international film festivals as well as film conferences worldwide. 

Ricardo Mbarkho is a Lebanese artist, director, researcher, and assistant professor.

In his work, he investigates the transformation of cultural industries into creative industries in the digitalization age. His research is focused on communication, language, and human relations.

His artworks and lectures are presented in prestigious art events in Lebanon and abroad. Ricardo Mbarkho received his Diplomas from University of Paris 13 (PhD), Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris and Ecole Supérieure d’Etudes Cinématographiques, France, and from Institute of Fine Arts - Lebanese University, Lebanon.

He completed an exchange study program at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. He is represented by Mark Hachem gallery.His videos are shown in international venues and online.

He was the art director and organizer of the Festival International de Film et Vidéo de Création at Beirut between 2004 and 2010 where he defended an alternative audiovisual practice resisting mainstream propaganda.

Born and educated in Belgrade, Serbia and based in Slovenia. Works as a freelance film critic.

A regular contributor to various media in Croatia (Croatian Radio, Lupiga), Montenegro (Objektiv, Pobjeda), Slovenia (Dialogi) and Serbia (XXZ Magazin), as well as to international outlets like Cineuropa and Asian Movie Pulse.

Co-founder of Ubiquarian, an international English-language film criticism platform dedicated to documentaries, experimental and short films.