Jury Chairperson
Seema Biswas
CHAIRPERSON
Seema Biswas is a distinguished Indian actress celebrated for her performances in both Hindi cinema and theatre. She gained national acclaim for her portrayal of Phoolan Devi in Bandit Queen (1994), a role that earned her the National Film Award for Best Actress. Biswas later won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2000) and the Genie Award for Best Actress (2006) for her portrayal of Shakuntala in Water (2005). Her versatile career spans notable films such as Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Bhoot (2003), and Vivah (2006).
C. K. Muraleedharan
C. K. Muraleedharan is an accomplished Indian cinematographer, known for his extensive work in short films, commercials, and television. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune (1987), he made his feature film debut with Ek Chhotisi Love Story (2002). Muraleedharan also co-conducted a research project on the history and practice of cinematography in India for the India Foundation for the Arts.
Jury Member
Jury Member
Deepa Bhatia
Deepa Bhatia is a distinguished film editor, producer, and director based in Mumbai, renowned for her work on commercially successful films such as Taare Zameen Par, Rock On, My Name is Khan, Raees, and Kedarnath. With over two decades of expertise, she has collaborated with prominent directors like Govind Nihalani and Jahnu Barua. In addition to her editing career, Bhatia directed the acclaimed documentary Nero’s Guests, which garnered recognition at the Mumbai International Film Festival. She views editing as the process of refining a film to its utmost potential.
Jeo Baby
Jeo Baby is an Indian filmmaker, scriptwriter, and actor, predominantly known for his work in Malayalam cinema. His family drama The Great Indian Kitchen (2021) won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film, with Baby receiving the Best Screenplay award. A graduate of St. Joseph College of Communication, he began his career by writing for TV sitcoms. His notable works include 2 Penkuttikal (2016), Kilometers and Kilometers (2020), and Kaathal – The Core (2023), featuring Mammootty and Jyothika.
Jury Member
Girish Joshi
Girish Joshi is a distinguished writer, playwright, and filmmaker whose contributions have significantly shaped contemporary Indian storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, Girish has made his mark across multiple mediums, including theatre, cinema, and television, earning both critical acclaim and audience admiration. Some of his seminal works include Kaksparsh and Manvat Murders.