Jury 2021
DEAN ALEXANDER
Film Director and Photographer
Dean Alexander is an advertising/fashion and EMMY award winning film director and photographer. His work has taken him to over 60 countries. His films have won awards at the Fashion Film Festivals of Berlin, Milan, London, Madrid, Miami, Barcelona, Brussels, Croatia, South Africa, Chicago, as well at the Clio Entertainment Awards, Cannes Lions, ONE Show, Communication Arts, Paris Art & Movie Awards, among others.
His still photography has won over 150 International Awards including Communication Arts Annuals (Photo, Advertising and Design), Archive Magazine, National ADDYS, ONE Show, PDN Photo Annual, SPD Awards, among others. He has been selected by Lürzer's Archive Magazine as one of the "200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide" every year since 2010 and recognized by GRAPHIS as one of the "100 Top in the Americas".
PETER BECK
President of Swiss Film Association, Founder and Creative Director of Beck & Friends GmbH
For nearly 30 years Peter Beck is working in the department of film, storytelling and digital content creating.
PETER BOSTOEN
Director corporate films, commercials & television
Filming around the world, Peter Bostoen has worked with people from a wide variety of social, cultural and religious backgrounds. This versatility – combined with extensive technical skills, deep creative insight and a sympathetic approach – allows him to excel at expressing human emotion with strong visual power.
Peter has specialized in corporate and institutional communications, but he incorporates his previous practice in shooting commercials, documentaries and TV drama. He has won international awards for several of his commercials and corporate films.
DAGHAN CELAYIR
Director
Daghan Celayir was born in Istanbul and also finished his studies in visual arts in Istanbul. He was selected among 200 artists worldwide to receive the UNESCO artist in residency prize. He participated in the artist residency program in Australia, Bundanon. In 2008, he produced and directed the short titled “The One Note Man” which was screened in 82 film festivals including Rotterdam and Angers, and have won more than 15 prizes including the Jury Prize in 53rd Valladolid IFF, Best Film in 32nd Cine de Elche IFF and Audience Award in Sao Paulo Film Festival. The film was screened on Canal Plus France & Spain, France 3, TVU Japan. In 2013, he co-directed a short animation titled “A Cup of Turkish Coffee”, a French Turkish co-production supported by ARTE & CNC. It won the Best Short Film Award at the 51st Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival and the 59th Valladolid IFF Meeting Point in 2015. Daghan is extremely well founded technically and has a contemporary visual approach and a talent for spotting a good story. In 2011, Daghan directed Time Run for Red Bull International, among 11 other films that he made for RB, this particular one has been part of World of Red Bull Campaign aired worldwide and in Super Bowl Finals 2012. In 2017, the commercial film “Home of Turquoise” that he wrote and directed for Turkish Airlines and Ministry of Culture, was selected as the best tourism film worldwide by International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals. The film received 22 awards (9 Grand Prix) in all major film festivals on tourism films. After its release the film has been viewed more than 60 million in the internet, aired in most of the TV channels and cinemas especially across Europe and North America. His fashion film “The Universe” had 3 nominations in Berlin International Ciclope Film Festival and won the Best National Fashion Film Award in Istanbul Fashion Film Festival and has compete in Los Angeles and Berlin Fashion Film Festival. Along new branded, commercial and film projects, his developing feature films ‘‘If Pope Knew” and “Ghetto Drifters”.
BARBARA DEJONGHE
Co-founder and creative director at Clementine
Barbara produces, directs and edits corporate films packed with humor and emotion. After her film studies in Brussels, she worked for a short period for national television. Since 2011 she is co-founder and manager at Clementine, a creative agency that caters for all audiovisual needs.
Her colorful works, defined by their authentic happy mood and largely influenced by her passion for dance and upbeat music, have been awarded internationally and formed the center-piece of notable online campaigns.
Clementine produces online commercials, branded content, corporate films, employer branding movies and internal communication videos.
JANNEKE DOOLAARD
Filmproducer
Janneke Doolaard is active in quality cinema and television production for almost 25 years. In 2009 she founded Amsterdam-based company DOXY Films, producing documentaries and fiction that has its roots in reality. They have also broadened their playing field with sports related films.
Starting point of DOXY is the connection of relevant topics with an original visual style. Combining genres may well be their trademark, never made, eye-catching films, which have a long (festival) life. The way they work is based on belief in the dynamic process: adventurous, inventive, and efficient.
Janneke is graduated from the European producers network EAVE in 2014, has been delegated as Producer on the Move representing The Netherlands in 2016 and became member of the board of Netherlands Audiovisual Producers Alliance (NAPA) in 2020.
DOXY works together with the Dutch (regional) funds, broadcasters, distributors and film and festival platforms, and with renowned foreign producers, distributors, sales agents, funds, and broadcasters.
H.G.J. (JOHN) DRIEDONKS
Professor-of-practice at the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (UUAS)
John Driedonks has created a multi-platform documentary storytelling course "CampusDoc" in cooperation with the City University of New York (CUNY). During this twenty-week crash course 20 students pitch, research, produce, crowdfund, film, edit and distribute their own documentary concepts. Distribution starts after the premiere of the short docs during the CampusDoc (International) Film Festival.
As senior lecturer at the School of Journalism UUAS John Driedonks coordinated between 2006-2017 a real-life converged newsroom with a focus on broadcasting TV talkshows, and web. The student-run talkshows are still aired on the local TV station: RTV Utrecht
In addition to his regular activities for the School of Journalism, John Driedonks was guest lecturer at several universities in Europe, Qatar, China and South Africa. Between 1982-2006 he was a journalist, finally as editor-in-chief of RTV Utrecht (radio-television + web).
MAGDALENA DULAC
Head of audiovisual production at Colas Group
Magdalena Dulac is a philologist and the head of audiovisual production for the Colas Group (world leader in the construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure). In this capacity, she supervises the Group’s audiovisual projects, which have won more than twenty professional communication awards over the past ten years.
ISABELLE FOURNET
Film Editor and Filmmaker
www.isabellefournet.com/editor.html
Isabelle Fournet is an awarded editor and a filmmaker, with a background in computer animation, currently working on humanitarian projects in partnership with UNESCO, as well as Spanish and French feature and documentary productions.
STEVE GARVEY
Founder of Moving Image
Steve Garvey has 30+ years' experience in film and video as an agency head, producer and in-house comms director. He runs Moving Image, the UK’s independent hub for insights into brand video and corporate film.
Former CEO of two of the UK's top 10 corporate production companies, he founded and ran Reuters Corporate Television, and produced documentaries for Channel 4 and the BBC. He was comms director at Yes Television and ran industry association EVCOM.
INGRID GOGL
Vice President Marketing & Communications at Yunex Traffic
Photo: Christian Lendl
Ingrid Gogl is an expert in strategic communication and corporate storytelling.
She is Vice President Marketing & Communications at Yunex Traffic, a Siemens Mobility company. There, Ingrid and her team are responsible for the company's global brand and communications presence.
Before that, Ingrid was head of the ÖBB newsroom (internal & digital communication) at ÖBB-Holding AG, where she and her team were responsible for award-winning communication projects, including the “ÖBB Gleisgeschichten”.
VYACHESLAV GOLDFELD
CEO and Managing Partner
Vyacheslav went on an unexpected career path from physicist to filmmaker and scriptwriter, and “on the way” he has become co-owner and CEO of a production company.
For over twenty years Vyacheslav has been engaged in video production, and is one of the leading experts in the field of corporate films in Russia. The projects under his supervision have received awards at Moscow, New York, Los Angeles (including two Best of Festival Prizes in a row), Cannes, and other international film festivals.
He prefers to personally supervise large-scale and integrated projects, including working with companies such as Gazprom Neft, S7 Airlines, Salym Petroleum Development, and Rusnano. Many years of experience in solving the problems of large companies has made it possible to expand the sphere of his competence to all aspects of marketing and promotion.
MELISSA GRUNDLINGH
Associate Creative Director at Superside
My career has always been guided by a desire to learn and explore new, exciting things. This has taken me on a journey from traditional print via Corporate Identities, to social media and web design, and finally above-the-line advertising. Within all these different fields, I’ve been happiest working on projects with the potential to bring about positive change in the world and empowering women.
I have always loved and been good at design. Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to practice and hone this skill through a diverse range of projects. I have experience in both Design and Art Director roles, and I find the most pleasure in combining these two parts to craft my own ideas.
Driven by this mix of hard work, perfection, and coffee, I have won some pretty shiny things too, both locally – including Loeries Grand Prix, Pendoring Umpetha and Ad of the year – and internationally – including Gold, Silver, and Bronze at CANNES and the One Show Club, a few D&AD Pencils and a Clio award to name a few.
ALA HAMDAN
Filmmaker
Ala Hamdan an award-winning filmmaker. She studied filmmaking at NYFA and now is a co-founder of (at Films) production company. Ala's work focuses on PSAs on social justice and uplifting topics, documentaries, and short films. Some of her web-series work was viewed over 5 million times on various social media platforms.
CONRAD HEBERLING
University Professor
Conrad Heberling teaches Media Economy and TV Marketing Research at the German Film University Babelsberg “Konrad Wolf”. He has nearly 20 years of experience in management positions with TV stations in Germany (RTL2 Television, DAF Television), Austria (Austria 9 TV) as well as internationally. He holds a number of international advisory positions such as with Dori Media International, a leading producer of telenovelas, drama and game shows and has authored numerous scientific papers in regards to topics such as “Big Brother”, “Popstars”, merchandising, children´s television and many more.
JONATHAN HELMER
Head of Production at McCann Germany & CRAFT Germany
Jonathan is working in the position of Head of Production for CRAFT Germany and McCann Germany.
As a producer he constantly aims to create visual assets that fit the brand’s need within the frame of possibilities.
Always having the brands DNA and communication strategy in mind as well as the creative approach that is needed to archive the desired impact.
PHILIP HOLLERBACH
Executive Producer Film & Content / Global Communications at AUDI AG
Philip Hollerbach can look back on already 12+ years of experience as an award-winning PR and marketing film and content professional in the automotive industry. His international works for many leading companies such as Audi, Bentley, BMW Mini, Lamborghini, Porsche or VW (to mention just a few) took him to approximately two dozen countries on all continents. His work was already medaled with multiple awards at international festivals, including the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, AutoVision and the World Media Festivals.
The versatile director is experienced in helicopter & drone shots, stunt shoots, automotive Russian & Scorpio Arm shoots, underwater shoots, slow motion, full CGI animation, documentary work and much more.
Since 2017, he works for AUDI AG as Executive Producer Film & Content Global Communications.
WOLFGANG JO HUSCHERT
Producer and chairman of the Federal Association of German film and audiovisual producers e.V. Wiesbaden
Winner of 19 German National Corporate Film Awards and more than 150 international and national Awards. President of the International Tourism Festival "The Golden City Gate" at the ITB Berlin.
TINA ILLGEN
Producer and CEO at AVANGA Filmproduktion GmbH & Co. KG
With her degree as a qualified communications specialist, Tina started her career in online marketing. After a world trip, she worked as a freelance producer until she co-founded AVANGA Filmproduktion in fall of 2007. There she built up the advertising film division. Tina is now the contact person for the documentary and feature film area bigpicture. AVANGA has already won 3 Dolphins in Cannes and at the Golden City Gate – ITB with her documentary films.
MARINA KEM
Director, CEO and Author
www.sterntaucher-filmproduktion.de
Marina Kem is a director, author, and CEO of STERNTAUCHER Filmproduktion in Hamburg. For more than two decades she has been directing documentaries, portrait, and animated films, as well as science communication and change communication campaigns. Her sense for human relationships makes her films authentic, approachable, and inclusive. For sovereign and credible interviews, she has developed her own interview method, that combines journalistic rhetoric with nonverbal techniques from psychology. She studied documentary film directing at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Ludwigsburg. Her award-winning movie "Bonne Nuit Papa" tells for the first time about the Khmer Rouge genocide from an exile perspective through the deeply moving story of her Cambodian father. She is co-author of the book: "Cambodia - A Political Reading Book".
IRINA KHANGOSHVILI
Author, Director and Producer
Irina Khangoshvili is author, director and producer of documentary films and television programs. Since 2010 has worked for different television channels in Georgia, Russia and Europe. The participant and prize winner of several international documentary film festivals in Europe and Russia. The prize winner of TEFFI international film festival (Russia). The jury member of International Russian film festival (Spain, Marbella.), ITFFA – international tourism film festival in Africa. For the last 6 years has been collaborating with Currenttime TV (Radio Liberty’s American Russian speaking channel) with an international travel show “We welcome” with Zurab Dvali. The show “We welcome” has received awards in Greece, Bulgaria, Latvia, Portugal.
KIM KIESLING
Composer, Producer, Musician
He has been working as a composer and producer in the field of film, advertising and record production for over 20 years. Together with his partner Martin Fekl Look he is the owner of the wonderful mob-studio in Hamburg's Schanzenviertel.
TERUHIKO KIMURA
CEO and Executive Producer at IMAGE SCIENCE, INC.
Over 25 years, Teruhiko Kimura has been creating corporate films and digital contents based in Tokyo, Japan.
Since 2011 he is Managing Director of the Japan Association of Audiovisual Producers, Inc.
SVEN-ERIK KNOFF
Film producer and Photographer
Sven-Erik Knoff is an award-winning Norwegian photographer and film producer who portrays the wonderful reality of the world the way it is. He seeks out iconic places, stunning scenery, architecture, and both known and unknown personalities. His work shares with us magnificent scenes, people, light, colors, and moments that are otherwise the preserve of the ardent adventurer. The carefully thought-out lines, eye-catchers, and perfect lighting – these are what bring forth the visual stories Knoff relates to in his work. He seeks to capture the moment just as it was when taken and share the natural and spectacular reality on behalf of his clients and in his own projects. Working with light, lines and composition at the shoot are his passion, along with the painstaking, manual work needed to control an image under demanding conditions. His realistic portraits, films, nature, and landscape photography have been noticed in Norway and abroad.
Knoff's images have been published by major clients and Norwegian and international media, and has won several international awards, including “Best Camera” at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2017 for the production of 'Iconic Norway' in cooperation with the production company, Natural Light. After over 20 years in the food and wine industry, followed by more than 7 years working with tourism organizations in Norway, Sven-Erik decided to fulfil his dream and cultivate his lifelong fascination for film and photography.
Within the space of just a few years, he has built up an impressive portfolio of films and photographs with the emphasis on real life. Sven-Erik Knoff is also an entrepreneur in the field of visual displays and is currently working on developing solutions within 3D and photogrammetry for multi-purpose-use in an international market.
MICHAEL KÖGLER
Director, Producer and Reporter
He has been working for TV stations such as: ORF, RTL, SAT1, SKY, SPORT1, KABEL1 and VOX. Director of sport events, producer for comedy shows, gala events and concerts. Emmy Award winner for Red Bull Air Race.
RONALD KRAPP
Director and conceptual writer for advertising and corporate film, TV trailer, TV and documentary
Canadian citizen Ronald Krapp was born in Hamburg in 1968. After finishing his education as a bookseller and publisher he went off to Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg to study Advertising Film Direction.
This was where he obtained first awards for his works. One of his student films was copied by a large automotive company without his prior agreement and was televised worldwide. This is how Ronald learnt about the worth of a good idea – including his own ideas.
Since 2001 he has been working as director and conceptual writer for advertisements, corporate films, and TV trailers. He loves to draft and write promotional concepts – for others, too. When a project is funny, absurd, or very lyrical, you can trust he will put his heart and soul into the project while sitting in his office in Berlin-Kreuzberg.
In 2009, Ronald Krapp started educating film students in Salzburg and Berlin as a lecturer for conception of advertising films and documentaries, for which he also has a major soft spot.
During a gunfight in the streets of Berlin, a 9mm bullet broke into his Kreuzberg office and missed him tightly. Ronald decided to focus on the few upsides of the incident, took it as an inspiration and started to write TV crime stories with an author friend of his.
His motto: Why have hair when you can have ideas!
DAVID KUNAC
Managing & Creative Director at FINAL FRAME GmbH
David’s media career started 25 years ago as a news producer and editor for Germany’s broadcaster RTL Television. Since 2008, he is Managing and Creative Director at FINAL FRAME and is winner of more than 25 international awards for corporate films and documentaries.
He is member of international juries such as the Emmy Awards or the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards. Further, he is Executive Producer of the multi award-winning documentary DRAWING AGAINST OBLIVION.
FINAL FRAME produces corporate movies and documentaries for international clients worldwide.
STEFANO LENTINI
Composer
Composer, best-known for his album Stabat Mater to Wong Kar Wai’s film “The Grandmaster” two Academy Awards nominee. Mainly interested in unconventional scoring. He composed the soundtrack - feat. Charlie Winston - for TV Series “La Porta Rossa” nominated for Best Score and Best Song at 2017 Fimucinema Awards and the score for International Emmy Kids Awards nominee “Braccialetti Rossi”. His first instrument was a classic guitar made by his grandfather who was a carpenter out of some old wardrobe doors.
THORSTEN MEIER-BARTLOG
Senior Consultant & Creative Producer Film-Photo-CGI for Corporates
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
Thorsten Meier-Bartlog has 20+ years of experience in production of audio-visual media for all ranges of use, including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Toyota, Brose and many more.
In 2008, he co-founded and ran GoodFilm GmbH Stuttgart as Executive Producer.
In 2015, he switched sides and from then on gained experience from the clients’ point of view. He currently is at Schaeffler AG and carries responsibility for all global topics including film, photography, and CGI.
He strongly emphasizes on cross-media and sustainable production for various versatile applications in marketing and communication.
RENATE MESCHUH
Film Producer
Renate Meschuh was born in Graz and studied at the University of Education in Graz. After 19 years of teaching, she started to work for Art Media Film- & TV production as a production manager. Since then, she has written several scripts and directed documentaries for the Austrian Television. Together with her husband Andreas Meschuh, they have won numerous International Awards. Their mission statement is to reach the highest level in producing films.
PATRICIA MESTANZA NIEMI
Film Editor
Patricia Mestanza Niemi worked in various positions in the field of film production, until she finally decided to work as an editor in 2002.
In her role as trailer editor and producer, she has been responsible for the production of numerous movie trailers in Austria and Germany, like IN DEN GÄNGEN and WEAPON OF CHOICE. Her client base includes, among others, Trailerhaus, X Filme, ARD, Weltkino, DRIFE Productions and BETAFILM.
Since 2010, Patricia Mestanza Niemi has also worked as an editor for various feature and TV film productions. These include the multiple award-winning TV film "ALLES ISY" by Mark Monheim and Max Eipp, and HANDARBEIT/COVERUP, which won the 1st place audience award at the Rüsselsheim Short Film Festival.
In 2017 Patricia further expanded her scope of work to recaps. In this field she has worked as an editor on series such as BABYLON BERLIN, WILD REPUBLIC and FURIA.
Together with her husband Florian Deyle she founded the UNIFIED FILMMAKERS platform in 2020, which also includes a MEDIA LIBRARY and the UNIFIED FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL, which premiered in 2021 as part of the Munich Film Festival.
KATERINA MIROSHNIKOVA
CEO and Independent Producer
Katerina Miroshnikova is CEO of Emotional Reality and an independent producer from Russia.
The company creates multimedia project in humanitarian sphere (educational, cultural, historical). Katerina is further an expert in corporate video production since 2004, when she began to be the Executive Producer of Mercator company. In 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 Mercator received 6 Awards and in 2018 she joined the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards as a jury board member. Further she is also jury member of Metall Expo´s video production contest of the largest metallurgical exhibition in Russia. She also works as a general producer of the Russian - Chinese art project Russian Art Alive and represents the Asia-Pacific Film Festival in Russia.
FUYUKO MOCHIZUKI
Director
Fuyuko Mochizuki is a Japan-based independent documentary filmmaker with anthropology in her background.
She has directed/ produced series of documentaries, shorts, corporate films for premium brands, podcasts, and so on.
She likes her storytelling to naturally solicit the personality of the protagonists in front of the camera, which she believes connects with the viewer in a humane way.
ANGEL NAVARRO GOMEZ
Director of documentaries and reports at RADIO TELEVISION ESPAÑOLA
He currently works at RADIO TELEVISION ESPAÑOLA as a Director of Documentaries and Reports.
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
- Premio Academia de Televisión Concha García Campoy, MALAIRE (MALARIA)
- Premio Francisco de Cossio Junta de Castilla y León, MI HISTORIA, ADOLFO SUÁREZ
- Premio Cuerpo Nacional de Policía de Periodismo, ACOSO EN LA SOMBRA
- Premio Internacional Junta de Extremadura, LA CAZA FOTOGRAFICA
- Premio Internacional Periodismo Rey Juan Carlos, DETRÁS DE LA ABAYA
- Premio Internacional Rey Juan Carlos, DETRÁS DE LA ABAYA
- Premio Especial Príncipe Rainiero Festival de Montecarlo, CAMBIO CLIMATICO
- Premio Roma Civis de la Televisión italiana, GITANOS, EUROPEOS SIN ESTADO
- Premio Manos Unidas Documental, MALI, LA RUTA CLANDESTINA
- Premio Internacional Periodismo Rey Juan Carlos, El PAPA QUE VINO DE POLONIA
FERNANDO FARIA PAULINO
Visual Anthropology
Fernando Faria Paulino, PhD in Anthropology (Visual Anthropology), Professor at University Institute of Maia, Dept. of Communication Sciences and Information Technologies (in the areas of visual communication, visual semiotics, documentary video, photography and new media) , researcher at CITEI – Research Center for Technologies and Intermedia Studies and researcher at CIAC Research Centre for Arts and Communication / University of Algarve. He is the Head Coordinator of the undergraduate degree of Multimedia Communication | University Institute of Maia, Coordinator of CLM Multimedia Lab Center ISMAI and Coordinator of the CCCom Communication Sciences Center | Multiplatform Audiovisual Studio ISMAI. Research interests: anthropology, visual anthropology and anthropology of visual communication, methodology, technology and epistemology of images and audiovisual culture, visual semiotics and visual culture, digital media, multimedia / hypermedia, new media, documentary film and documentary photography, interactive documentary, i-docs and web-docs; anthropology, cultural heritage, culture and tourism development. He is author of several scientific articles, documentary filmmaker, as well as hypermedia products author, essentially based on anthropological content nature.
CAROLIEN PEETERS
Communication campaigns manager at the European Commission
Carolien is managing communication campaigns at the European Commission. She studied literature and has 20 years of experience in communication with citizens. She ran the award-winning “EUandME” youth campaign, for which the Commission joined forces with renowned directors like Jaco Van Dormael and popular platforms like VICE.
PHILIPP PETERSSON
Executive Producer & Managing Partner at who’s mcqueen picture GmbH, Zurich
Childhood in socialist East Berlin, with Nina Hagen as a babysitter. Youth in capitalist Sweden, buying handcuffs with my first pocket money.
Back in Germany, I studied history until a friend offered the opportunity to gain first experience in the dazzling world of film at the renowned Filmhaus in Munich. Daily chauffeur to the Mon Cheri film set, with Nena in the back of the limousine, were soon followed by the chance to accompany the three tenors Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras in a Learjet on their farewell tour of the USA. The step towards becoming a passionate film producer was completed.
In 2006, the next challenge: gaining a foothold in Switzerland and intensively gathering further valuable experience, mainly in advertising films. First at Condor Films in Zurich, then (from 2010) under my own banner with &quoT;who's mcqueen picture&quoT;, together with Clemens Petersson (brother) and in partnership with the production company of the same name in Berlin.
As a member of the Swissfilm Association and the ADC Switzerland ten years later there are over one hundred international awards on the shelf, including 5 Cannes Lions, 22 ADC awards and 9 Effies.
Since 2017, &quoT;who's mcqueen&quoT; has also been producing its own productions with the &quoT;Box Elder Entertainment&quoT;: short films, documentaries - and also feature films when the opportunity arises.
In addition, on the agenda are 3 children, travelling with the camper van and surfing as often as possible.
MELANIE PFAFFSTALLER
Producer & Founder of mel p filmproductions gmbh
Melanie Pfaffstaller is a passionate producer and specialized in commercial film projects for almost 25 years.
After studying Journalism and Communication Science, several years of experience in TV production and as production manager at renowned advertising film productions, she founded her own production company, mel p filmproductions, in 2010 in Vienna and has realized campaigns for McDonald’s, Sky, ING Diba and many more.
Melanie Pfaffstaller is characterized by her strategic thinking and putting creativity always first, not only in terms of forming her team but also in regards of her cinematic approaches in developing concepts. As a member, and since 2019 also chair member, of the Creative Club Austria, she commits to these values beyond her own productions and has always tabs on young talents.
STEPHANE RENARD
Executive Producer
Stephan has 20+ years in production ranging from advertising, corporate, events, feature film, documentaries, social & digital content. Stephan has worked with clients across many different sectors including the finance, energy, luxury, telecommunications, educations, constructions, retail, FMCG, pharmaceutical, automobile and transport industries. Over the years he has earned multiple awards around the world including Cannes, New York, Hamburg and Sydney.
JAMES RICKARD
Creative Director and Copywriter
A long and successful career spanning more than 40 years ago has seen James work for large multinational and smaller independent advertising agencies. His skill set has evolved from art direction to a copywriting and ultimately creative direction.
He has worked on a diverse array of brands in categories including premium beer and wine, finance, automotive, sporting events, the arts and most notably, tourism.
Along the way James has been fortunate enough to pick up numerous creative awards.
His work for the South Australian Tourism Commission, “Barossa. Be Consumed.” won 7 Grand Prix and 10 Trophies in 11 countries, and was ultimately awarded the 2013 CIFFT Best Tourism Film of the Year at the Festival of Festivals in Vienna.
DÎDEM ŞAHIN
Director and Producer
Dîdem Şahin was born in Germany. After having graduated from the TV and Cinema Department of the Marmara University, Istanbul, she went on to continue her studies in England, where she completed a scenario cursus at Birkbeck University. Afterwards, she completed a Master’s Degree in Documentary Production & Direction at the Brunel University in London.
Dîdem Şahin was chosen as a documentary director for “Berlinale Talent Campus” in 2010. Her films were awarded with best Turkish Documentary by SIYAD in 2007, at the 2.Cyprus Golden Bunch International Film Festival in 2008, Best TV Documentary Film in I. International Sport Film Festival of TV Category Milano and received a finalist status at the 48th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, Turkeys most prestigious festival.
Since 2013, Dîdem Şahin has been producing and directing TV-documentaries and -programmes as a freelance. Most of the time, her work is based on current affairs, human stories and sports. She worked in Malaysia, Gambia and of course Turkey. Her latest documentary is about Syrian Refugee's life in the camp and the city.
JANE SAYERS
Filmmaker
Award-winning Filmmaker, Motorbiking Mother and Occasional Ballerina. Jane Sayers has achieved a highly successful career in TV and corporate film production – Series Producing the Emmy award winning Stephen Hawking’s Favourite Places in 2017. Jane has written, directed and produced hundreds of hours of primetime documentaries for international broadcasters and has recently created the Content Engine - an award-winning in-house film unit within Shell.
MARK SAYFRITZ
Composer and Artist
Mark is an English composer and artist who shares his time between London & LA.
He started his musical journey as a recording artist / record producer and multiple gold selling albums later it brought the attention of Hollywood and a request for film scoring duties.
He’s now scored over 20 US features, global TV series and countless advertising campaigns including numerous DnAD pencil & Clio awards and nominations for numerous clients including Nike, Audi, Reebok and the NBA.
Last year Mark performed his Symphony 'Sound of Light' inspired by the northern lights & composed in collaboration with Artificial intelligence at Brahms Saal, Musikverein, Vienna.
The orchestra driven piece mixed with experimental visual driven synthesis techniques was broadcast live around the world and was the final stage of a 2-month long odyssey from deep in the arctic circle though to Cambridge, London and finally Vienna. The project sponsored by Huawei has since won numerous innovation awards.
LISA SCHEID
CEO at Das R&
Lisa Scheid has been in the film industry for over 20 years. As a producer, she has worked for various film productions in Austria and abroad. For her, creativity and profitability of a production must always be in balance.
Her main focus is on the constant renewal of thinking and on the promotion of young talents. For more than 6 years she has been CEO of the creative film production house Das R& which creates concepts/scripts and produces film for all formats: cinema, television, or online channels.
Love, Courage and Consciousness are her driving values, and she strongly believes that the creative industry can profit from more authenticity, honesty, and togetherness. She is never afraid to get off the beaten path and try things differently.
SIMON SCHENNACH
Film Director, Editor and Author
Simon is freelance director, editor and author for Film, TV and Corporate TV projects. After having finished his studies in Austria and the USA, he carried out several national and international projects including documentaries, reports and journal articles for ORF broadcast, ServusTV or Red Bull Media House. Furthermore he developed Corporate films for various international companies. He affiliates a long-term working cooperation with DMG Film Wien. He has received numerous prizes for his films: a report named „Die letzten Fahrenden“ developed for the TV magazine „Am Schauplatz“ (ORF) won the P.Leopold-Ungar – Recognition price. The documentary „Das Schicksal fragt nicht“ received a prize at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards.
CHRIS SCHUELER
President and Chief Executive Officer at Christopher Productions, LLC
www.ChristopherProductions.org
Chris Schueler has created over 100 television programs in the past 25 years that have garnered 26 Regional Emmy® Awards and have been broadcast throughout the country and around the world. Focusing on educational and social issues, Mr. Schueler creates youth programming and documentaries that are “Television to Touch the Heart.” His innovative process of program creation was the focus of Mr. Schueler’s recent TED talk. That audience driven process has been integral in creating social change for his work with clients including the United Nations, the National Institute of Mental Health, the PBS network, the CBS Network Foundation as well as networks and governments worldwide.
Mr. Schueler has created projects in locations worldwide including Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Central America, Russia and Africa. His documentaries have raised public awareness and also impacted public policy nationally and internationally. His programs have ranged from global warming solutions to mental health stigma and included topics such as date and domestic violence, AIDS, alcohol, gambling addiction, opioid abuse and many others. As a director, Mr. Schueler has worked with Glenn Close, Bryan Cranston, Sam Donaldson, Montel Williams and others. The National Broadcast Association for Community Affairs named Chris Schueler national “Innovator of the Year” for his News 101 project.
Mr. Schueler has a BA in English and Theatre from the University of the Pacific and an MA in Playwriting and Directing from the University of New Mexico. UNM has honored him with its Lobo Award and UOP with the Distinguished Alumni Award for Public Service. In addition to being CEO of Christopher Productions, Mr. Schueler is the Executive Director of SafeTeen New Mexico which was named one of the six best Community Outreach Programs in the United States. Due to the quality of his work, Mr. Schueler has been honored to be on the Grand Jury for the New York Festivals the past 8 years. Mr. Schueler is the only three-time winner of the Board of Governors Award (Emmy© Award) from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Rocky Mountain Chapter.
JANINA SCHÜLLER
General Manager Video Business & Operations BILD at Axel Springer SE
Since February 2021, Janina Schüller is General Manager Video Business & Operations BILD at Axel Springer SE.
She formerly worked at the Content-Marketing-Expert C3, where she oversaw the content team at the office in Munich. Together with the account teams she was responsible for the development and implementation of cross-media content strategies and concepts for the C3’s clients.
Prior to that, she worked at Sky Germany as Head of Content Strategy, where she was co-responsible for the inhouse production strategy and in charge of the overall project lead for Babylon Berlin.
As graduated Media Manager, she started her career as TV editor at Pro Sieben. After that, she worked as Channel Manager for the cross-media management at Kabel Eins & Sixx, where she completed her PhD in “Innovation Management for TV Businesses” and was co-responsible for the launch and management of the TV channel Kabel Eins Doku.
MEGHAN SHEA
Director and Producer
Co-founder of Persistent Productions Meghan’s work spans documentary film, branded content, and the arts. Working as a director/producer Meghan is double-based in Boston and Singapore. Her commercial work and branded content include collaborations with Sony Music, Nikon, BBCStoryworks, and Amanresorts. Her documentary work includes the recent feature films; “How I Live”, a film about global pediatric cancer and “Under the Turban”, an exploration of Sikhism, the world’s fifth largest religion.
Whether working in the documentary sphere, television, or with corporate brands her focus in on telling authentic human stories. Meghan graduated with a Master’s of Fine Arts from the George Washington University during which time she was a fellow for EJS Women’s Leadership Program. Meghan’s work has been screened at such venues as The Tribeca Film Festival, US Public Broadcasting, and universities such as The Harvard Kennedy School, Yale University, and MIT.
PHILIP SPAAR
Multimedia-Editor at Swiss Life AG
Philip Spaar, born and raised in St. Gallen, lives now with his family in Zurich.
He studied journalism and communication and gained work experience as editor for various TV stations including ProSieben (Galileo) and the Swiss Television (Giacobbo/Müller). He spent a semester abroad at the University of Television and Film in Munich (HFF) were he graduated in Film and Television Documentary. For more than four years now he has been working as multimedia-editor at Swiss Life AG – the largest life insurance company of Switzerland – at corporate communications. Thereby he is responsible for several award-winning corporate film productions. Additionally, he works as a lecturer for video productions at the College Zurich (ZFH). The father of four loves his kids, his wife and films.
LIBOR SPACEK
Director and Cinematographer
www.escapetonature.eu/libor-spacek
Czech Award-Winning Director, Cinematographer (DoP) at Escape to Nature BV - film and photographic production. As a photographer, drone cameraman, diving instructor (SSI), a sea captain uses his experience to protect untouched nature, wildlife, sea creatures and corals. He is preparing a unique project called Escape to Pacific. He will spend part of his life aboard a catamaran in the coming years, where he will focus on monitoring and protecting the underwater world of our blue planet.
MARIOS TAKOUSHIS
Film/Television composer & pianist
He is currently writing the music for Channel 4's factual series "The Supervet (season 11)" and has been assisting composer Charlie Mole with additional arrangements for Universal Pictures’ "Dad’s Army" starring Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Toby Smith as well as ITV's "Mr. Selfridge" starring Jeremy Piven.
Scores for film include "Balik" directed by Dervis Zaim (Best Music Award at the 5th Malatya Film Festival), Mani Benchelah's feature documentary "This is Exile: Diaries of Child Refugees" and "A Boy Called Dad" directed by BAFTA and EMMY winner Brian Percival.
He has also written music for commercial campaigns of Gillette, Panasonic, Turkish Airlines, Nissan and more.
Other projects include the score for EA Games "Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit" (PS3, XBOX 360, PC, iPhone). One of 2010’s most successful releases having won numerous awards including best multiplayer game at the BAFTAs.
Marios is also featured on recordings as orchestrator and arranger and has performed with a wide range of ensembles in Berlin, Cologne, London, Paris, Sydney and Athens.
LAURENT ULRICH
Executive Producer und Partner at Maybaum Film
Qualified in communication planning, he got into film production in 2006 and co-founded Maybaum Film. Since then, he made countless films in the field of corporate and advertising films as director and later as director of photography. He worked on diverse international documentaries and his works on corporate films have been awarded many times. His company employs 15 people and is one of the leading production companies for corporate films in Switzerland.
MARCO VALPIANI
Author & Producer at Sehfeld Film AG
Marco Valpiani is a film producer and lives in Zurich. He looks back on over 30 years of creative and advisory work in the film sector. As a producer, writer, and director he realized commercials, branded and corporate films. In 2015 he won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards with “The Heartbeat of Switzerland”, which he realized for the Swiss Federal Railways. In the last ten years, one feature film and two documentaries have also been shown in theaters, for which he was responsible as co-author and producer. His professional career includes positions in renowned companies such as Condor Films, Wirz & Fraefel, Atlantic Productions, Teleclub, Ringier Film, Lichtspiele 'The Film Agency' and Seed Audio-Visual Communication AG.
FELIPE VELLASCO
Director
After starting his career as an art director for prominent advertising agencies including Ogilvy and DDB, Vellas made the transition from directing title and motion graphics sequences to narrative filmmaking. Vellas broke onto the main stage in 2013 with “Soul”, a black and white short film for the legendary photography brand Leica. The acclaimed project won several awards at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, D&AD Awards, the Clio Awards and Ciclope Festival, among others. That same year, Vellas was selected to be part of Saatchi & Saatchi’s New Directors’ Showcase, known for presenting the best new talent in filmmaking. Vellas has gone on to work with prestigious global agencies and brands, including Ubisoft, Leica, Ford, Citroen, Mitsubishi, Renault and Remy Martin. One of his latest well-known campaign was his 2018 public service announcement, “#shutupdeath” for the French medical humanitarian organization Médecins du Monde. Earning multiple industry awards, including a Bronze Film Craft Lion, the dramatic film spotlights the important work being done by the organization’s heroic doctors, who provide emergency and long-term medical care to civilians in conflict zones internationally. As a filmmaker, Vellas enjoys shooting complicated action sequences and integrated VFX but also values minimalist storytelling, particularly when paired with his signature gritty and visceral directing style. In his spare time, Vellas is an avid traveler, having visited and shot in a wide range of countries across the world, including North Korea, Ethiopia, Chernobyl, and Kenya. Vellas currently splits his time between Sao Paulo, Brazil and living on airplanes.
ASHISH VERMA
Ashish Verma, Global Head of Bloomberg Media Studios
As the Global Head of Bloomberg Media Studios, Ashish merges data science and strategy to craft creative solutions that allow brands to meaningfully connect with Bloomberg’s audience of leaders and influencers. Bloomberg Media Studios has grown over 40% under his direction, becoming an award-winning powerhouse through campaigns that touch virtually every industry, from luxury and technology to health and finance.
Over the past 20 years, Ashish has been driven by his belief that the best creative work is rooted in science and purpose. Prior to Bloomberg, he was Managing Director of Kelton, where he expanded a research company into an insights-driven Brand Development & Innovation consultancy for clients like Google, Diageo and Pfizer. Before that, Ashish brought his passion for innovative thinking to game design at Atari, where he launched the first-generation Sony Playstation; branded entertainment at William Morris Endeavor, where he worked to gamify brand experiences; and to advertising agencies like Digitas, where he established the creative practice for health and wellness in New York.
Ashish’s creative impetus has resulted in numerous awards and industry recognition from Communication Arts, Creativity, Digiday, Webby’s, Cannes Corporate and more. He holds a BFA in Design from Illinois Wesleyan University and an MFA in Computer Art from the School of Visual Arts, New York. His interactive art has been exhibited at the NTT Center in Tokyo, ZKM in Karlsruhe, German, and the Postmasters Gallery in New York. He is fluent in Hindi, struggles with Italian and lives with his daughter in Brooklyn.
IVAN VERMES
Director & DOP
Ivan is an award-winning freelance multi-genre filmmaker. He began his career as cinematographer in the mid-nineties shooting music videos, tv films and documentaries across Europe.
Over the years, he turned to commercial-filmmaking and has been shooting ads for brands like Bayer, Coca-Cola, Douwe Egberts, Gösser, Henkell und Söhnlein, LG, McDonald’s, Molson-Coors, Nestlé, Römerquelle, Samsung, Telekom and Unilever.
For the past ten years, he has also been directing his own films.
As a specialist for super slow-motion, food and liquid beauty filming he earned serious reputation.
Furthermore, he is passionate about shooting of sport-event promos.
XUAN VU
Documentary Film and TV Editor
Xuan Vu is a Southeast Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker and professional editor whose core motivation is to amplify the voices of those who otherwise would not be heard. With a keen interest in nonfiction media for social justice, political reform, animal rights, and environmental causes, Xuan continuously devotes her energies and skills to shedding light upon vehicles of positive change.
Her independent documentary work spans the globe, from a youth foundation for orphaned children in Colombia to non-profit sustainability efforts in Haiti to female migrant workers in Nepal and has garnered international recognition at numerous festivals (including DocNYC, Indie Grits, American Documentary Film Festival, the United Nations Association Film Festival) and won several distinguished awards (including the “Best Documentary Feature Film” award at the 2019 San Antonio Black International Film Festival for her work on While I Breathe, I Hope, the “Audience Choice Award for Best Feature” at the 2015 Viet Film Fest for her work on Can, “Best New Mexico Film” at the 2010 Duke City DocFest for her work on Reclaiming Their Voice, and the Critic’s Choice Award for “Best Documentary Feature” from the Broadcast Critics of America for her work on Stealing America: Vote by Vote). Her most recent feature film, While I Breathe, I Hope, on which she served as a producer and principal editor, was nominated for a 2020 Southeast Emmy award in the “Editor – Program” category and won in the “Outstanding Documentary – Topical” category.
She has also worked extensively on network television series, such as CNN’s “This Is Life with Lisa Ling“, Showtime’s “Dark Net“, PBS’s “America by the Numbers with Maria Hinojosa“, among others.
Xuan holds a dual BA/MA degree in East/West Philosophy & Documentary Filmmaking from Boston University’s former University Professors Program, an interdisciplinary program for gifted students. She is currently working as a Story Producer & Lead Editor on an independent feature film about elite education in Delray Beach, FL.
JAN-WILLEM WIRTZ
Creative producer / content producer
Owner of Wirtz Film & Experience Agency
After his study at the School of Arts in Utrecht (Bachelor) and the Portsmouth University (European Media Masters of Arts) he started working as an independent producer.
The last twenty years he produced more than 500 different corporate, documentary and fiction productions.
As a company they produce daily content for different online platforms up to large (corporate) films for events, experience projects, corporate channels or television.
They work exclusively for the Dutch Government and different national and international corporate clients like Heineken, KPN, Dutch national railway, ABNAMRO and ProRail.
Their goal is to tell beautiful stories in a special way. They do this with a big dedicated team in Amsterdam and The Hague.
STEVE WOODS
Filmmaker
Steve Woods began working in film making animation inserts for Corporate Films. Since then, he has directed and produced documentaries, animations, dance, and experimental films.
He also teaches Experimental Animation at the National Film School in IADT, Ireland. He has curated programs for several Irish and international film festivals most notably 5 screenings of Irish animation for Annecy International Animation Festival 2012.
Steve is on the board of the Galway Film Fleadh and the Screen Directors Guild of Ireland.
ROBIN WUCHTER
Co-Founder and Head of Creation aha! film GmbH
Robin is Co-Founder and Head of Creation of aha! film GmbH. For almost 10 years he has been developing non-fiction formats for universities, museums and public institutions. His special focus is on mixed forms of documentary and animated approaches. Occasionally he writes for knowledge programs for ZDF or directs himself, e.g. the award-winning TV reportage "Ein Mann, ein Fluss, ein Abenteuer". Robin is a lecturer at the HFF Munich; he studied Directing at the Filmacademy Baden-Württemberg and prior to that he earned a degree in business administration at the University of Cologne.
MAX ZILKER
Film editor, member of the BFS (German Federation of Cutters & Editors)
Max Zilker is an award-winning editor for commercials, fictional movies and corporate films. After having graduated from university with highest distinction, he has entered the world of commercials and corporate films. His commercial “Schwitzender Klaus“, for which he has been in charge not only of the montage but also of the visuals effects, he has been awarded the “Porsche Award”, two times gold and one time silver. In the masterclasses given by Patrick Tucker in London as well as in the classes of Mark Travis, he has reinforced his interest in the direction of films. At present, he is developing his own materials and lives with his wife and his daughter in Munich.
ZBIGNIEW ŻMUDZKI
Film producer and Founder of the Se-ma-for Production Company
Zbigniew Żmudzki graduated in Economics and Film and Television Production Management in Lodz, Poland.
He is an Oscar-winner with “Peter and the Wolf”.