Festival Director SCHLiNGEL | Chemnitz | Germany

The club shows that there is a very lively and well-functioning network of children's film festivals around the globe. In smaller and larger (online) meetings, the members will discuss the film program of SCHLiNGEL and, at the end, they will award a special film in each of the three SCHLiNGEL age categories (children's, junior and youth film).

Director Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival | Oulu  | Finland

He is the director of the Oulu International Children’s and Youth Film Festival, which is organized annually in November by the Oulu Film Centre. As a gentle contrast to children’s films he has also been involved with IIK!! Horror Film Festival in Ii from its beginning, where he was the chairman of the board for 14 years. He was altogether eight years a board member of the Oulu Night of Arts, an annual event where all kinds of arts forms meet.

Festival Director MICE | Valencia | Spain

Josep Arbiol is the founder and President of the International Festival Union for Children, Youth and Teachers MICE (Mostra Internacional de Cinema Educatiu), which includes among others screening places in Valencia and Madrid (Spain), Havana (Cuba) and Western Sahara. Furthermore, Josep Arbiol is also Festival Director of MICE Valencia and furthermore programmer for MICE Valencia, Madrid and Cuba. Born in Estivella (Valencia) and educated at the University of Valencia, the teacher and director has a long audiovisual career in media and has mentored in educational films with children. He is also the president of the Cultural Association “Jordi el Mussol” in Valencia.

Festival DirectorTromsø International Film Festival Junior (TIFF Junior) | Norway

Astrid Aure is the festival director of the Tromsø International Film Festival children’s edition, TIFF Junior, and has been with the festival since 2014. She works with children and young people year-round and is also the programme director for the “Films from the North“ programme at Tromsø International Film Festival. She studied Journalism and also completed a Masterʼs degree in Film Studies.

Festival Producer, Cinema Young Audiences Coordinator Discovery Film Festival | Dundee | UK (Scotland)

Amaya Bañuelos Marco is a film curator and educator. She is the Discovery Film Festival Producer at Dundee Contemporary Arts in Scotland and also works with the British Film Institute designing and delivering Spanish language study days for children. She co-curates Cinetopia:DOC in Edinburgh, a monthly programme of recent creative documentary films. In the past she hast been a part of the programming teams of several festivals, like BFI London Film Festival and Lago Film Fest.

Festival Director and Artistic Director  Festival International du film pour enfants de Montréal (FIFEM) | Canada

Jo-Anne Blouin is head of the International Film Festival für Kinder FIFEM, which she has created. At the age of 16, in her native Quebec, she began working in theatres for children and embarked in the heady world of creating collective works. Later on, she shifted focus to children’s films and created the FIFEM. She believes children should have access to films from many cultures. Until 2008, Jo-Anne Blouin was CIFEJ’s Executive Director and in 2018, she received the Honorary Award from SCHLiNGEL Festival.

Head of the business platform of the IFF Almaty (Kazakhstan) | Moskau | Russland

Ekaterina Bordacheva is co-founder of the “Eurasian Film Market” in Kazakhstan and Head of the business platform of the Almaty IFF. She started in the film industry in 2003 as an assistant film producer in the production company for children and youth films “Rakurs” and graduated from the Russian Film University VGIK in 2006. Ekaterina Bordacheva has experiences as producer, film lecturer, event manager, film distributor and programme curator for European children’s and youth film festivals. Since 2013, she has been a top manager of the International Film Market and the Russian Film Business Forum in Moscow. 

Artistic Director Children’s International Film Festival (CHIFF) | Melbourne | Australia

Thomas Caldwell is a writer, broadcaster, film critic, public speaker and film programmer. He works currently as the Artistic Director of the Children’s International Film Festival (CHIFF) in Australia. Previously, he was part of the Melbourne International Film Festival and the Europa! Europa Film Festival.

Festival Director Festival Comkids | São Paulo | Brasil  

Beth Carmona is the director of Comkids which is not only a festival, but also a platform that provides information in the field of film and organises events on current topics and discussions. She is also an executive producer and creative consultant in the field of childrenʼs and audiovisual media in Brazil and throughout Latin America. Furthermore, she is also the founder and president of Midiativa, the Brazilian Center on Media for Children.

Festival Director, Founder | Athens International Children’s Film Festival (ATHICFF) | Greece

Calliope Charalambous Krief founded the Athens International Childreʼs Film Festival in 2018 and has been its festival director ever since. She also works as a producer for theatre and television, and has additionally worked as a director in these fields, being involved in the production of TV shows, music and corporate events. She holds a Bachelorʼs degree in Humanities from the University of Athens and a Masterʼs degree in Theatre Direction from the RADA and Kingʼs College, University of London.

Festival Director Festival La Matatena Internacional de Cine para Niños (...y no tan Niños) | Mexico

María Liset Cotera García is founder and director of the International Children’s Film Festival “... and not so Children” and of La Matatena, an Association of Film for Girls and Boys, A.C. She graduated from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Unidad Xochimilco in Mexico City with a degree in Social Communication and works as a film producer and promoter for children in Mexico. She specialises in the field of design and the creation of methods to bring children closer to the world in moving images. María Liset Cotera García is also an advocate for children’s rights.

Former Executive Director DYTIATKO International Children’s Media Festival | Charkiw | Ukraine

Volodymyr Diagilev was the executive director of the DYTIATKO International Children's Media Festival in Kharkiv until 2022. He is a member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and Head of the Kharkiv Association of Children’ Screen Arts “Dytiatko”. Volodymyr Diagilev is also the founder of the educational project “Children of Miss Peregrine”.

Festival Director, Founder Ojo de Pescado | Valparaiso | Chile

Alejandra Fritis Zapata is foundress and director of “Ojo de Pescado” (The Fish Eye) International Film Festival of Children and Youth from Chile. She is a producer, documentary filmmaker, specialist in children and young audiencesʼ cinema contents, and teacher of audiovisual literacy. She is also the foundress and head of the international seminar “The childhood wants cinema” and director of the documentary television serie “My rural school” about Chilean countryside schools.

Festival Director BUFF Malmö Film Festival | Malmö | Sweden

Julia Granath graduated from the University of Malmö with a Bachelor of Science in Media and Communication. She has worked at BUFF in Malmö since 2007 and has been its festival director since December 2012. Previously, she was Head of Education at the regional film fund Film i Skåne and project manager at the regional fund Film Stockholm. She believes that film experiences can help young people to better understand life and expand their world.

Festival Director, Programmer | Just Film Youth and Childrenʼs Film Festival | Tallinn | Estonia

Mikk Granström graduated with distinction from Tallinn University in 2019 with a Masterʼs degree in Educational Management and is currently writing his PhD thesis in Education. He is the director and programmer of the festival for children and young people Just Film and a board member and head of administration of the Black Nights Film Festival. Mikk Granström has also been teaching film in primary and secondary schools for 15 years, as well as masterʼs students in Educational Leadership at Tallinn University.

Festival Director, Curator Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival (TICFF) | Taipeh |Taiwan

Wuan-ling Guo has been working in the TV industry for more than 30 years as producers of news programs, children’s programs, and documentaries. Since 2014, she has been serving as the director and curator for Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival (TICFF) and Best of INPUT in Taiwan. To produce and share quality content, thus generating social impact, is her mission.

Co-director International Childrenʼs Film Festival Vienna | Austria

Anna Hofmann is co-director of the International Childrenʼs Film Festival Vienna. She is also the organizer of the KinderKinoWelten, a film education project for schools throughout Austria, for 20 years. She is also active in the field of film and cultural education.

Programmer Zlín Film Festival | Czech Republic

Jaroslav Hynštová has been working as a film programmer at Zlín Film Festival – International Film Festival for Children and Youth since 2005. She studied Film and English Philology at the Palacky University in Olomouc. She is a journalist, screenwriter and director of an amateur theatre group, where she also writes plays. Jaroslava Hynštová was regional correspondent for the biggest Czech newspaper.

Artistic Director Ale Kino! | Poznań | Polen

Marta Jodko studied Art History at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. She has been working as a programmer at the International Young Audience Film Festival Ale Kino!, Biennial Art for Children, and the Children part of the Animated Film Festival Animator since 2010. Since 2022, she has been the main coordinator of Ale Kino! and a board member of the ECFA.

Founder, Festival Director | Cinemira Budapest International Children’s and Youth Film Festival | Hungary

Nora Lakos graduated from the National Theatre and Film Academy (SZFE) Budapest and went on to study Film Directing at the London Film School and the Brussels Film Academy INSAS. In 2018, she founded Cinemira, the first international childrenʼs film festival in Hungary. She is also a director, screenwriter and producer. In 2020, she established the Squirrel Film Production, a production company specialising in producing films and series for young audiences.

Program Director  Busan International Kids and Youth Film Festival (BIKY) | South Korea

Sang-yong Lee is the program director of the Busan International Kids and Youth Film Festival. Furthermore he works as a film critic as well as a writer and wrote among others for the Film Weekly Film 2.0 Step Critic. Previously, he was as a programmer part of the International Film Festival in Busan and in Jeonju in South Korea.

Film Maker, Writer, Lecturer | Israel

Noy Levin studied Film at the Steve Tisch School of Film and Television in Tel Aviv University and is a director of short films and children’s plays. Furthermore she works as a writer and lecturer specializing in children’s cinema. She was the Artistic Director of the Tel Aviv International Children’s Film Festival (TAICFF) in Israel.

Programmer CICFF | Beijing | China

Betty Li Yan is programmer of China International Children’s Film Festival (CIFF). In 2011, she started as a volunteer for the festival and later became the international coordinator for both the festival and China Children’s Film Association. Additionally, Betty Li Yuan is a producer for co-productions and holds a bachelor’s degree of Architecture from Zhengjiang University and a master’s degree of Film Art from Beijing Film Academy.

Co-director International Childrenʼs Film Festival Vienna | Austria

Elisabeth Lichtkoppler has been one of the organizers of the international Children’s Film Festival Vienna for nearly 30 years years. Since 1991, she is the Managing Director of the Children’s and Youth Cinema CINEMAGIC, which is a part of WIENXTRA, which helps to plan and organize many innovative childrenʼs and youth activities. The CINEMAGIC is also the cinema for the festival.

Head of Programme | BUFF Malmö Film Festival | Sweden

Daniel Lundquist started working at BUFF Malmö Film Festival in 2009 and has been programme director since 2012. Previously, he worked in various positions at the Swedish Film Institute and the City of Malmöʼs cultural department. He completed a degree in arts administration.

Festival Director SIFFCY | New Delhi | India

Jitendra Mishra is one of the few Indian film producers & promoters who have been able to create a benchmark in “Alternative methods of Film Production, Distribution & Promotion” at international level. He had designed & is the festival director of the “Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth” (SIFFCY). Jitendra Mishra also has been elected president of CIFEJ and is a member of the Cannes Producers Network.

Senior Adviser, Programmer Kristiansand International Children’s Film Festival | Norway

From 1998 to 2020, Danckert Monrad-Krohn was director of Kristiansand ICFF. During his career, he worked as a film teacher at Agder Folk High School, worked as a children’s film consultant for Kristiansand Kino, organised school screenings, film workshops and teacher training programmes. He has also been a member of the Guarantee Committee, which provides economic support for the import of children’s films to Norway, and the Screen Education. Danckert Monrad-Krohn was deputizing as Children’s Film Consultant for The Norwegian Cinema and Film Foundation in 2002.

Researcher, Organzier | Cultural Research Institute „Juan Marinello“, MICE Cuba | Havanna | Cuba

Daimelis Monzón Wat graduated in Psychology and has more than 20 years of experience in the cultural sector. She works as a researcher at the “Juan Marinello” Cultural Research Institute and researchs in the field „Childrenʼs audiovisual consumption in Cuba from multiple screens“. She is part of the team that coordinates the UNIAL Network and the MICE Cuba International Educational Film Festival.

Program Adviser Ale Kino! | Poznań | Poland

From 1991 to 2022, Jerzy Moszkowicz was the director of the Children’s Art Center in Poznań as well as of the International Young Audience Film Festival Ale Kino!, where he currently works as a programme adviser. He is also active as culture manager and television and theatre director. He is the former president of the International Center for Films for Children and Youth CIFEJ and was a board member of the European Childrenʼs Film Association ECFA.

Programmer Kristiansand International Children’s Film | Norway

Marion Røst Heimlund started to work for at Norway’s largest International Children’s Film Festival in Kristiansand (KICFF) as Program Director in August 2021. Since 2007, she has been actively engaged with the film industry and, among others, worked with the Tromsø International Film Festival. She is the children and youth representative in the board of the Film Club Association in Norway. Since 2021, she has also been the representative for children and young people on the board of The Norwegian Federation of Film Societies (NFK). Her aim is to include children and young people in the decision-making processes, both in the NFK and at the KICFF.

Programmer FACETS Chicago International Children’s Film Festival | Chicago | USA

Deidre Searcy is the film programmer at FACETS Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, a media educator and arts education expert with 20 years of experience. She is the former Project Director at Education Development Center and has designed and led workshops for youth and adults. She engaged with Street-Level Youth Media where she worked to position media arts as a catalyst for change in inner city schools.

Festival Director International Film Festival for Young Audiences FilemʼOn | Brussels | Belgium

Hilde Steenssens is the founder and director of FilemʼOn, the International Film Festival for Young Audiences in Belgium. She also curates for other film initiatives and festivals for children in Belgium. As a pedagogue and youth criminologist, she is convinced of the power of art and film as an intermedium to support children and young people in their growth towards world citizens. She ensures that the FilemʼOn festival can remain dynamic, qualitative and sustainable.

KINEKO International Children’s Film Festival | Tokio | Japan

In 1992, Mitsuo Tahira founded the Children’s Film Festival Japan, now KINEKO, Japan’s first international children’s film festival. He introduced the “Live Cinema”, a live recording system for the voice-over by actors for younger children who are not yet able to read subtitles. Over the past 30 years, KINEKO has grown to become the largest event of its kind in Japan. In addition to his work at KINEKO, he also works with foreign film festivals, has been networking with Japanese filmmakers for years and is passionate about creating connections between Japan and the world through films for children and young people.

Programming Director | New York International Children’s Film Festival (NYICFF) | USA

Maria-Christina Villaseñor is the programme director of the New York Childrenʼs Film Festival. She is also a writer, media arts curator, speaker and juror. She is also currently working on a forthcoming podcast on animated documentaries for Dok Leipzig, as well as several student-created film programmes for the NYICFF. One of her earlier life positions was as Associate Curator of Film and Media Arts at the Guggenheim Museum.