Herbert Gehr

 was born 1958, studied German Literature and Language, Philosophy, Theater-, Film- and Television Sciences at Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, and graduated Master of Arts. From 1986 to 1998 he was curator, and since 1997 Deputy Director at the German Filmmuseum Frankfurt am Main. 1998 he moved to Berlin, and became an independent producer by working on-the-job. In the following years he worked as head of development and managing director of various film production companies in Berlin, as well as freelancing producer, line producer and script consultant, thus, over the last 14 years having a share in the production of numerous short and long feature films, music videos, image films and commercials.

OLA EZZELDIN HAMOUDA 

An Egyptian Screenwriting Professor at the Academy of Cinema Arts and Technology since 2003. Graduated from: The American University in Cairo with B.A. in Mass Communications 1981.The Higher Institute of Art Criticism 1989.Film Directing from the Academy of Cinema Arts Technology 2008.Wrote the screenplays of feature films A BOY AND A GIRL “, 2009.“THOSE  DAYS “  2009 (SCREENPLAY  WINNING FUNDING  FROM EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF CULTURE , 2007).“ ONCE UPON A GIRL “ , and“DON’T UPSET  MAMMA “ - (IN PRE-PRODUCTION).Worked as Art Director for two feature films, 2001, 2007.Directed the short film UNDER THE RAIN , 2008.Won funding to direct the short   “BITTER ORANGES MARMALADE”, 2012.

Adnan Abou Elshamat

 is a Syrian actor who studied French literature at Damascus University. He started acting at the age of seven in Television, broadcast, theatre and the cinema. He left Syria for over seventeen years, where he lived in a number of Arab and foreign countries running some commercial businesses not related to art. His love for acting drove him back to Syria in 1997, where he took part in more than 80 serials and a number of plays and movies. He speaks Arabic, English, French and German and has translated The Pigeon, a novel by the German novelist Patrick Suskind, from German into Arabic.

Awatef Naeem

was born in Baghdad. She is a critic, writer and director. She earned a PhD in theatrical directing from the faculty of fine arts in Baghdad. She is a member in the theatre critics association, which she founded in 1995. She was awarded a number of prizes for directing, writing and criticism from local and Arab festivals; Iraq, Jordan, Carthage, Egypt, Algeria and Emirates. She took part in international festivals in Germany and the Netherlands. She directed a number of plays for the national troupe of professional acting and for the Baghdad theatre professional: Ya toyour, Fouk, Beyt Elahzan, Nesa Lorka, Helm Massoud, Nahnaha, Daert eleshek Elbaghdadia, and Gonoun Elhamaem. She also made Kenz El maleh and Ana wa Gedi Wa eldomi for children. ..

Racha H. Sharbatgy

is a Syrian director. She earned a BA in pedagogy and psychology from Cairo University and an MA in pediatric psychology. She directed a number of Syrian and Egyptian works, among which are: Kanoun wa laken, Ashwak Naema, ghezlan fi Ghabet elziab- law kont makani-khamsa we khemesa- youm momter akhar, Zaman el Ar, hekaya ala eltarek, Assad elwarak, Takhet Sharqi, Banat eleila, Welada men elkhasira, Saeat elGamer. She received a number of awards from Arab festivals in Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Emirates: Best Arab director for the year 2010 for the serial Assad el Warak and Takhet Sharqi, Best Directing for the year 2011in a number of questionnaires on the serial Welada men elkhaira..

Dirk van den Berg

class 1966, is an internationally experienced writer, content developer, director and producer of feature and television films and documentaries. He graduated in 1992 at the National Academy of Rome, Italy.With a proven track-record as a trouble-shooter, he specialized in implementing difficult projects in territories such as the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia..Dirk’s professional and artistic credo is that Art needs organization - even chaos has to be created on purpose –or it will be lost.A creative spirit on the one hand, a strong sense of organization on the other, together with experience and craftsmanship are the basic elements for any work in the Arts and the Media.

Sanaa Ali Abass

 is one of the pioneers of Iraqi cinematography. She was born in Baghdad in 1945, and received her B.A from the Academy of Fine Arts in 1973. She earned a diploma from the Institute of Broadcast and Television Training in 1974. She became a professional camerawoman in 1974 and is, thus, the first camerawoman in the Arab world, as the Egyptian director Tawfik Saleh has affirmed. She shot in difficult locations: after the Iraqi- Iranian war, the military conflict in the northern region of Iraq and the Iraqi Marshlands. She produced, directed and filmed many cinematic films since 1973 up until 2009 for both the private and public sectors: My city by Farouq Dawoud, The Locomotive by Dawlat Moussa, The Swing by Noufal Farahat, Dangerous 90, and TV cinematic programs by the director Wedad Suleiman. She also directed the following documentaries and TV films: Technology of the Sunflower,

Fulvia Alberti

is a French-Italian filmmaker, and also novelist. She is completing the editing of "Illegal tourist", a 60' documentary for Via Stella and France3. She also worked for several programs of French-German TV like "Tous les habits du monde" (all the cloths on earth) and "Toutes les télés du Monde" (All TV of the world), which is at the origin of the DOKU project (http://doku4.wordpress.com). Since 1991 she comes to Iraq, where she founded with Baudouin Koenig the DOKU project "documentary cinema in iraq".

Yad Deen

finished his film degree in Southampton, England, before completing his master course in digital feature filmmaking in Barcelona, Spain. Since then, he furthered his residence in Spain, filming award-winning TVCs and entering international competitions for such clients as BMW Asia, Pond’s institute, Marbella Luxury Weekend with McLaren, Pagani, Sunseeker Yachts and many more. Simultaneously, he was writing his debut psychological thriller to be filmed in London, England, and a short supernatural thriller to be filmed in Granada, Spain. He has recently completed his entry into the Focus Forward Films international documentary competition and is currently producing TVCs around Iraq and films in Europe. Our Children (completed, 2012),Alû (in development, 2013) , When I Grow Up (pre-production, 2013) ,

Sadek Mahdi Shaban

was born in 1956 in Baghdad. He earned a BA in theatrical arts and has an experience in the field of production and TV directing that exceeds 200 films, programs, documentaries and art, cultural, and political varieties. Among his distinguished works are: The Biography of the late prime Minister Abd Elmohsen el Sadoun (directing), a film on the rituals of the yazidi sect, the series of The Kingdom of Evil. He supervised all the rounds of Babel International Festival, and has contributed to art delegations outside Iraq. He was awarded a number of prizes. He is currently the manager of the programs of Eldar channel and the deputy manager of the channel.

Tarek Abdel Rahman

He was born in Baghdad where he finished his primary, preparatory and secondary education. He earned a BA, MA and PhD from the faculty of fine Arts in Baghdad. He lectured at the cinema department at faculty of fine Arts, Arbeel University. He has many publications, critical essays and research papers on the cinema. He directed a number of programs, and TV serials among which are: Don't knock at the door of the Dilemma, The Kanous, Hannen elnouk, A witness from this Age, Human Rights, The Birds of the Sun, The Journey of Prophet Ibrahim, the animation movie Zoo..The flying Human.

Azzam Saleh

 was born in Elbasra, Iraq in 1957. He graduated from The Academy of Fine Arts in 1981, cinema department. He is a member of the artists syndicate. He worked as a cameraman and director in Elbasra TV and Baghdad TV and as a correspondent and photographer for Sudan and Saudi TVs. He also directed an Iraqi program for Elhurra Channel and worked as a director and scriptwriter for the program Yafoun. He was awarded two prizes in Tehran and also received a prize from Elghadeer TV. He is a scriptwriter at Elshams company, Elhader and Babel. He also shoots documentaries, songs, commercials and programs. He made 35 movies for Semiramis among which are A Witness from Elfaloga, Tigres and Samena.

Maher Mageed

was born in 1969 in Iraq. He received a BA and an MA in audiovisual arts and a PhD in the philosophy of Art. He wrote and published a number of research papers and critical articles in specialized magazines and in the Iraqi and Arab press. He also worked as a director in a number of satellite channels, such as the Iraqi channel, the Saudi TV, Eshtater channel, Elhurra ElIraq, Elmada, Asia, etc. He was the executive director and scriptwriter of a number of movies