Saameer Mody is the Founder and Managing Director at Pocket Films and Co-Founder at On OTT Now Inc.- Stealth Mode OTT/CTV which is a Startup at BoKoo TV. Pocket Films is India’s leading platform for short-format entertainment — a pioneer in digital short film distribution since 2009. With over 5,000 curated short films and a thriving community of filmmakers, Pocket Films has built one of the largest ecosystems for short films, micro-dramas, and independent content. In addition to their own app available on iOS, Android and web, its multi- platform presence spans YouTube (4M+ subscribers, 1.7B + views), OTT apps, and FAST channels, delivering high-quality storytelling to audiences across India and beyond. As a trusted distribution partner for filmmakers, Pocket Films bridges the gap between creators and global audiences, enabling independent voices to find visibility and monetization opportunities across digital platforms. With a vision to make short-format content mainstream, Pocket Films continues to empower new talent and redefine how stories are told, discovered, and celebrated in the digital era, especially leading the micro-drama evolution. Pocket Films already has over 2,000+ short films and 100+ micro-dramas on its platform with new ones releasing regularly.

Archana Kavi, long before short-form storytelling became a trend, was already pioneering the micro-drama format in India. In 2017, she wrote, produced, and acted in ‘Toofan Mail’, a digital series exploring the tender bond between a single father and his daughter — emotionally rich storytelling delivered in a compact, binge-worthy format. In 2018, she wrote, produced, and starred in Meenaviyil, a relatable tale rooted in sibling relationships, and also appeared in ‘Bae Control', a popular web series by Dice Media, one of India's leading digital content studios. She is also a renowned Indian actress, writer, producer, and television host, best known for her acclaimed debut in the Malayalam film Neelathaamara (2009), followed by notable appearances in Mummy & Me, Salt N' Pepper, Honey Bee, and Aravaan. With a career spanning Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu cinema, she has consistently brought warmth and authenticity to every role. A creator equally at home in front of the camera and behind it, Archana brings emotional precision and genuine storytelling instincts to everything she does — exactly the qualities that define the best of micro-drama today.

Ujjwal Chopra is a seasoned actor who has recently emerged as a prominent face in the fast-growing world of vertical series, headlining popular short-form shows like Chhupa Rustam Baap and Papa Dulhania Le Jayenge (Vaha Flix), Tring Tring (Quick TV), Bewafa Billionaire (Story TV), and Vidushi (Pocket Films). His extensive screen and stage portfolio includes major Hindi films like Padmaavat, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Sam Bahadur, Berlin, and Sehar, alongside Marathi features such as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Asambhav. On premium OTT platforms, he has appeared in acclaimed web series like Heeramandi, Jamtara, Mukhbir, Afsos, Apharan, City of Dreams, and Ashutosh Gowariker's upcoming Temple Raiders. A familiar face across Indian households, Ujjwal has also starred in over 500 TV commercials, performed in around 60 theatre productions from his early days in college, and featured in television shows like Sukh by Chance, Gulaal, Shree, Aek Chaabi Hai Padoss Mein, Alaxmi, and nearly 200 episodes of Crime Patrol.

Biplab Goswami is an acclaimed screenwriter, director, and film editor with experience across feature films, documentaries, and television. He completed a three-year Postgraduate Diploma in Cinema, specialising in Film Editing, from the prestigious Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Government of India. In 2018, his script ‘Two Brides’ won Second Prize at the Cinestaan Storytellers Contest, selected from nearly 4,000 submissions in a global search for Indian screenwriters. The same script was later made into the feature film ‘Laapataa Ladies’, directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan. Released in 2024, the film received widespread critical and commercial acclaim, won several national and international awards, and was selected as India’s official entry to the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars). Biplab was recognised with multiple prestigious awards for ‘Laapataa Ladies’, including the IIFA Award 2025 and the TOIFA Award 2025 in the categories of Best Story (Original). Additionally, he received the Pinkvilla Award 2025 and the SWA Award 2025 for his outstanding contribution as the writer of ‘Laapataa Ladies’

Fabrice Carrey is the Artistic Director of Demain le Printemps, a Franco-Belarusian Soviet Theatre School based on the Stanislavski System, and also Artistic Director of the International Public Association “TEATRO” / MOO TEATRO in Belarus. For more than twenty years, he has been developing cultural and artistic exchange projects between France, Belarus and other international partners, with a particular focus on human presence, stage and screen presence, observation, body language, rhythm, authenticity and the search for living truth. His work is deeply rooted in the Russian/Soviet theatrical tradition and in the legacy of Konstantin Stanislavski.

Modhura Palit (ISC) is an Indian cinematographer. She studied cinematography from Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI). Member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC), Indian Women Cinematographers Collective (IWCC) as well as of the Eastern India Cinematographers Association (EICA), she is part of the Busan Asian Film Academy (AFA), and she took part in the Looking China Youth Film Project in 2015. She was part of Berlinale Talents 2023 under Berlin International Film Festival. She has received PESGSPC" Honorary Membership for the Outstanding Contribution to International Art Photography by Cyprus Pascal English School and Greek School Photography Club and the PESGSPC Grand Progress Award "GPA - By FIAP (Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique). She was also on the Jury in ImagineIndia International Film Festival Madrid. She is also part of the Academic Council of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. She received the prestigious Shera Bengali award by ABP Group in 204 for her contributions to cinema. She was awarded the Pierre Angénieux ExcelLens in Cinematography (Special Encouragement Award for promising cinematographer) at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival making her the first Indian to win this award. She received the award alongside legendary cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, who received the lifetime achievement award for cinematography. She has been working on over 30 short-films, tvc, documentaries, corporate films and feature films. Her work includes a wide range of films that have been both critically and commercially acclaimed. The films she has worked in has won multiple awards in India and in other prestigious film festivals across the world. She is currently the most prolific female cinematographer working in eastern India, championing and inspiring the inclusion of more women in the technical field in filmmaking.

Anand Varadaraj is the Founder and Artistic Director of Bengaluru International Short Film Festival. The Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF) was conceived to create a platform for young and amateur filmmakers where they could screen their shorts to discerning audiences and, more importantly, find constructive and critical feedback from experts in the field. BISFF is the largest and the only OSCAR accredited film festival in INDIA for Live action and Animation Short films.

Deepak Kumar Beshra is an award-winning filmmaker from the Santal tribal community of Odisha, India, known for his work as a writer, director, cinematographer, and editor. He is deeply committed to telling indigenous stories that reflect the culture, identity, and real-life experiences of tribal communities, creating films that connect with people while addressing meaningful social themes. In 2016, Deepak founded the Santali Art and Film Development Foundation (SAFDF) in Baripada with the aim of creating opportunities for indigenous artists and aspiring filmmakers. Through SAFDF, he has been organizing the Baripada National Indigenous Short Film Festival (BISFF) annually since 2017, providing an important platform for indigenous voices in cinema. The foundation also conducts workshops on filmmaking, acting, and scriptwriting, helping nurture young talent at the grassroots level.

Premendra Mazumdar is a film critic, author, and organizer. He writes extensively on cinema. He is the Vice President of the Federation of Film Societies of India, General Secretary of the India Chapter of the International Federation of Film Critics FIPRESCI, and Editor of the quarterly film journal E-CineIndia. He works for many national and international film festivals in India and abroad as the festival director, chairman, program director, curator, coordinator, advisor, and consultant. He has served the jury so far in forty-five important film festivals worldwide. He has authored five plays, an anthology of short stories, and two collections of essays. He has edited many books and journals on cinema, art, and culture. He has been honoured with Ritwik Ghatak Award (Rajshahi, Bangladesh, 2016), Satyajit Ray Memorial Award (Asian Film Foundation Mumbai, India, 2018), Vijaya Mulay Lifetime Achievement Award (Kerala, India, 2023), Lifetime Achievement Award of Jaffna International Cinema Festival (Sri Lanka, 2026), and the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Lifetime Achievement Award (Jorhat, Assam in 2026) for his contributions to cinema on various capacities.

A postgraduate from Film & Television Institute of India, Nilotpal Majumder has produced, directed, cinematographed and edited both documentary and fiction. He is the founder president of the first Asian documentary incubator-cum-pitching forum and festival DocedgeKolkata. A mentor and academic, Nilotpal has been supported by Sundance, IDFA, NHK and other institutions as producer and director. He served as mentor at DMZ Docs, Docs Port Incheon, Dhaka DocLab, K-Docs Korea, Freedom Film Fellowship Malaysia, Tokyo Docs, and on a jury at ITVS USA, Docaviv, IDFA Amsterdam, Aljazeera IFF, DMZ Docs Fund, MeetMarket Sheffield DocFest, and others. He also was the professor of editing and dean at Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute.

Shaikh Khaja Vali is a policy advisor, event strategist, and AVGC sector evangelist with over a decade of experience in Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics. As COO of the Telangana VFX, Animation and Gaming Association (TVAGA), he drives strategic initiatives and industry partnerships. He is also Project Lead for IndiaJoy , India's largest Digital Entertainment Festival, and the VFX Summit, growing them into landmark congregations for 30,000+ creators, studios, and content buyers annually. A passionate community builder, he is a recognised voice in connecting film, technology, and talent across India's creative ecosystem.

Patricia Sánchez Mora is a festival director who has spent nearly two decades shaping the independent film ecosystem. Since 2009, she has served as the director and founder of l'Alternativa PRO, the professional wing of the Barcelona Independent Film Festival, where she also launched the Cinema Pendent project development and advisory hub over twelve years ago. Her extensive festival footprint includes serving as an international programmer, jury member, and assessment committee advisor for the Catalan Institute of Cultural Enterprises (ICEC), alongside founding EXTREMLAB. Through her production company, Novena Nube, she has established herself as a trusted executive producer, line producer, and director, focusing on non-fiction narratives that explore complex social, human, and artistic themes. Her documentary works have achieved widespread international acclaim.

Shri Prakash Magdum is a senior Civil Servant and currently serves as the Managing Director of the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC). He is the Festival director of 19th Mumbai International Film Festival. He has held several key positions in the field of media and cinema, including Director of the National Film Archive of India (NFAI), one of the largest film archive, Registrar at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), a premiere film educational institution and Additional Director General at the Press Information Bureau and Central Bureau of Communication. Earlier, he also served as the Defence spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence. Known for his deep interest in Indian cinema and film preservation, he has led many initiatives to restore and digitize classic Indian films, as part of the National Film Heritage Mission. His seminal book The Mahatma on Celluloid exploring the portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in films won the Best Book on Cinema Award at Mumbai International Film Festival (MAMI) in 2023 and also at Third Eye Asian Film Festival in 2024. He has also written extensively on film related topics which got published in leading newspapers and online portals.

Deepa Bhatia is a Mumbai-based film editor, documentary director and producer. She has since edited over twenty award-winning feature films Rock On!! My Name is Khan and Taare Zameen Par, where she was credited with the concept, research and editing. She has also worked closely with her partner Amole Gupte to produce Ka Dabba and Hawaa Hawaai, which she also edited, followed by Sniff!! and Saina. She has edited several documentaries, including the hugely successful, Sachin, a Billion Dreams, directed by James Erskine, most recently Famous: Yo Yo Honey Singh, India's best known rapper. Her first documentary Nero’s Guests, (Arte, YLE) premiered at IDFA, reported on the agrarian crisis as seen through the eyes of rural journalist, P.Sainath and won several Indian and international awards including, FIPRESCI Critics Award at the Mumbai International Film Festival 2010. She has just written, directed and produced First Act, a six-part documentary series on child actors, currently airing on Prime Video, for which she was selected in the BAFTA Breakthrough Cohort 2025. She is working on her debut feature script, Rabbit Hole, that was selected to be presented at TIFF, 2025 as part of the Women In Film, Los Angeles and India initiative.

Sanjeev Sivan is a distinguished filmmaker who began his career as an Executive Producer working on projects that were made under the family banner. He is from the family of filmmakers known as ‘The Sivans’. He has also directed over 30 short films and 75 documentaries for channels like National Geographic, Discovery, and Al Jazeera, earning several international awards, including recognition at the Ecofilms Festival in Greece. His acclaimed works include the feature film "Venalodungathe" (Endless Summer), which won the Best Film Ammonite Award in Canada, the National Geographic documentary "Underground Inferno," and "Aparichithan- The Stranger".

As AI radically reshapes the creative horizons of filmmaking, Anand Pandey , with his deep industry expertise and as the Head of the AI Center of Excellence at the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies to map out the next generation of storytelling. Drawing from his versatile background in successful internationally recognised works, he teaches the merging of technology with creative vision to show attendees exactly how emerging AI tools empower creators to produce high-impact, cinematic experiences on a big scale.