Our Jury

SJ Chiro is a Seattle based filmmaker. Her latest feature film, East of the Mountains stars Tom Skerritt, Mira Sorvino and Annie Gonzalez. The film was distributed by Quiver Distribution in 2021 and maintains 100% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. East of the Mountains was nominated for two Satellite Awards: Best Picture, Drama and Best Actor in a Leading Role, Drama.

Her first feature film, LANE 1974, starring Sophia Mitri Schloss and Katherine Moennig, premiered at SXSW in 2017. LANE 1974 went on to win the prestigious FIPRESCI award for New American Cinema, distributed by The Orchard. Chiro is also known for her many award-winning short films. She is a proud member of the Director's Guild of America.

Hansal Mehta is a film director best known for Shahid (2013), Citylights (2014), Aligarh (2016), Omertà (2018) and Scam 1992 (2020). He is known for films that depict social and political realities in deeply polarised and troubled times. His films are remarkable for their understanding of characters and their worlds, while telling important stories. His films Shahid (2013) and Omertà(2018) premiered as official selections at different editions of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Aligarh (2016) a moving tale about a professor suspended by university for being gay premiered at the BFI London Film Festival in 2015. His films have traveled to festivals around the world and have been extensively written about and discussed in both international and local forums. He won the National Award for Best Direction in 2014 for his film Shahid.

Gopi Desai, a graduate of National School of Drama (NSD), and FTII Pune, affiliated course. She has been active on stage, television and films, it’s been an enriching journey, from actor to writer, to director. She’s won accolades & awards as a filmmaker spanning from National Awards to International Awards for her films! ‘Mujhse Dosti Karoge?”, and ” Bas Yaari Rakho”. Her documentary film ‘Manzar’ won Filmfare Award. She’s also a recipient of the prestigious V. Shantaram Award. Her films have been critically acclaimed and screened at 80 International film festivals. She’s been part of national and international jury of renowned film festivals. Her films revolve around her passion and she continues her beautiful journey of accomplishments with more momentum in the years to come!

Most popular authors, Orator & noted proponent of cinema. His versatile columns (especially ‘Spectrometer’ and ‘Anavrut’) covering various aspects of society and culture is running in “Gujarat Samachar”. Besides he has also contributed in famous Gujarati/English publications and websites like Chitralekha, Rediff.com, Times of India, Mid-day. In 2010, he has been honoured by Govt. of Gujarat on Independence Day for his outstanding contribution in the field of writing.

Mayank Chhaya is an internationally published journalist, commentator and writer with over four decades of news reporting career out of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the U.S.

An authorized biographer of the Dalai Lama, with editions in 25 languages, Chhaya is also the writer, producer and director of the critically acclaimed documentary ‘Gandhi’s Song’ about the story of Narsinh Mehta’s enduring masterpiece ‘Vaishnav Jan To’. He has his own online interview show ‘Mayank Chhaya Reports’.