BCIFF 2026
Film shown for BCIFF 2026
Winners of BCIFF 2026
BCIFF 2026 JURY (SHORT FILMS)
Geert Neckebroeck
Geert has an university degree in Communication science, Energy & Climate and in Education.He also followed Filmstudies, both on academic level as in practical skills.He coordinates the Children Filmfestival “FilemKING”, in Ghent, Belgium, as a decentralisation of the Filem’On Festival and he works out educational material for shortfilmsabout “Citizenship” for schools.With this background he dedicated his life to follow the state of the art solutions of ecological sustainability.
Archana Atul Phadke
Archana Atul Phadke is an acclaimed Indian filmmaker, editor, and producer whose work has been widely recognized at leading international film festivals. An alumna of Berlinale Talents, she has built a strong reputation for crafting deeply personal and socially reflective documentaries. Her short film Uski Baarish screened at prestigious festivals such as Clermont-Ferrand, TIFF, Aspen Shortsfest, and Seattle International Film Festival. Archana’s debut feature documentary About Love premiered at Sheffield Doc/Fest, where it received the New Talent Award, and has since been celebrated for its sensitive and insightful storytelling.
Dylan Mohan Gray
Dylan Mohan Gray is a globally acclaimed Indian-Canadian filmmaker, director, producer, and writer known for powerful documentaries that spark international conversations on social, political, and human rights issues. His debut feature Fire in the Blood premiered in competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Trained as a historian, Dylan holds degrees from Dartmouth College and the Central European University, and has served as a Visiting Professor of History, bridging the worlds of film, history, and human rights.BCIFF 2026 JURY (FEATURE FILMS)
Hilde Steenssens
Hilde Steenssens is founder and director of Filem’On, the International Film festival for Young Audiences in Belgium, which celebrates its 20th edition this year. She also curates for other film initiatives and festivals for children in Belgium and was a member of the Arts Committee of the Ministry of Culture for seven years, where her task was to assess and advise on grant applications from various cultural and film organisations. As pedagogue and youth criminologist, she is convinced of the power of art and film as intermedium to support children and young people in their growth towards world citizens. She is also a certified herbalist.
Soumitra Ranade
Soumitra has been writing, directing, and producing a wide range of animation, live-action and VFX projects. His most famous works include the children’s feature films Jajantaram Mamantaram and Goopi Gawaiyaa Bagha Bajaiyaa, and animated TV Serials Karadi Tales and Bandbudh Aur Budbak. He has written and illustrated numerous books for children and is the Co-founder/Chief Creative Director of Paperboat Animation Studios.
Sushant Shrestha
Sushant Shrestha is a filmmaker and creative professional known for his work in storytelling that blends strong visual sensibilities with emotionally grounded narratives. In addition to producing, Sushant was selected for Berlinale Talents, a prestigious film industry development program, highlighting his growing international profile as a producer.
Salmin Sheriff
Salmin Sheriff is a Bengaluru-based playwright, director, actor, and painter with over 35 years of experience in theatre and film. He has written, directed, and performed in numerous stage productions across languages, conducted theatre workshops including work with young performers and appeared in mainstream and independent films. He also scripts and directs advertising films, bringing a broad, multidisciplinary perspective to his work as an artist and jury member.
Franziska Schönenberger
Franziska Schönenberger is a director and writer whose work explores identity, belonging, and how cultures meet and transform one another. With Swiss and German family roots, she studied Literature and Film before completing her directing studies at the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF). A central part of her practice is her long-standing collaboration with Indian director and artist Jayakrishnan Subramanian. Working between Munich and Pondicherry, they create films that move fluidly between documentary, fiction, animation, and immersive media.Glimpses of BCIFF 2026
