■ NA Hong-Jin | Korea | Director, Writer, Producer | Jury President
Na Hong-Jin captured the attention of critics and audiences alike, for his bold and meticulously crafted cinematic worlds in The Chaser (2008), The Yellow Sea (2010), and The Wailing (2016), establishing himself as one of Korea’s most distinctive filmmakers. The Wailing, in particular, earned international acclaim for its unpredictable narrative and profound exploration of existential faith, redefining the occult genre and cementing Na’s reputation on the global stage.
Expanding his creative scope, Na produced the Thai-Korean co-production The Medium (2021), a groundbreaking experiment in genre cinema that enjoyed remarkable success. He is currently in post-production on his upcoming feature Hope, starring Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and Hoyeon, and featuring Alicia Vikander with Michael Fassbender. Balancing commercial appeal with intellectual depth, Na continues to lead viewers into multilayered realms of thought, standing as one of the most compelling and visionary voices in contemporary cinema.
■ Tony LEUNG Ka-fai | Hong Kong, China | Actor
Tony Leung Ka-fai is an internationally acclaimed actor from Hong Kong, China. He began his film career in 1982 and won the Best Actor Award at the Hong Kong Film Awards for his first movie Reign Behind a Curtain (1983). He is also the youngest award winner in this category to date. Over the years, he has filmed nearly 200 films including Farewell China (1990), Center Stage (1991), 92 Legendary La Rose Noire (1992), Dragon Inn (1992), The Lover (1992), The Eagle Shooting Heroes (1993), Ashes of Time (1994), Island of Greed (1997), Jiang hu: The Triad Zone (2000), The Gua Sha Treatment (2001), Double Vision (2002), Election (2005), Bodyguards And Assassins (2009), Cold War (2012), The Taking of Tiger Mountain (2014), Cold War 2 (2016), Sons of the Neon Night (2025), The Shadow’s Edge (2025). Tony Leung Ka-fai has established a dynamic screen presence through his work across a wide range of genres, earning continued recognition and affection from audiences worldwide.
■ Nandita DAS | India | Director, Actor
Nandita Das has acted in more than 40 feature films, including Fire (1996), Earth (1998), and Bawandar (2000), with eminent filmmakers in 10 different languages. She made her directorial debut in 2008 with Firaaq, which received many accolades and appreciation, both in India and abroad. With a Master’s degree in Social Work, she uses films as a means to advocate for social justice. Das also served as the Chairperson of the Children’s Film Society. In 2016, she founded Nandita Das Initiatives (NDI) through which she has co-produced her own features. Notable works include Manto (2018), presented in the Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival, and Zwigato (2022), which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. In 2011, Das was conferred the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier) by the French Government. She has been on the jury at several prestigious film festivals, including twice at Cannes.
■ Marziyeh MESHKINY | Iran | Director
Marziyeh Meshkiny is an acclaimed Iranian film director and screenwriter. A graduate of the Makhmalbaf Film School, she made her directorial debut with The Day I Became a Woman (2000), which won multiple awards at the Venice International Film Festival and the New Currents Award at Busan International Film Festival. Meshkiny has since directed several notable films, including Stray Dogs (2004) and The Man Who Came with the Snow (2009), and has contributed as a writer and assistant director to numerous projects within the Makhmalbaf Film House. Her work is recognized internationally for its poetic storytelling and social insight.
■ Kogonada | USA | Director
Kogonada is the writer and director of Columbus (2017), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and After Yang (2022), premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. He also directed Pachinko (2022) for Apple TV+. His next film, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025), starring Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, will be released in the United States on September 19 and in Korea in October.
■ Yulia Evina BHARA | Indonesia | Producer
Yulia Evina Bhara is a producer and the founder of KawanKawan Media, a production company based in Jakarta, Indonesia. She has been involved in numerous projects, including: Solo, Solitude (2016) by Yosep Anggi Noen, which was invited to the Locarno Film Festival 2016; The Science of Fictions (2019) also by Yosep Anggi Noen, invited to Locarno 2019; You and I (2020) by Fanny Chotimah, invited to the Copenhagen International Documentary Festival; Whether The Weather Is Fine (2021) by Carlo Francisco Manatad, invited to Toronto 2021; Stone Turtle (2022) by Woo Ming Jin, invited to Locarno 2022; Autobiography (2022) by Makbul Mubarak, invited to Venice 2022; Tiger Stripes (2023) by Amanda Nell Eu, invited to Cannes Critics Week 2023; Last Shadow At The First Light (2023) by Nicole Midori Woodford, invited to San Sebastian 2023; 24 Hours With Gaspar (2023) by Yosep Anggi Noen, invited to Busan 2023; Don’t Cry, Butterfly (2024) by Duong Dieu Linh, invited to Venice Critics’ Week 2024; Tale of the Land (2024) by Loeloe Hendra, invited to Busan 2024; Renoir (2025) by Chie Hayakawa, invited to Cannes 2025 and most recently, The Fox King by Woo Ming Jin. She was named one of Variety’s Impactful International Women in 2023.
■ HAN Hyo-joo | Korea | Actor
Han Hyo-joo made her debut in 2005 with Nonstop 5, quickly gaining recognition with Spring Waltz (2006) and Brilliant Legacy (2009). Her notable performance in the historical drama Dong Yi (2010) earned her the Grand Prize at the MBC Drama Awards and she has since showcased her versatility across diverse genres in films such as Masquerade (2012); Cold Eyes (2013); Beauty Inside (2015); Love, Lies (2016); and The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure (2020). Han starred in Amazon Prime Video's Treadstone (2019), Disney+ series Moving (2023), and the Japanese Netflix original Romantic Anonymous (2025), expanding her career scope to the global stage. Han is recognized today as one of Korea’s most accomplished and representative all-around actors. |
