Atiq Rahimi

Jury President

Author & Director
Commandeur de l’ordre des arts et des lettres
Docteur Honoris Causa de l’Université de Rouen

Born in Afghanistan in 1962, Atiq Rahimi fled to France in 1984 to escape the Soviet coup. There he has made a name as a writer, film and documentary maker.

He directed the film adaptation of his first novel Earth and Ashes, which was released in 2005 to great acclaim. He later directed another adaptation, namely of his 2008 novel Syngue Sabour (The Patience Stone), which won the prestigious French literary prize, Prix Goncourt.

The script was written in collaboration with Jean-Claude Carrière and released in 2013. Rahimi has directed several documentaries, among them Afghanistan (2002). He has been heavily involved in Afghan cultural life. He lives in Paris.

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Niki Karimi

Iran

Filmmaker, Actress, Writer & Producer

Niki Karimi is an award-winning Iranian filmmaker, actress, writer, and producer.

With a career spanning over 30 years, her work has been showcased at major international film festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Toronto.

She continues to work across cinema, literature, and visual arts while based in London.

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Vishka Asayesh

Iran

Actress

Vishka Asayesh is an award-winning Iranian actress whose work spans film, television, and theater.

She rose to prominence in acclaimed films such as No Men Allowed, becoming one of the most respected and recognized figures in contemporary Iranian cinema.

Her performance in Seven Days earned widespread critical acclaim and multiple festival honors, further solidifying her status as a leading dramatic talent.

Now based internationally, Asayesh continues to expand her creative reach, taking on bold, complex roles that transcend language and borders.

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Richard Fung

Canada

Video Artist, Writer & Professor Emeritus

Richard Fung is a video artist, writer, and Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Art at OCAD University.

The main strands of his work arise from the history, politics, and culture of the Caribbean, including his multigenerational, multiracial Chinese Trinidadian family, pan-Asian queer experiences and perspectives, and global social justice issues.

He has been recognized with the Toronto Arts Award for Media Art, the Bell Canada Award for Video Art, the Kessler Award for significant influence on LGBTQ studies, and the Bonham Centre Award for contribution to the public understanding of sexual diversity in Canada.

TIFF Jury 2026

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Carolina Posse

USA

Media Producer & Educator

Carolina Posse is an award-winning media producer and educator. She worked in the arts non-profit sector as Programming Director and ultimately served as Interim Director of the Chicago Latino Film Festival.

She has served on juries for the Sundance Institute, Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB), Independent Television Service (ITVS), and multiple international film festivals.

Carolina has guest lectured for educational and governmental institutions and was the film curator and co-founder of Mostra: Brazilian Film Series, presented in cooperation with Partners of the Americas Illinois–São Paulo Chapter.

Her producing credits include Hot Chili (2004), The Quiet (2005), Path of Least Resistance (2006), Little Green Men (2009), The Scary Ham (2018), This is Cindy (2019), American Fumble (2019), American Parent (2023), The Game Camera (2025), and The Francis Ellis Mysteries (2026).

She served on the Board of NATAS (National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) and was a Fellow of the Television Academy Foundation and the Carnegie Mellon Leadership and Mentoring Institute.

Carolina holds a BA in Film and a Master’s in Arts Management. She is an Associate Professor and Assistant Provost for Strategic Partnerships in the School of Film and Television at Columbia College Chicago.

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Stephen Lance

Australia

Director, Writer & Film Lecturer

Stephen Lance is an award-winning director, writer, and film lecturer. His extensive body of work spans film, television, and music videos.

His debut feature, My Mistress, starred Emmanuelle Béart, and he also directed the Stan-funded feature The Second.

A former Berlin Film Festival International Jury member, Stephen’s short films have screened globally at prestigious festivals including Berlin, Toronto, Palm Springs, and Rome.

He continues to write for major platforms including Netflix, Stan, and the ABC.

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Mojgan Ilanlou

Iran

Documentary Filmmaker

Mojgan Ilanlou is an Iranian documentary filmmaker renowned for her fearless storytelling and dedication to highlighting social injustices.

In 2022, during the production of her documentary One Thousand Women, Ilanlou publicly removed her headscarf, joining the Iranian women’s movement against compulsory hijab.

Her act of defiance led to her arrest and a severe sentence of 10 years in prison and 74 lashes. Despite her temporary release, she was re-arrested and remains under constant threat of re-incarceration. Nevertheless, Ilanlou continues to live and work in Iran, undeterred by the oppressive environment.

Her imprisonment and activism have drawn significant international attention, with human rights organizations and independent film institutions rallying in her support.

Through her courageous work, Ilanlou continues to shine a light on the struggles of marginalized communities, using cinema as a powerful tool for resistance and change.

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Shirin Neshat

Iran / USA

Festival President · Artist & Filmmaker

Shirin Neshat is an internationally acclaimed Iranian artist, filmmaker, and photographer based in New York. Her work in film, video, and photography explores themes of gender, identity, power, and the complex relationship between Iran, Islam, and the West.

She gained international recognition with works including Women of Allah, Turbulent, and Rapture. Her feature film Women Without Men earned her the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival in 2009.

Neshat has also received the International Award at the Venice Biennale and is widely recognized as one of the most influential Iranian contemporary artists working internationally.

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