Jury

MEET THE JURY

N CHANDRA

Director, Producer and Writer

Chandrashekhar Narvekar is an Indian producer, writer and director, known for gritty realism, in his early dark and loud films. His most successful commercial films are Ankush, Pratighaat, Tezaab and Narsimha. Chandra also made moderately successful but critically scorned Style and its sequel Xcuse Me.

SOHAM P SHAH

Director & Producer

Soham P. Shah is an Indian film director and writer. Soham has directed 3 Hindi films, including Kaal, Luck, and Kartam Bhugtam. Kaal was a big commercial success, Luck was loved by the audiences & has been in news as Squid Game is accused of copying Luck. Kartam Bhugtam is a path breaking psychological thriller critically acclaimed and honoured at Rashtrapati Bhavan as well. Soham is knownfor his out of the box concepts and fresh approach to film making. His company is known as Simba Productions.

ANIL DUBEY

Director

Anil Dubey (born December 19, 1968) is an Indian film & television director, filmmaker, actor, and writer who predominately works in the Indian film & TV industry. He has directed TV serials like Chidyaghar, Neeli Chhatri Waale, Har Shakh Par Ullu Baitha Hai, Beechwale Bapu Dekh Raha Hai, Khatmal-e-Ishq, Krishna-Kanhaiya, Lapataganj, and Ek Tha Chandar Ek Thi Sudha. His journey on television began as a director with his debut, Saboot, a TV series, in 1998, which aired on Star Plus.

As a film director, Hotel A Mystery, To Paain, Jio Bachcho, and Bandoo Boxer were made in his direction. He has worked as an assistant director with Shekhar Kapoor for the 1994 Hindi film Bandit Queen and Jag Mundra for the film, Monsoon in 2001. Two of his short films, Kalakaar and Trupti, were directed by him. He has also done a few documentaries for Doordarshan.

Rajeev Chaudhry

Editor – Magazine

Rajeev Chaudhari is a seasoned veteran in the Indian film industry, having begun his journey in film trade journalism with Film Information. His passion for cinema soon led him to the world of publicity and PR, where he worked with renowned names like Dev Anand, Bhappi Soni, Garware’s, and Rajshri Productions—playing a key role in the success of iconic films like Maine Pyaar Kiya. Known for his unique creative vision, Rajeev has been the driving force behind all his projects, contributing to the concept, script, production, and direction. A committed leader, he has also served as Secretary of both IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association) and FMC (Film Makers Combine), championing the interests of the film fraternity.

RAJEEV VERMA

Actor

Rajeev Verma was born on June 28, 1949 in Hoshangabad, Madhya Pradesh, India. He is an actor, known for Koi… Mil Gaya (2003), Mrs. Kaushik Ki Paanch Bahuein (2011) and When Love Calls (1989).

Rakesh Bedi

Actor

Rakesh Bedi is a veteran Indian actor renowned for his work in film, television, and theatre. Born on December 1, 1954, in New Delhi, he graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, and began his career with the film Hamare Tumhare (1979). Celebrity Borns+7Wikipedia+7WikiBio+7

He gained widespread acclaim for his comedic role as Omi in the cult classic Chashme Buddoor (1981), earning a Filmfare nomination for Best Comedian. Bedi became a household name through popular TV sitcoms like Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Shrimaan Shrimati, and Yes Boss, where his comic timing and relatable characters resonated with audiences. World Celebrity Biography+8StarsUnfolded+8The Movie Database+8StarsUnfolded+5Filmy Focus+5The Movie Database+5

With a career spanning over four decades and appearances in more than 150 films, including Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023), Bedi has showcased his versatility across genres. His contributions to theatre are equally notable, particularly his solo performance in the play Massage, where he portrayed 24 distinct characters.

MANOJ JOSHI

Actor

Manoj Joshi is an India film and television actor. Joshi began his career in Marathi theatre, also putting up performances in Gujarati and Hindi theatre. He has also acted in over 60 films since 1998, many of his roles being comedic. His earliest well known serials include Chanakya, Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka, Rau (Marathi), Sangdil, Kabhi Souten Kabhi Saheli, Khichdi (Occasional), Mura Raska Mai La (Marathi). This was followed by film roles in Sarfarosh (SI Bajju) alongside his brother who played the well known Bala Thakur in the film. Joshi’s break came as a comedian in the priyadarshan flick Hungama which was followed by Hulchul, Dhoom, Bhagam Bhag, Phir Hera Pheri, Chup Chup Ke, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, and Billo Barber. Manoj Joshi is also in the Star Plus series Gulaal. His father is Navneet Joshi, and his younger brother was late actor Rajesh Joshi (d. 1998). Manoj Joshi hails from Adapodara Village, Near from Himatnagar City, District Sabarkantha, Gujarat.

KAMLESH PANDEY

Screenwriter

Kamlesh Pandey is an Indian screenwriter with more than 30 years’ experience in advertising, 20 years in films and 14 years in television. He has won the Filmfare Awards for Tezaab, Star Screen Awards for Saudagar and IIFA Award for Rang De Basanti. He is from Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, and lives in Mumbai.

SANJAY MASOOM

Writer

Sanjay Masoom has made significant contributions to the Indian film industry as a distinguished screenwriter, having crafted stories for blockbuster movies such as “Krrish” (2006), “Jannat 2” (2012), “Gunday” (2014), “Krrish 3” (2013), “Raja Natwarlal” (2014), and “Koyelaanchal” (2014), among others. His exceptional skills in dialogue writing earned him the IIFA Award for Best Dialogue for “Krrish 3”. Further showcasing his versatility, Sanjay penned the dialogues for “3 AM: A Paranormal Experience” (2014) and “Ghayal Once Again” (2016) and crafted the screenplay for “Kaabil” (2017). He continued to make waves in the industry with his 2018 release, “Hamara Tiranga”, directed by Sajeev Balath. Beyond his established credits, Sanjay’s talents have been recognized with nominations, including the Mirchi Music Awards for Critics’ Choice Upcoming Lyricist of The Year and the IIFA Award for Best Dialogue

SUBHASH SAHOO

Writer/Director/Sound Designer
Subhash Sahoo is well known Sound Designer known for Kaminey (2009), Neerja (2016) and Omkara (2006), Sarfarosh (1999) along with many other critically acclaimed movies. He also is a director for a documentary names as ‘The Sound by Mangesh Desai’ (2017) He has 13 Awards wins & 7 nominations

B N TIWARI

President of FWICE , Producer & Director

Born in India, B.N. Tiwari is a veteran sound engineer with over two decades of experience in the Indian film industry. Having contributed to more than 2000 films, he has become a pivotal figure in shaping the sonic identity of Indian cinema. His tenure as a sound recordist with B.R. Chopra’s BR Films Theatre Division highlights his precision, creativity, and technical mastery. Beyond his craft, Tiwari is admired for mentoring young professionals and advocating for higher standards in film sound. His journey reflects a rare blend of passion, expertise, and enduring commitment to the art of storytelling through sound.

ATUL MOHAN

Editor – Magazine

Atul Mohan is the editor for Trade Magazine, ‘Complete Cinema’.

LATHA SRINIVASAN

Journalist

Latha Srinivasan is a senior entertainment journalist based in Chennai, India. Currently, she is Consulting Editor for various leading news organizations in India and continues to write extensively on entertainment. She comes with over 15 years of experience in the field of journalism and is considered one of the leading entertainment journalists in South India. Latha has worked with some of the best media organisations in India and has won numerous awards throughout her career for her work. She was formerly Senior Editor with various media houses including Yahoo! India, Deccan Chronicle, The Times of India, DNA, NewsX and India Today Latha is regularly invited to speak on numerous occasions at various events and to moderate panel discussions at leading national forums like CII and FICCI FRAMES. She has also recently authored a book on her breast cancer journey and does her share in society to increase awareness about breast cancer.

Arif Shahdoli

Actor and Writer

Arif Shahdoli is a talented actor and writer known for his work in Hindi films like Guthlee Ladoo and Kajri, and the web series Rangbaaz 3. He has also starred in short films such as BiryaniKabadi, and Bharat Band.

As a writer, Arif has authored Jhansi Ki Raja and the ebook Amrit Kshetra Bu, showcasing his storytelling skills across various mediums. His contributions highlight his passion for bringing engaging stories to life.

GUNTER WEIG

Enterpreneur

Günter Weig, the founder and CEO of Glamourfaces.de, has been a trailblazer in the modeling and beauty industry since 1990. Based in Germany, Günter began his journey by establishing a modeling agency originally named W-Models. Under his leadership, the agency achieved remarkable success, including the triumph at FACE 94, Germany’s largest modeling competition of its time, which featured over 100,000 participants.

In the early 2000s, Günter rebranded his agency as Glamourfaces.de, shifting focus to national and international beauty contests and fashion events. His innovative approach positioned Glamourfaces.de as a unique entity in the modeling world, celebrated for its dedication to the art of beauty and its commitment to excellence.

He acted in TV series including Chanakya, Ek Mahal Ho Sapno KaRau (Marathi), SangdilKabhi Souten Kabhi SaheliMura Raska Mai La (Marathi). He debuted in Sarfarosh (SI Bajju) alongside his brother who played Bala Thakur in the film. His other works include the film Hungama followed by HulchulDhoomBhagam Bhag, Chup Chup KeBhool Bhulaiyaa and BilluHe played the role of Chanakya in Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat.

In 2018, Joshi was awarded with the Padma Shri. He is the vice-president of the Bombay Art Society.

Venue

PVR INOX, Saharaganj Lucknow

Screening

3rd Nov ’26 (10 Am to 10 Pm)

4th Nov ’26 (10 Am to 10 Pm)

5th Nov ’26 (9 Am to 5 Pm)

Award Ceremony

5th Nov ’26 (6:30 Pm to 10 Pm)

Upload Your Movie

We’re in search of exceptional films, spanning from regional content to international full-length movies and short films. Your involvement in this festival, where we celebrate freedom of speech through both big and small screens, is eagerly welcomed! Your participation promises to make this occasion truly momentous for us.

Prestigious Awards for Outstanding Films in Lucknow.

ADDRESS

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