SPEAKERS

Rina Damayanti, a filmmaker specializing in film, art, and culture, graduated from Gajah Mada University (1993-1997) and the Indonesian Institute of the Arts in Yogyakarta (1994-2003). She began her career in 2000 as a producer at SET Film Production. In 2013, Rina became the founder & producer of Padi Padi Creative. Additionally, she is actively involved in an Indonesian cultural channel website, indonesiana.tv, as a directing producer. Since 2021, she has been serving as the Festival Director of Jakarta Film Week, an international film festival based in Jakarta.

Liza Diño is the Executive Director of the Quezon City Film Commission, leading initiatives to establish Quezon City as a central hub for filmmaking and creative industry development. She manages key programs like ‘Shoot QC’ and the QCinema Project Market, which connect Southeast Asian filmmakers with global industry leaders. A passionate advocate for Southeast Asian cinema, she builds regional and international collaborations, including her role as EAVE National Ambassador for Asia and a mentor for Netflix Thailand. As former Chairperson and CEO of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, she elevated Philippine cinema globally and launched the FilmPhilippines incentive program. This program helped produce international co-productions such as *Autobiography*, *Nocebo*, and *Zsazsa Zaturnnah*. She also co-founded Full Circle Lab Philippines, supporting acclaimed films like *Leonor Will Never Die* and *Dreaming and Dying*, and has produced international festival films. In 2023, she was knighted by France for her contributions to cinema and cultural exchange, continuing to connect Southeast Asian talent with global opportunities.

Jeremy Chua is the General Manager of SGIFF since 2024. Since 2014, he founded Singapore-based independent film label Potocol to produce the works of distinctive Asian auteurs. His recent producer credits include 2024 Berlinale Encounters Jury Prize winner Some Rain Must Fall, 2023 Cannes Camera d’Or winner Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, 2023 Berlinale Generations Competition film Tomorrow is a long time, 2023 San Sebastian New Directors Competition film Last Shadow at First Light and 2021 Cannes Un Certain Regard film Rehana Maryam Noor. In 2023, he was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Asia Pacific Cinema by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations.

Tran Thi Bich Ngoc earned Bachelor of Film Directing from Ha Noi Academy of Cinema and Theatre & holds Master of Public Policy from Fulbright University. Ngoc has extensive 30 years working in the movie industry in Viet Nam. She used to be head of production department at Galaxy Studio, the largest private film-studio in Viet Nam. Some of her highlights of independent films include Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories by Phan Dang Di, official competition at the Berlin IFF; The Third Wife by Ash Mayfair, awarded the best Asian film by Netpac at Toronto IFF, and nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards; Glorious Ashes by Bui Thac Chuyen, official competition at Tokyo IFF, received the grand award Montgolfier d’or at the Festival des Three Continents, Nantes; Skin of Youth by Ash Mayfair, special jury award at NewYork Asian Film Festival.

She also serves as member of international jury at Tokyo IFF & as mentor of many producing workshops in South East Asia. Ngoc is a co-founder of Autumn Meeting, an international cinema workshop and event which began in 2013 as a platform to support filmmakers in Viet Nam and across Southeast Asia, she is now head of Project Market at Da Nang Asia Film Festival, the only annual international film festival in Viet Nam since 2023.

Ngoc was named one of Forbes Magazine’s “50 Most Influential Women’s” in Viet Nam.