After graduating from the Physics Department of Middle East Technical University (METU), Ömer Vargı moved to Istanbul and started his career in cinema. He began as an assistant to Şerif Gören on Yılmaz Güney’s film ‘Endişe’ and later worked as an assistant director on films such as ‘Deprem,’ ‘Taksi Şoförü,’ and ‘Nehir.’ In 1977, he started directing commercials and founded Link Production in 1979. Among his notable directorial works is ‘Her Şey Çok Güzel Olacak’ (Everything’s Gonna Be Great, 1998), which marked the first acting experience of Cem Yılmaz and Mazhar Alanson. He directed ‘İnşaat’ (The Construction, 2003) and its sequel ‘İnşaat 2’ (2014), and in 2007 directed ‘Kabadayı’ (For Love and Honor), telling the story of Ali Osman protecting his family from a drug dealer. In 2011, he produced ‘Anadolu Kartalları’ (Anatolian Eagles), a film about five Harbiye students whose paths cross again years later, all sharing the dream of becoming pilots. Vargı has also produced significant films such as ‘Güneşin Tutulduğu Gün’ (The Day the Sun Was Stolen, 1983), ‘Badi’ (1983), ‘Amerikalı’ (The American, 1993), ‘Eşkıya’ (The Bandit, 1996), ‘Gönül Yarası’ (Lovelorn, 2004), and ‘Kabadayı’ (2007). His directorial career spans many successful projects from 1998 to 2011. In 2018, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 55th Antalya International Film Festival for his contributions to cinema.

Malak Dahmouni is the Artistic and General Director of the Rabat International Festival of Auteur Cinema (FICAR), and a committed figure in the Moroccan cultural scene. She is known for curating a demanding selection of auteur films and for her commitment to building lasting connections between the cinemas of the Global South and the wider world. She has played a key role in raising FICAR’s international profile through prestigious partnerships. Under her leadership, the festival has expanded its reach to new audiences with retrospectives of classic films, youth programs, tributes, international competitions, as well as workshops and masterclasses focusing on African, Arab, and Mediterranean cinema. She holds a PhD in heritage enhancement and a postgraduate degree in cultural management and development. Education and the transmission of knowledge are central to her artistic mission. Firmly believing that cinema is a space for dialogue, diversity, and reflection, she sees festivals as vital platforms for encouraging critical thinking and supporting independent creation. Through this vision, Malak Dahmouni has positioned FICAR as a leading cultural player in both the Arab and African cultural landscapes.

She graduated as a film director from the Kyiv State Institute of Theater and Film. Her graduation short film as director and scriptwriter, Demoniada, competed at the Locarno IFF. She worked for many years as executive director of the Molodist Kyiv IFF (Ukraine) and for two years as the development manager of the Eurasia Film Market (Antalya, Turkey). In 2011, she created the company TatoFilm, which operated in Ukraine and Turkey. She produced ten feature films and three feature documentaries, which received more than 250 awards internationally. Among them: Frost by Sarunas Bartas, which premiered in Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes in 2017; Anatolian Leopard – winner of the FIPRESCI award at the Toronto IFF; and Brighton 4th, which won the main awards at the Tribeca IFF in 2021. She served as the head of Antalya Film Forum within the framework of Antalya IFF (2019–2020) and has been a jury member at Karlovy Vary IFF, Warsaw IFF, European Film Festival in Lecce, Odessa IFF, Ankara IFF, Haifa IFF, and Connecting Cottbus. Her recent productions include Guria by Levan Koguashvili (currently in post-production as a six-country co-production), which participated in the Cannes IFF Atelier and won Best Project at Souk – Red Sea IFF 2024. Another upcoming title, Dream Girl by Kaan Mujdeci, won an ARTE award at the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2025. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Asian Pacific Screen Academy, European Producers Club, and European Film Academy.

Born in Kiel, Germany, the artist studied Musical and Drama at Pera Fine Arts Academy. She performed with many notable jazz musicians like Selçuk Sun, Şenova Ülker, Yaz Baltacıgil, Neşet Ruacan, Aydın Esen, and Nilüfer Verdi. In 1997, she worked with Milli Bermeyo in Boston and attended Sheila Jordan's vocal workshops at Harvard University. She continued her jazz vocal training with Randy Esen in Istanbul and performed as a soloist in leading pop and jazz orchestras. In 1998, she enrolled in Y.T.U.'s Faculty of Art and Design, Music and Performing Arts Department, studying voice under Yıldız Dağdelen. She also worked with Ahmet Yürür, Şirin Pancaroğlu, and Alper Maral, and completed her master's at Y.T.U. Institute of Social Sciences in 2005. Her debut album, İçimde Aşk Var, gained attention from music critics. In 2015, she received the Best Jazz Artist Award from Boğaziçi University’s Radio Boğaziçi; in 2019, she was named Alternative Female Artist of the Year by journalists. She performed at Istanbul, Ankara, and Akbank Jazz Festivals. Interpreting unforgettable works by poets like Can Yücel, Nazım Hikmet, Omar Khayyam, and Forough Farrokhzad, she gained acclaim at local and international jazz festivals. 'I enjoy journeying across musical genres, blending jazz, pop, Latin, and ethnic sounds with my own style,' says Lambaoğlu. Her sixth album, Sığınak (2024), was released in LP format. Alongside stage performances, she continues her career with albums and social responsibility projects.

Tulio Gagliardo Varas was born in 1965 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He completed his musical studies at the University of Cuyo and the National Conservatory. After working for a while in his home country, he moved to Spain in 1990 to continue his artistic career. He conducted operas and concerts in various Spanish cities and was invited to many prominent festivals in France. His repertoire includes productions of Carmen, Tosca, Aida, The Barber of Seville, and Nabucco in both Spain and France. From 1995 to 2005, he served as the musical director for a series of lyrical concerts in collaboration with José Luis Moreno. To date, he has conducted 20 operas, 40 operettas, and more than 2,200 concerts. Many of these were broadcast on TVE, which helped establish his reputation as a conductor with a strong lyrical repertoire. He has worked with institutions such as the Toronto Opera Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini Orchestra in Parma, Kyiv Symphony Orchestra, Sofia Opera, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Sibiu Philharmonic, the Euro-Mediterranean Symphony Orchestra, and numerous symphony orchestras in Spain and Argentina. In 2003, he performed seven concerts with world-renowned tenor José Cura. In 2005, he conducted Aida at the Nîmes Arena with Ignacio Encinas and Olga Romanko. He moved to İzmir in 2006, and since April 2007, he has been serving as the conductor and general music director of the İzmir State Opera and Ballet.