Jury Members 2025

Bijaya Jena

Chairperson BGFF2025

Bijaya Jena (also known as Dolly Jena or Bijoya Jena) is a National Award-winning filmmaker, international juror, and FTII-trained actress. She has starred in acclaimed Odia and Hindi films, including Razia Sultan, Holi, and The Deceivers. Her directorial debut TARA (1992) won a National Award, while Abhaas (1997) was featured in global festivals and broadcast by the BBC. Her latest short film, Winter Interlude (2023), was shot in Estonia and carries a strong anti-war message.

Champa Shetty

Actor and filmmaker

Champa P. Shetty is a Kannada filmmaker, actor, and voice-over artist known for her strong, women-led narratives. A State Award-winning dubbing artist, she made her directorial debut with Ammachi Yemba Nenapu. Her second film, Koli Esru, won multiple awards including at BIFFes and Ottawa. Champa is also an acclaimed theatre artist, widely respected for her contribution to Kannada cinema and stage.

Sampad Mahapatra

Film Director

Sampad Mahapatra is a veteran journalist with over 30 years of experience in Indian media. Former editor of the leading Odia daily Sambad, he joined NDTV in 1995 and served as its Odisha Bureau Chief until 2013. Known for his in-depth political and social reporting, he has contributed to national publications and continues to be active in media education and public discourse.

Gadadhar Puty

National award winning filmmaker

Gadadhar Puty is a graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, where he earned a Diploma in Cinema between 1978 and 1982. Editor and Director: He has served as both editor and director on several films. His editing work dates back to the 1980s. National Recognition: Puty's film, "Puja Pain Phulatie" (2007), received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Odia in 2008. This achievement reflects his expertise in cinematic storytelling.

Lalit Rao

Film Critic

Mr. Lalit Rao is a veteran film critic. He is currently writing a book on 25 best French films (1990-2015). He has created ‘‘KINEMA’’, a database with information on 25,000 films. His articles in French and English have appeared in magazines and websites such as Deep Focus, Filmfestivals.com Blog, Kinoglaz, Objectif-Cinema, Sancho Does Asia and Séquences.