Mark Amin – Jury Chair

Mark Amin is currently the CEO of Sobini Films, a motion picture production and financing company. Through Sobini Films, Amin has produced a diverse slate of feature films, including THE PRINCE & ME, PEACEFUL WARRIOR, and his directorial debut, EMPEROR, which was nominated for two NAACP Image Awards, most notably Outstanding Independent Motion Picture. Upcoming projects include NELLIE BLY, starring Chloe Grace Moretz in the leading role, and ZORRO 2.0, a futuristic reboot of the lucrative Zorro franchise starring Gael García Bernal. Mr. Amin served as Vice Chairman and member of the board of directors of Lionsgate Entertainment from 2000 to 2009. Prior to his work with Lionsgate and Sobini, Amin founded Trimark Holdings, Inc. and served as the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Under Amin’s leadership, Trimark soon developed into one of the entertainment industry’s leading independent production and distribution companies. Amin’s past credits include the critically acclaimed EVE’S BAYOU and FRIDA, which was nominated for five Oscars and won two. In addition to film production, he is actively involved in the acquisition and development of pistachio and almond orchards in central California, with more than 8,000 acres under management. Mr. Amin holds a BA degree in Economics from the University of Kansas and an MBA from UCLA.

Lily Amir-Arjomand

Lily Amir-Arjomand is the visionary founder and champion behind one of the most progressive institutions for the culture, education and creativity of children and young adults, known as Kanoon in Iran.

The Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, commonly referred to as Kanoon, was involved in various cultural and artistic activities. Ms. Amir-Arjomand was also at some point the Director of the National University Library of Iran, the National Iranian Oil Company Library, and an associate professor at Tehran University; she formed Kanoon by building a network of permanent and mobile libraries across Iran to promote culture and education to children and young adults.

Created in 1965, Kanoon had become a prolific cultural producer by 1969, involving itself in everything from book publishing and book illustration to film making, animation, theater, film festivals, and conferences. The organization was at the center of the vanguard of cultural production in Iran through the 1970s, serving as the platform through which many of Iran’s most highly regarded creative minds launched their careers. Kanoon quickly became a creative incubator that offered unprecedented freedom and support to an incredible group of artists, many of whom worked across different media, including filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, graphic designer Morteza Momayez, animator Noureddin Zarrinkelk, and painter Ali Akbar Sadeghi. Kanoon remains the single most important cultural and educational network for children in Iran.

Arameh Etemadi

Arameh Etemadi is a documentary director, television producer, journalist, and film critic who lends her expertise to international film festival juries. Her incisive film criticism has been a hallmark of Iranian Film Magazine since 2007, establishing her as a respected voice in the field. Her talent for insightful interviews was recognized with the Best Art Interviewer award from the Iranian Society of Film Critics and Writers (ISFCW).

Currently a freelance critic, Etemadi has also contributed to prominent publications, including Film-e Emrooz Magazine, Chelcheragh, Hamshahri Javan, Shargh Newspaper, Tehran-e Emrooz, and 24 Monthly Magazine. Her critical eye and broad knowledge have made her a valued jury member at several international film festivals, including the Palm Springs Film Festival (2022–2024), SEEfest (South East European Film Festival) 2023, and the Lucas International Film Festival (Germany’s oldest film festival for young audiences) 2024.

Etemadi’s career began in her native Tehran in 2004, where she established herself as a journalist and film critic for Hamshahri Javan and Naghshafarinan. Her academic background includes a Master’s degree in Journalism from Social Communication Science studies and a post-production degree for film and television from UCLA Extension, demonstrating a strong foundation in both theory and practice.

Beyond criticism, Etemadi is an accomplished writer, director, and live TV show producer. Her 2015 documentary on the life and works of Mohamadreza Lotfi, along with her work on numerous advertising and industrial films, showcases her directorial skills. Further demonstrating her commitment to cinema, she co-founded and served as the Artistic Director of the Sheed Film Festival in Dallas, TX.

Afshin Hashemi

Afshin Hashemi is a prominent Iranian actor, director, and playwright whose career spans cinema, television, and theater. He is widely recognized for his nuanced performances and thoughtful direction, often weaving poetic narratives with deep cultural resonance.

Hashemi studied theater and began his artistic journey in the theater world, where he has directed and performed in numerous acclaimed productions. His contributions to Iranian stage art have left a lasting impact, particularly in the realm of contemporary and experimental theater.

In cinema, he has directed and acted in several notable films and television series. His film Soft Voice (Sedaye Ahesteh), shot in New York, received multiple awards and international acclaim for its subtle storytelling and visual style. He also directed the popular feature film Goodbye Shirazi Girl, and two successful original series: The Women’s Secret Network and DaVinchiz!, which showcase his diverse creative vision and social commentary.

As an actor, Hashemi is known for his role in Barefoot in Paradise (2007), and has continuously demonstrated versatility across genres. His deep understanding of character and narrative has made him a sought-after performer in both film and theater.

Hashemi is frequently invited to serve as a jury member at The Iranian Alliance of Motion Picture Guilds festivals, where his insight and experience contribute meaningfully to the celebration of Iranian cinema.

Paul Malcolm

Paul Malcolm is the Senior Film Programmer at the UCLA Film & Television Archive, where he has been curating thought-provoking and socially resonant film programs since 2007. With a deep commitment to showcasing innovative cinema from around the world, he is responsible for shaping the Archive’s eclectic and inclusive public programming.

Among his many contributions, Malcolm curates one of the Archive’s longest running and most popular annual series, the UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema, which presents both contemporary and classic works from Iranian filmmakers, providing a vital platform for the country’s rich cinematic tradition. This beloved series continues to draw wide and diverse audiences while highlighting the dynamic voices emerging from Iranian cinema.

In addition to his work at UCLA, Malcolm served as an associate programmer for feature and short films at the Los Angeles Film Festival from 2006 to 2010. He has also taught courses in film history and criticism at Chapman University, including specialized topics such as the history and aesthetics of 3D cinema.

His curatorial achievements include co-programming major retrospectives and thematic series such as “American Neorealism, Part Two, 1984–2020”, which examined the influence of Italian neorealism on American film, and “Science Fiction Against the Margins”, an ambitious international series spotlighting speculative cinema that interrogates identity, politics, and cultural space.

Malcolm holds an M.A. in Film Studies from UCLA and was named a Sundance Institute Arts Writing Fellow in 2001. His writing and programming continue to champion the power of cinema as a transformative and inclusive medium.

Yasna Mirtahmasb

Yasna Mirtahmasb is a celebrated Iranian actor with over 13 years of experience spanning cinema and theater. Born on April 17, 1999, and raised in a filmmaking family, Yasna entered the world of acting at just 13. Immersed in the industry from childhood, he developed a deep-rooted passion for performance and has since built a versatile portfolio across independent and internationally acclaimed productions.

Yasna earned international recognition for his lead role in Roxana, for which he received the Best Actor Award at the 2023 Tokyo International Film Festival, presented by legendary filmmaker Wim Wenders. He went on to win another Best Actor Award at the 2024 Cyrus International Film Festival for the same role. Earlier in his career, he was nominated for Best Actor at the 2014 Shanghai Film Festival for his breakout role in 13, and appeared in Dressage (2018), which won Best Film in the Generation Section of the Berlinale Film Festival.

Beyond film, Yasna has made significant contributions to theater, most recently starring in One Was Not, One Was and performing in the ensemble of Breaking the Imaginary Line. He has also been featured in television series such as Queen of Beggars and The Marsh.

Yasna’s festival presence is extensive, having showcased his work at major international events including:
• Cinecitta International Film Festival (Roxana, 2024)
• Tokyo International Film Festival (Roxana, 2023)
• Red Sea International Film Festival (Roxana, 2023)
• Moscow Film Festival (After Leaving, 2024)
• Beijing Film Festival (Searing Summer, 2018)
• Berlinale Film Festival (Dressage, 2018)
• Shanghai Film Festival (13, 2014)

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Azad University in Tehran and brings a multidisciplinary approach to his creative pursuits. Yasna is fluent in English and has a working knowledge of Dutch. He is also a skilled musician, proficient in cello, drum, xylophone, and hang drum.

Instagram: @yasnamirtahmasb

Maryam Moghadam

Maryam Moghadam is an award-winning actress, screenwriter, and filmmaker whose body of work has garnered international acclaim for its bold, humanistic storytelling. She is best known for co-writing and starring in the critically celebrated feature Ballad of a White Cow, which premiered at the 2021 Berlin International Film Festival and received widespread praise for its sensitive and powerful narrative.

Most recently, Moghadam co-directed the groundbreaking film My Favourite Cake alongside her partner, Behtash Sanaeeha. Premiering at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival, My Favourite Cake made history as the first Iranian film shot in Iran without adhering to the Islamic Republic’s strict censorship policies. The film prominently features its lead actress, Lili Farhadpour, appearing without the traditional and mandatory hijab—an unprecedented act of creative and social defiance within Iranian cinema. Moghadam’s fearless artistic vision continues to position her as one of the most influential and respected figures in contemporary Iranian filmmaking.