About

Sandeep Kumar

Indian born Austrian filmmaker Sandeep Kumar released his first feature film Love without Borders (Liebe ohne Grenzen) in 2010, which received many accolades, including Best Director and Best Film. Servus Ishq (2014), his second feature, had a nationwide release in Austria and was produced by Oscar-winner Josef Aichholzer. Creedless (Ohne Bekenntnis), Another Day in Manhattan, Another Christmas in Manhattan and Mehrunisa followed in the years after that. Kumar discovered his passion for film through theatre in India, where he shared the stage with the now superstar Shah Rukh Khan in school productions. Kumar attended film directing workshops of Michael Haneke at the Film Academy in Vienna, is a member of the Association of Austrian Directors and the Austrian Film Academy. He lives in Vienna.

Exploring how filmmakers integrate historical events into cinematic storytelling with a focus on depicting nationally significant moments while skilfully intertwining personal and fictional narratives.

About Penalists

Pedja Miletic

Pedja Miletic is a passionate and dynamic film producer whose love for storytelling goes beyond the screen. He actively pursues narratives that celebrate the diversity of human experiences, with a strong focus on amplifying underrepresented voices. Born in Belgrade and having lived in Cape Town, Pedja has called Malta home for over two decades.
Known for his versatility, Pedja has successfully navigated various genres, from gripping historical dramas to dark comedies. His collaborative approach and talent for assembling skilled teams has earned him great respect within the industry. He takes a hands-on role in each project, working closely with directors, writers, and post-production teams to ensure the full realization of every creative vision.
One of Pedja's standout achievements is his work on the award-winning film Blood on the Crown, featuring Harvey Keitel and Malcolm McDowell. The success of this project paved the way for new collaborations with both seasoned and emerging talents. Pedja’s relentless pursuit of excellence makes him a true catalyst in the ever-evolving world of cinema.
With over 600 TV commercials, 14 documentaries, and 5 feature films under his belt, Pedja’s work is available on platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu. Notably, Blood on the Crown is available in the U.S., Canada, Greece, Portugal, and the Middle East, and this will mark the film’s first official screening in India.

Aaradhana Kohli Kapur

Aaradhana Kohli Kapur is an alumna of The School of International Relations, Jawahar Lal Nehru University and Mass Communication Research Centre , Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi. She is essentially a documentary film maker and has made films on contemporary history, environment and gender. She also curates and organizes film festivals, skilling workshops and conversations around Climate Change, sustainability, gender and media.
She founded Enable India Foundation a communication praxis` and works largely with urban poor women and children in outreach programmes. Her ikigai is Digitally Yours -an initiative to reboot education for digitally deprived, children with little or no access to devices and "Climate Change...I'm living it" designed as a series of skilling workshops for women and girls from urban poor and tribal communities to make films on mobile phones on how Climate Change is impacting their lives and livelihoods. She also curates Kirtaniye -The Invisible Divine a festival of women's voices in Gurbani Sangeet.
Aaradhana has been closely associated with IAWRT Chapter India's Asian Women's Film Festival held annually at India International Centre, New Delhi since its inception and recently handed over charge as the Managing Trustee of the India Chapter of the International Association of Women in Radio &Television (IAWRT), a not-for-profit professional organization of women working in electronic and allied media. It is in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).