Organization Committee

Fabio Bego (PhD) is a scholar, writer and film programmer focusing on Balkan histories and narratives. He is the co-founder and curator of the Albanian Film Festival that takes place in Rome since 2019. Through publications and film programs such as Kinostories (Brussels), his work looks into the connection between films and the postcolonial histories of the Balkans. He collaborates with the Institute of History of the Bulgarian Academy of Science, and has published articles and reviews in specialized journals such as Nationalities Papers, Eastern European Politics, Societies and Cultures, Studies in Eastern European Cinema and Black Camera. He develops and shares his research on contemporary far right movements in the Balkans through platforms such as Hope Not Hate, Modern Diplomacy, C-Rex and Balkan Insight. Fabio Bego has taught courses and seminars at the University of Roma Tre, at the University of Sofia "St. Kliment Ohridski" and at the Institute of History of BAN.

Rita Capucho is one of the founders and co-director of Porto Femme - International Film Festival, programme director of Femme Sessions and Shortcutz Aveiro. She works as a producer, curator, project manager and trainer for various cultural organisations. She is a coordinator and trainer for the Cinamiza-te project, which trains young people in cinema. She has been a jury member at various international film festivals.

She is a founder and member of the board of MUTIM - Association of Women Workers of the Moving Image.

PhD student in Communication and Activism at Lusófona University. She has a degree and a master's degree in Artistic Studies from the Faculty of Letters of the University of Coimbra.

Nezih Erdoğan has published articles and book chapters on colonial discourse and sound and body in Turkish popular cinema, the reception of Hollywood in Turkey, censorship and the distribution and exhibition of American films in Turkey. He co-edited with Miyase Christensen Shifting Landscapes: Film and Media in European Context (2009). In 2010 he made a found footage video with composer Çigdem Borucu, Istanbul Do/Redo/Undo: Sular, Sokaklar, Suratlar/Waters, Streets, Faces, compiled from archival materials of Istanbul in the late 1890s and early 1900s. In recent years, he has published and given talks at national and international conferences on the problems of Turkish film history and historiography, how the introduction of cinema was received in the Istanbul press, and on the spectatorial experiences of Istanbulites in the late 1890s and early 1900s. He co-edited with Ebru Kayaalp Exploring Past Images in a Digital Age: Reinventing the Archive which came out from Amsterdam University Press in 2023. He is currently researching cinema in occupied Istanbul during 1918 and 1923.

Liliya Kucheva holds a BA in Cultural Studies and Culture Management, as well as an MA in Management and Socialization of Cultural Heritage. With over 15 years of experience in the fields of arts, culture, cultural management, and non-formal education, she has built a diverse and impactful career.

Liliya has mentored and supervised numerous university students through internships and academic practice programs. She has developed and curated panels and international initiatives aimed at promoting the Bulgarian short film industry and European cinema at large. Her work consistently supports the visibility and representation of various organizations, festivals, and cultural forums.

For over a decade, she has played a key role in the IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival, where she oversees overall event management, content programming, team coordination, and serves as a member of the selection committee.

Patrícia Nogueira (Portugal) is a documentary filmmaker and Professor of Film at the University of Beira Interior. She has also been a Visiting Professor at institutions such as the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School and the University of Texas at Austin. She began her career in the film industry in 2004, working in the production of narrative feature films. In 2010, she turned her focus to documentary filmmaking. Two years later, she premiered her debut feature documentary, 3 Hours to Love, which explores intimate visits in a women’s prison. The film was selected for and received awards at several festivals in Portugal and internationally.

Nogueira holds a Ph.D. in Digital Media through the UT Austin–Portugal international program, as well as a Master’s degree in Documentary Film and Photography. During 2015, she completed a residency at the National Film Board of Canada. She is a member of the Steering Committee of NECS and has served as a jury member for the Portuguese Film Fund and at various international film festivals.

Mr. Tsanko Vasilev`s master degree in Culture Management and Audiovisual Communication follows his Bachelor in Cinema and TV Directing, which made him a desired lecturer for many festivals in Bulgaria and abroad as well as for educational programmes for young film professionals in film producing, creative industries and entrepreneurship. 

He is a producer of shorts, feature films, documentaries and music videos, but also is the founder and director of IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival (Bulgaria). Tsanko Vasilev is also co-founder and member of board of Bulgarian Festival Association. He is also an experienced juror as he has been a jury member for different festivals in Europe and beyond.