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JUDGES
DOKUTAM
Best International Feature Documentary
Giuseppe Gariazzo
Giuseppe Gariazzo is a film critic for the Italian national newspaper Il Manifesto. He also works as a programmer for the Trieste Film Festival and is part of the teams at Job Film Days in Turin and the MedFilm Festival in Rome. Over the years, he has collaborated with the Torino Film Festival and the Critics' Week at the Venice International Film Festival. He has published books on African cinema as well as essays in Italian and international volumes, including History of World Cinema and the Encyclopedia of the History of Cinema.
Polina Herman
Film producer since 2012, founder of UP UA Studio (Ukraine) and UP USA Studio (USA), specializing in fiction, documentary films, and international co-productions. Previously worked in PR, distribution, and production at leading Ukrainian film companies. Member of PGA, EFA, Ukrainian Film Academy, IDA, and other professional associations. Since 2024, Polina Herman has also been active as a personal growth coach, creator of the transformational game “I AM”, author of “A Guide for Provincial Women”, founder of the clothing brand Herman, and is now preparing her directorial debut “The Key”.
Tue Steen Müller
Tue Steen Müller has worked in the documentary field for over 20 years, including at the Danish Film Board and as the first director of EDN (European Documentary Network). He has co-founded several major initiatives and served as a consultant, teacher, and programmer at leading workshops and festivals worldwide. His contributions to European documentary culture have been recognized with numerous international awards, including honors from Denmark, Portugal, Lithuania, Latvia, and Spain. He also teaches at Zelig Documentary School and writes for filmkommentaren.dk.
DOKUBOX
Best Debut Documentary Film
Oktay Namazov
After graduating from Baku Turkish Anatolian High School, he studied Advertising at Akdeniz University in Turkey, and later completed a master’s degree in Documentary Filmmaking and Directing in Portugal, Hungary, and Belgium.
He has worked with various film companies in Azerbaijan, served as a cinematographer on four feature films, and collaborated with several notable directors. His documentaries have been screened and awarded at international festivals in different countries.
In 2018, he worked as a manager at the DokuBaku Documentary Film Festival and served as its director in 2019–2020. He is also a co-founder of KinoLab Film Atelier.
Dinorath Ramírez González
Dinorath Ramírez González is a professional in academia, communication, and cinematography. She holds degrees in Communication Sciences, Cinematography, and a Master’s in Neuroeducation. As General Director of the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (CCC), she promotes projects that expand access to Mexican cinema and foster innovation in education. She has served as a jury member at national and international film festivals and is dedicated to inclusive learning and cinema as a tool for social transformation.
Kamran Gasimov
Kamran Gasimov – screenwriter, director, journalist, and producer. A graduate of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts. He directed the feature Tilsim and documentaries, including The Home Front, Humanity Born Also in Sharjah, The Road of Iron, and Czech Crystal. Gasimov has also written several TV series, created and hosted numerous television projects, and taught at his alma mater. Founder of the “Cinema Radio” film channel (2019), he served (2022–2025) as a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in Los Angeles and as a jury member for the College Television Awards. Recipient of the Honorary Diploma of the President of Azerbaijan.
DOKUECHO
Best Documentary about Nature
Ruslan Mollayev
He holds a Master’s degree in Cinema and Television from the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts and has studied at several film and writing programs, including the Foto Sinema Ankara course, Internews cinematography course, the Young Writers’ School, and the Rustam Ibragimbekov Film School. Active in television since 2005, he has directed over 20 documentaries and three short fiction films, screened and awarded at international festivals. His photographs and stories have appeared in various periodicals since 2010, and in 2012 he won the Nasimi Literary Competition for short stories. He is also the author of the poetry collection Ağın Qardaşı (“Brother of the White”). Currently, he is the Executive Director of the Road to Our Village Film Festival and Head Director at APA Media Group.
Emin Afandiyev
In 2009, he graduated from the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Fine Arts with a Bachelor’s degree in Film Directing. Alongside his formal studies, he enriched his knowledge and skills by attending advanced courses at the International Film School in Baku, led by the renowned Azerbaijani screenwriter and filmmaker Rustam Ibrahimbeyov.
Over the course of his career, Afandiyev has collaborated with some of the leading film production companies in Azerbaijan, including Salname Studio, Azerbaijanfilm, and Butafilm, contributing to projects that reflect both artistic vision and cultural depth.
His debut short film, “0:1…”, achieved early recognition when it was screened at the prestigious Cottbus Film Festival in Germany. The film’s success earned him the title of “Director of the Year” from the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan in 2007, marking him as one of the promising voices of Azerbaijani cinema.
Richard James Allen
Richard James Allen is a founding director of the award-winning Physical TV Company in Sydney, together with Karen Pearlman. His documentaries, dramas, and dance films have screened at over 500 festivals on six continents, received more than 100 awards or nominations, and been acquired by broadcasters worldwide. Richard is also a celebrated poet, with 13 books published, including Text Messages from the Universe (2023), which was shortlisted for three international awards and adapted into a prize-winning film. His novel More Lies (2021) and audiobook version have also gained international recognition. With a PhD from the University of Technology, Sydney, Richard has taught and performed at many universities and festivals globally. More at physicaltv.com.au.
DOKUKIDS
Best Documentary for Kids
Rúben Gomes
Rúben Gomes is a Portuguese film professional with a background in Artistic Studies. He holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in the field from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Coimbra, with a focus on audiovisual media. He later specialized in screenwriting at the International Film Academy in São Paulo, Brazil. Since then, he has worked as an editor across various platforms, combining technical expertise with an authorial approach. In recent years, he has been involved in film festivals in several countries - such as the Millennium Documentary Film Festival in Belgium and Meeting Point Vilnius in Lithuania, - working as a curator, programmer, and producer. His work reflects a particular interest in contemporary narratives and the creative processes behind documentary filmmaking.
Aysel Amirova
Aysel was born into a family of artists, continuing a creative lineage that spans three generations. She studied Graphic Design at the University of Culture and Arts, where she developed a strong foundation in visual expression and conceptual thinking. At the same time, she attended the Princess School of Traditional Art in Baku, where she immersed herself in the study of batik and ceramics, blending modern design practices with traditional techniques.
Her passion for art began in childhood, nurtured by an early interest in painting, photography, and poetry. Over the years, she has participated in and exhibited her works at numerous international projects, showcasing the versatility of her artistic voice.
Today, Aysel works as a multidisciplinary artist whose practice lies at the intersection of contemporary visual arts and film. She is also active as a production designer, contributing her vision to cinematic projects. In addition, she is the founder and owner of Studio A in Baku, an independent creative space that reflects her commitment to innovation and artistic dialogue.
Nikolay Flotskiy
Nikolay Flotskiy is an artist and film director whose work spans both narrative and documentary cinema. His creative practice often explores themes of identity, culture, and human experience through a deeply personal lens. In addition to his artistic career, he is a Candidate of Psychological Sciences, conducting research on personal, gender, and ethnic identity among Saami and Nenets indigenous adolescents. Flotskiy also holds a Master’s degree in Fine Art from NTNU University in Norway, where he further developed his interdisciplinary approach, blending psychology, visual arts, and film into a distinctive artistic voice.
DOKUMUSE
Best Documentary about Music, Dance, Rhythm
Katerina Tarbo-Ignatenko
Katerina Tarbo-Ignatenko is an international film producer, actress, and screenwriter with extensive experience in global co-productions. Her notable works include Crystal Swan (Khrustal), nominated for the Academy Award and Golden Globe in 2019, and winner of over 30 international prizes. She has also contributed to projects such as An Hour Before Dawn, American Prayer, White Crows, Roxy, and Kurak. Founder of Spirito Libero LLC, with branches in Serbia and France, she collaborates with partners from more than 11 countries. Beyond production, she leads masterclasses, organizes international festivals, and actively promotes women’s leadership and cultural exchange in cinema.
Basilio Maritano Sailer
Basilio Maritano Sailer is an Italian-German director whose work reflects his multilingual, multicultural upbringing. His poetic documentaries explore politics, history, and identity.
He studied Political Science and Transcultural Communication in Vienna before completing a diploma in Documentary Directing at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, Italy (2020). Since 2021, he has been developing his practice at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.
His films include Waves in Nature (2018), produced with Field of Vision under Laura Poitras’ mentorship; Siam pronti alla morte (2024), selected at CamerImage and Dok.Fest München; and his upcoming feature Avenir (2026), shot between Germany and Burkina Faso.
Javad Taghizade
Javad Taghizade is a Baku-based opera and symphony conductor, musician, and producer with international experience in 14 countries. A graduate of Baku Music Academy, he trained with Victor Tretiyakov, Donna Lee Croft, and completed a practicum at the Mariinsky Theatre under Valery Gergiev. Beginning his career as a violinist, he performed at major festivals across Europe, the USA, and beyond, represented by “Maestro Music” (2010–2013). Later, he co-founded “Maestro Music Azerbaijan,” producing and organizing classical music events. With the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, he staged Haydn’s L’isola disabitata at the Mariinsky Theatre and led its historic tour to Azerbaijan. He is currently the principal conductor of the Radio and Television Orchestra, conductor of the Baku Sinfonietta, and Director of the “House of Record” at Azerbaijan National Television and Radio Broadcasting.
DOKUSHORTS
Best International Short Documentary
Ali-Sattar Guliyev
He studied at the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts and the Azerbaijan University of Economics. He has held various positions at “Azercell,” Iz Production, “Tonica Production,” and “Azanfilm.” From 2015 to 2023, he served as director of the “Mozalan” studio, and from 2023 to 2024 worked as a director at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. In 2024, he was appointed director of the “Nizami” Cinema Center. His films have been screened at international festivals in Cannes, Tampere, Kazan, Tashkent, Dushanbe, and Tbilisi.
Kazuhiko Mizushina
Kaz Mizushina is a director, writer, actor, and producer based in Shizuoka, Japan, a region famous for Mount Fuji. A graduate of the New York Film Academy, he founded a production company in his hometown, producing promotional videos for local governments and major corporations. Throughout his career, Mizushina has directed several original short films that have been selected by film festivals in the UK, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and the USA.
Leyli Salayeva
Leyli Salayeva is a member of the Azerbaijan Writers’ Union, the Poetry Society (UK), and the Azerbaijan Animation Association. Her work lies at the intersection of text, image, sound, and movement, exploring identity, memory, and women’s inner worlds. Author of six books, her writings have been published and performed internationally. She is the founder of Updown Poetry and 57 Poetry Lab, and actively engages in projects on women’s empowerment and environmental issues. Her works have been showcased in London, Moscow, Baku, Tbilisi, and beyond.
