Malve Lippmann
Malve Lippmann began her career as a freelance stage designer and artist, creating numerous international theatre and opera productions. Since 2010, she has worked as a curator and cultural manager. She is the co-founder and artistic director of bi’bak, a Berlin project space focusing on transnational narratives, migration, and global mobility, and also founded Sinema Transtopia, a curated film series.
Hamze Bytyçi
Kosovar-German actor, director, and educator Hamze Bytyçi advocates for Romani rights. In 2012, he founded RomaTrial e.V., promoting visibility and inclusion through projects like the film festival Ake Dikhea?, the theater festival Common Tongue, BARE, the Avazya network, and RomaDay. He also supports marginalized groups via networks such as the BIPOC Alliance and Vielfalt im Film e.V.
Heleen Gerritsen
Heleen Gerritsen studied Slavic studies, Eastern European history, and economics in Amsterdam and St. Petersburg. In Germany, she trained as a film producer and worked in that field, as well as in archival research. Since 2017, she has been director of goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film in Wiesbaden and has curated symposia on film history topics, among other things. Since June 2025, she has been artistic director of the Deutsche Kinemathek. She is particularly committed to making marginalized voices visible and promoting emerging talent.
Riah Knight
Riah Knight is a British-Romani artist based in Berlin. The musician, actress, and writer first gained recognition in theatre, performing with the Maxim Gorki Theatre and the Glossy Pain collective. Rooted in feminist thought, her work challenges dominant ways of knowing, using music, poetry, and performance to question hierarchical narratives and reclaim the female gaze. She has performed across Europe, co-authored award-nominated plays, and composed for numerous productions. Her latest EP, Wicked Laughter, was released in November 2024.
Zejhun Demirov
Zejhun Demirov is a German film actor with Macedonian roots. His acting career began in the youth club of the Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus. He first gained recognition in front of the camera as the student Mehmet Yilmaz in the television series Der Lehrer (2009-2016). This was followed by further roles in German television series. For his portrayal of the young Muslim Oray in the feature film Oray, he was awarded the Götz George Young Talent Award at the First Steps Film Awards in 2018 for his acting achievements. Zejhun Demirov lives in Düsseldorf.