Jitendra Mishra
President
Committed towards meaningful cinema, Jitendra Mishra is one of the few Indian filmmakers, producers and promoters who have been able to create a benchmark in' Alternative methods of Film Production, Distribution and Promotion' at international level. He has already been associated with the production, distribution and promotion of more than 100 films in different categories and various capacities all together. Many of them have got worldwide acclamation and recognition. The Last Color, Buried Seeds, Desires of the Heart, Human Oak, I am Kalam, Barefoot Empress, The Silent Epidemic are a few recent films among others. (www.cinema4good.com )
Recipient of India’s highest industry honor – the National Film Award presented by the President of India – along with numerous international accolades, Jitendra serves as the Festival Director of SIFFCY, India’s premier film festival and forum for young audiences. He conceived and designed the festival for the renowned development organization Smile Foundation. Organized in collaboration with the European Union, SIFFCY draws thousands of international filmmakers, industry experts, and cinephiles, reaching over 500,000 young viewers annually across India ( www.siffcy.org )
Currently, Jitendra is the elected President of CIFEJ, one of the world’s oldest and largest global media networks, founded under the auspices of UNESCO in 1955, headquartered in Athens and hosted by EKKOMED. He has already been invited as Jury to more than 50 international film festivals and forums so far. (www.cifej.com)
Driven by a passion for cinema , Jitendra has been actively and voluntarily supporting independent and regional Indian films at leading global film festivals, forums, and markets. Beyond cinema, he passionately showcases India’s rich art, culture, textiles, cuisine, and heritage through various creative initiatives. One such initiative, “CineOdisha” was launched at Dubai Expo 2020 with the goal of celebrating and promoting India’s vibrant arts, culture, traditions, and values through time-less cinema.
Vassilis C. Karamitsanis
Secretary General
Born in Athens, 1976. After finishing school at the Athens College, he studied law at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR). Holding postgraduate degrees from the Universities of Rotterdam (NL), Hamburg (D) and Aix-Marseille III (F), he is an attorney-at-Law licensed by the Athens Bar since 2001. Since 2008 he is president of ANIMASYROS International Animation Festival and during 2015-2023 he has been president of ASIFA HELLAS - Hellenic Animation Association. In 2018 he received the title of the Knight in the Order of Letters & Arts of France, while during 2018-2019 he chaired the board of the Greek National Opera. Since 2025 he is secretary general of CIFEJ - International Center of Films for Children & Young People.
Emma Pendiuc
Vice President
Emma Pendiuc is a Romanian media professional, sociologist, film producer, and certified mindset mentor, known for her significant work in children's media and education. With over 20 years of experience in television and film, she has dedicated much of her career to empowering young audiences through storytelling, creative education, and personal development.
Emma is the co-founder of the LITTLE STARS Children’s Film and Television School, launched in 2010 with her sister Ariana. Together, they have produced over 50 educational short films starring children—many of which have been selected at prestigious international festivals, including Cannes. The school equips children with on-camera skills, media literacy, and self-confidence, while promoting values like teamwork and creativity.
She currently serves as Vice President of CIFEJ — a position she has held twice before—where she contributes to global initiatives that use film as a tool for youth education and cultural development.
Passionate about personal development, Emma is also a certified Proctor Gallagher Institute consultant and the creator of transformative programs like “Camera Loves You”, which helps professionals become confident speakers, and “Thinking Into Results”, a mindset coaching program designed for long-term success. She is also the founder of “The Road to Success” conferences—a free national initiative focused on mental and nutritional well-being for teachers, parents, and students.
Irene Andriopoulou
Executive Director
Irene Andriopoulou has been appointed Executive Director of CIFEJ – the International Center of Films for Children and Young People – for 2025–2027. With over 20 years of experience as a media and film literacy expert, she brings deep commitment to the promotion of high-quality content for children and the advancement of film education worldwide.
She is currently the Director of the Media, Film Education & Heritage Unit of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center, ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ, the Greek host organization of CIFEJ. Through her longstanding work as a policy analyst, researcher, and educator in media and culture, Irene has consistently repositioned film literacy as the aesthetic core of media literacy—an engaging form of edutainment that nurtures “screenwise spectators” from early childhood through lifelong learning.
A passionate global advocate, Irene served as Secretary General of the International Steering Committee for UNESCO Media & Information Literacy Alliance (2019–2022) and continues to serve as an EU expert on media literacy and digital skills, championing critical media identity within the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs).
A devoted film lover since her student years, Irene has a special place in her heart for European alternative cinema—though she never says no to a classic Hollywood film. Favorite films: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Hitchcock’s filmography, and The Lobster (2017), for the uniquely unsettling touch of fellow Greek, Yorgos Lanthimos.
Paméla Bisson
Head of Media & Digital Strategy
Paméla Bisson is a media arts artist, producer, filmmaker based in Quebec city in Canada. She creates content for the Web in the name of Pammy Poppins and is now in charge of Social Media content for CIFEJ. In 2015, she founded Le Machin Club, a non-profit organization which produces media quality content with and for youth with the goal of empowering youth, locally and globally, through the power of creativity to become active citizens in their community. Since 2018, she has been hosting a weekly cultural radio show with children. She believes in children’s right of expression so she seizes every opportunity to make space for them. Her latest projects involve the production of: a series of videos relating to education to climate change, a short live action film adapted from a comic book series and an intergenerational short documentary film about the purpose of celebrating Quebec culture.
Elham Shirvani
Head of Internal Communication
Elham Shirvani is an Iranian educator and media advocate with a deep-rooted commitment to children and language education. With an academic background in Educational Management, she has spent over two decades shaping educational practices for children and young adults in Iran.
From 2003 to 2014, Elham served in various roles at the Iran Language Institute, beginning as an English teacher and advancing to Manager of the first children’s branch, Educational Supervisor, and later Regional Supervisor for 10 provinces. Her work significantly contributed to improving teaching strategies and the quality of language education for children and adults.
Elham held the position of Executive Director of CIFEJ from 2013 to 2024, and also served as the Managing Editor of CIFEJ Info Magazine during the same period. Based on her extensive experience with the organization, she is now responsible for the department of ‘Internal communication’, a role including the supervision of CIFEJ publications.
She has also participated as a jury member in numerous international children's film festivals in Japan, India, Spain, Ukraine, Germany, and Iran.
In addition to her editorial and managerial work, Elham has conducted research in early childhood development and translated multiple educational books between English and Persian, further advancing access to knowledge and cross-cultural learning.
Anis Lassoued
Head of Workshops and CIFEJ Days
Anis Lassoued is a Tunisian director, screenwriter, and producer, recognized for his socially engaged cinema focused on childhood, adolescence, and social realities. Through a mix of fiction and documentary, he explores often invisible worlds with humanity and poetry, giving a unique voice to young generations in diverse cultural contexts.
He gained international recognition in 2006 with his short film La Moisson Magique (Saba Flouss), selected at the International Short Film Festival of Oberhausen and the Cannes Film Festival (Tous les Cinémas du Monde). He then directed several documentaries on childhood in Yemen, Algeria, Mauritania, Italy, and Japan, offering sensitive portraits of the living conditions and aspirations of marginalized children. His short film Sabbat El Aïd (My Shoes), widely awarded, poignantly illustrates the fragility of childhood in the face of poverty.
His documentary L’Opposant, screened at Visions du Réel and the European Parliament, provides a clear-eyed reflection on Tunisia’s post-revolution democratic challenges. In 2021, he directed his first feature film, Gadeha (A Second Life), a humanist social drama recognized at over 20 international festivals.
Founder of Lumières Films (2013) and initiator of JCC Kids (2022), he co-founded in 2025 the Mouna Taba Festival, the first pan-African festival dedicated to youth cinema. A graduate of the Maghreb Institute of Cinema in Tunis, the University of Tor Vergata in Rome, and La Fémis in Paris, he is a Board Member at CIFEJ, where he oversees workshops and CIFEJ Days, sharing his expertise to support the education and empowerment of young people worldwide.
Huang Jun
Head of Events
HUANG Jun is the President of the China Children's Film Association, and formerly served as the Director of the China Children's Film Studio and the CEO of China Film Animation Co., Ltd. Now he also serves as the Head of Events (including annual meetings) for CIFEJ. Throughout his career as a film director, he has independently created and directed more than 20 films and television series. His works have been honored with prestigious awards, including the Chinese Film Golden Rooster Award, the Huabiao Award, the Xia Yan Film Literature Award, and the Shanghai TV Festival Magnolia Gold Award. The 3D animated film "Legend of Upright Elephant," which he co-directed as a China-New Zealand co-production, was shortlisted for the 92nd Academy Awards. He has also served as a jury member for various international film festivals, such as the Egypt International Children's Film Festival.
Doros Demetriou
Treasurer
Doros Demetriou is a cinema historian, cultural organizer, and curator of film screenings and events. He is an elected board member of CIFEJ and member of ECFA and is a member of the Cyprus Board of Film Classification. He also works at the Cyprus Film Days International Film Festival as a Development & Sponsorship Manager. He served on the Cyprus Cinema Advisory Committee (SEKIN) from 2020 until 2025
He is the Cinema Events Manager at the Cultural Workshop Agion Omologiton in Nicosia, artistic co-director of the annual Images and Views of Alternative Cinema (IVAC) festival, and vice-president of Fotodos Photography Club. He collaborates regularly with the Cultural Services of the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Education and Culture on film education projects and lectures on the history of cinema in Cyprus and abroad.
He is an advisor at the BCEFF in Vancouver, and member of the selection committee of the International Short Film Festival of Cyprus. He is also the Media Coordinator for the 2025 Larnaca Biennale.
Doros has studied Cinematherapy at the University of Athens, holds degrees in Electronic Engineering (Queen Mary University of London) and Visual Theories/Cinema (MA, University of East London), and is co-founder of the CineTexts webpage.
Mitsuo Tahira
Head of Media Literacy & Education
Festival Director of KINEKO International Film Festival.
In 1992, he established the first film festival for children, “Kinder Film Festival” (currently known as KINEKO International Film Festival) in Japan. He started with no experience and came from a completely different industry, with only five visitors in a 600-capacity venue. However, he gained audiences by increasing improvements each year, such as introducing “Live Cinema”, a screening style where international films are live-dubbed on the stage by professional voice actors for younger children who cannot read subtitles. Born from a dream from the scratch, KINEKO has grown over the past 30 years to become one of the largest film festivals in Japan. From his work with KINEKO, Mitsuo has established relationships with film festivals abroad, as well as networks with Japanese film makers over the years. He is passionate and committed to make connections between Japan and the world through films made for children to teenagers.
Athina Rikaki
Honorary Member
Greece