People

Prof. Dr. Vasant Shinde
Chief Patron

Prof. Dr. Vasant Shinde is an esteemed Professor, a world-renowned archaeologist, and one of the foremost scholars in South Asia. Prof. Shinde has been a pioneer in archaeological research for the last 43 years, specializing in the Protohistory of South Asia, Maritime History as well as Field Archaeology.

He established the Society of South Asian Archaeology (SOSAA) with a view to promoting young scholarship and further global collaboration.

Barun Chanda
Senior Advisor

Barun Chanda is a renowned Indian advertising professional, actor and author. He is mostly remembered for his role in Satyajit Ray's Seemabaddha for which he won a special President of India Award for his performance. He has a rich experience in advertising for over 3 decades and has acted in Hindi and Bengali films with equal elan. As a renowned author his work has played a major role in establishing the adult thriller genre in Bengali literature.

Moon Moon Sen
Senior Advisor

Moon Moon Sen is an Indian actress, known for her works in Hindi, Bengali, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Marathi films. She eventually starred in Bollywood films. She has appeared in 60 films and 40 television series. She has received Andhra Pradesh state Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1987, for her role in the film Sirivennela.

She is the recipient of the Kalakendra Screen Award,  Bharat Nirman Award and Kalakar Awards. 

Yashpal Sharma
Senior Advisor

Yashpal Sharma is an Indian actor working in Bollywood and theatre. Yashpal is also a stage actor and appears in live plays. He turned to film direction with a biopic on Haryanvi poet Pandit Lakhmi Chand, which he wrote the  Screenplay with Raju Maan.

Dipanjan Chatterjee
Director, Outreach coordination

Dipanjan Chatterjee, presently holding the role of Project Officer at the National Mission on Libraries (NML) within the Ministry of Culture (MoC), Government of India (GoI), brings to the table a Master's degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS), with ongoing pursuit of a PhD in LIS. Committed to advancing the public library system as a cornerstone of knowledge dissemination, Dipanjan actively cultivates strong relationships with public library authorities across diverse State Governments and Union Territories. His addition to the Fest5 board significantly bolsters its capabilities, enhancing its capacity to a remarkable degree.

Tanveer Alam Shawjeeb
Fest Music Curator

Tanveer Alam Shawjeeb is a versatile talent in Bengali music industry, excelling as both a singer and composer with a deep passion for classical and semi-classical subcontinental music. He is known primarily for being a guest artist and music curator for various programs around the world. His global journey has seen him grace international stages, captivating audiences with his exceptional skills on various musical instruments. Beyond performance, Shawjeeb is deeply committed to the Fest5 International Film Festival, serving as a key Advisory Committee member and advocating for its mission to unite global cultures. He sees F5IFF as a vital platform for independent filmmakers worldwide to showcase diverse cultural heritages and social dynamics. shawjeeb.ca/about

Dr P K Mishra
Senior Advisor

Dr P K Mishra is a respected archeologist, who retired as the Regional Director (East) of ASI. Archeology has been in blood as his father was also a well known archeologist and discoverer of many ancient sites. Dr Mishra is the author of the most recent authoritative biography of R D Banerjee, the discoverer of Harappan civilization. Mishra now teaches archeology and heritage conservation at MAKAUT.

Sumon Anowar
Juror

Sumon Anwar is a noted Scriptwriter, Actor, Film Director, and Creator. His works include Myself Allen Swapan, Hawa, Kaiser, Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi. Sumon Anowar is known for Shodor Ghater Tiger (2020), Aynabaji Original Series (2017) and Joar Bhata (2021). Sumon always stands out from the crowd, with his unusually calm yet enigmatic presence and has carved a niche for himself in the world of cinema.

Arunima Ghosh
Director of Operations

Arunima Ghosh an actor and producer, has been associated with the Film Industry for the last two decades. She has also worked as an executive producer on some International projects. She has been associated with theatre for over 3 decades now. Arunima has been working as a Radio Jockey for the last 21 years.

Baishaki Somadder
Juror

Baishaki Somadder, a Bangladeshi Film enthusiast, holds a Masters in Film and Media. She was also an ICCR Scholar at Visva Bharati University. Baishaki, an accomplished thespian, debuted in Subhash Datta's "O Amar Chele." She is also a director and a freelance scriptwriter. Her upcoming directorial venture is "Laila."

Deepak Dua
Juror

Deepak Dua is a Hindi Film Critic for www.cineyatra.com. A freelance Film Journalist, who was associated with Hindi Film Monthly Filmi Kaliyan for a long time. His review of film Dangal is being taught as a chapter in Hindi text books of Class 8 in many schools.

Joy Mukherjee
Juror

Upalparna  Dey
Creative Head

Upalparna Dey, a professional in the field of creative writing & corporate communications, has amassed 17 years of multi-dimensional experience in the corporate world. With writing and communication as her passion, Upalparna loves to write poetry, explore human life, click photographs, travel, and communicate with people from all walks of life.

Barninee Chakraborty
Director of Communication

Barninee is a promising and rising actress with an experience of 3 years in the Tollywood actress. With a Master's Degree in Bharatnatyam, Barninee is passionate about dance and acting. She loves reciting poetry and has a keen interest in niche films.

Susanta  Pal
Festival Organizer

Susanta pal is a professional with 15 years of experience in the Tollygunge film industry. Over the years, susanta has gained expertise as an executive producer, line producer, and producer roles. He is dedicated to delivering exceptional productions with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling.

Arijit Nandi
Coordinator

Arijit Nandi is a working professional with 15+ of work experience in the management field. He joins our festival as a coordinator and he will be coordinating with the team members and our volunteers for the festival. Arijit follows acting as a hobby and passion.

Shilpa Adhikary
Coordinator

Shilpa is an uncomping talent in the field of cinema and modelling. She acts in Television serials and pursues her passion as a model. Shilpa is a food lover and loves to travel places and explore them.

Puja Chatterjee
Coordinator

Puja Chatterjee is a working professional in the corporate field with 6 years of experience. Puja has a keen interest in theatre, acting and modelling, being involved in different assignments for 3 years. She juggles both her professions with equal zest and passion.

Emon khan xion
Coordinator (Dhaka)

Iona Chatterjee
Coordinator

Abhraneel Das Gupta
Coordinator

Bishal Basak
Coordinator

Silky Shreya Pandey
Coordinator

Krishnendu Bandyopadhyay
Founder and Director

Krishnendu Bandyopadhyay, a senior journalist with a national daily, specializes in environmental journalism and the preservation of our heritage. Also a film buff, his dedication towards environmental journalism is a powerful reminder of the crucial role media plays in driving positive change. Krishnendu is passionate about ensuring the harmonious coexistence between humans and the natural world.

Sourav De
Founder and Director

Sourav De, a filmmaker and photographer, with a passion for visual storytelling, has carved a niche for himself as a versatile artist who excels in both the realms of filmmaking and photography. He inspires and captivates his audiences with his artistic vision, leaving an indelible mark in the world of film and photography that is driven by his passion, talent, and dedication.