People

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.

Dr. Kalyan Rudra, a distinguished scholar and eminent river scientist, currently serves as the Chairman of the West Bengal Pollution Control Board. Under his astute leadership, the Board has established numerous collaborations with premier scientific organizations, significantly enhancing its research capabilities and impact to develop a scientific approach to combat environmental degradation and climate change.

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 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 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, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Gargi Maitra is Partnership and Media Manager, at SwitchOn Foundation. Her collaboration with F5IFF is an initiative to promote a healthier community across Kolkata and beyond.

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.

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.

Farah Parveen is going to be a part of our film festival as a coordinator. Her passion for work and proven track record has made her a perfect person for being our coordinator.

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 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.

Julekha Mondal
Festival Coordinator

Rajesh Jalan
Festival Coordinator

Sourav Saktel
From Rise Above

Sourav Saktel, CSR Executive at Somani Realtors and  Project Manager of Rise Above Founder of Shining Earth Foundation, is dedicated to empowering youth and promoting a tobacco-free future.

Nitish Kumar Mandal
Festival Coordinator

Ritabrata Bhandary
Festival Coordinator

Vanshika Das
Festival Coordinator

Emon khan xion
Coordinator (Dhaka)

Iona Chatterjee
Coordinator

Upamanyu Banerjee
Festival Coordinator

Navika Panday
Festival Coordinator

Shemusi Maikal
Festival Coordinator

Abhraneel Das Gupta
Coordinator

Bishal Basak
Coordinator

Pragnya  Das
Festival Coordinator

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, 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.