Balancing Art and Commerce in Direction

Glenn Gainor, a distinguished leader and innovator with thirty years of experience in the entertainment industry and has made it his life’s work to empower storytelling. He has held key production roles as Head of Physical Production at Amazon MGM and Sony Pictures and is a tenured member of the Hollywood community. Additionally, Gainor co-created an innovation studio for Sony and is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts, and Sciences. He is the recipient of Social Impact Producer of the Year award presented at Venice Film Festival.

Danielle Arden’s career began with writing and performing in the theatre before translating her desire to tell stories into filmmaking. Whilst passionate about creating stunning visuals, her strengths lie in directing nuanced performances, exploring emotion and rhythms in stories, and weaving surprising dilemmas into her narratives. Her narrative and commercial work is characterised by a sense of delight, whimsy and playfulness, whilst not shying away from challenging social norms and breaking with stereotypes. In her work she likes asking uncomfortable questions in lighthearted ways.

Franklin Leonard is an entrepreneur and cultural commentator originally from Columbus, Georgia. He is the founder and CEO of the Black List, an online platform dedicated to identifying and celebrating great screenplays, television pilots, theatrical plays, and novels. One of Fast Company's 2012 100 Most Creative People in Business, the recipient of the WGA's 2019 Evelyn Burkey Award, and the Gotham Film Organization's 2024 Anniversary Tribute, Leonard is also a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and a member of AMPAS and BAFTA.

Neel Kumar is a filmmaker, writer and storyteller who draws from a life rich in experiences, from riding motorcycles around the world to working as a copywriter in top agencies. With a keen ear for honesty and a deep appreciation for craft, he crafts compelling narratives whether in feature films, shorts, or commercials. His debut feature “Beneath a Sea of Lights” and acclaimed short films have earned him recognition at numerous film festivals. Currently, he’s engrossed in his next feature, “Epitaph,” set in Ancient Egypt.

Born in 1980 in Germany, Bjoern Lauen has woven creativity and imagery into the fabric of his life for over three decades. His journey began when he first picked up a camera, igniting a passion that has since defined his career. Blending his corporate experience with his creative passion, Bjoern embarked on a new chapter. As Managing Director and Executive Producer of a boutique creative agency and publishing and production house, he conceptualized, created and produced various formats with and for regional and international brands as well as non-government and government organizations. Since 2021 he is the founder and executive producer of Glaswerk, a UAE-based Production House and Media Lab. Bjoern produces TVCs, series, documentaries, digital content, media installations and brand films across the Middle East and abroad. Fascinated by innovation, he advocates the use of cutting-edge technologies like XR and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in projects, pushing the boundaries of traditional media. Bjoern's passion for photography and visual storytelling remains unchanged. His photographs have been published in national and international media outlets including National Geographic Kids, The Guardian, Time Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. His insightful exploration of the tribes of the Omo Valley in Ethiopia has been showcased at Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles.