Burbank, CA – December 13th, 2024: Today, Cinema Without Borders announced jury members for Cinema Without Borders’ Bridging The Borders Award for 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival.
The Bridging The Borders Award at the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival will be given to the most successful film in bringing the people of our world closer together. Cinema Without Borders’ Bridging The Borders Award is presented by Cinema Without Borders and award sponsored and prize provided by 360 MEDIA. The winner of Bridging the Borders Award will receive a cash prize of $2000.
Cinema Without Borders’ jury members to decide the 2025winner of the Bridging The Borders Award are:
KEELY BADGER
Keely Badger is the Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of 360 MEDIA Consulting, a woman-led digital marketing agency dedicated to storytellers and social impact brands. With over 15 years of experience, she has developed high-performance multimedia campaigns for influential clients, including The Sundance Institute and Human Rights Watch. Passionate about the transformative power of documentary film, Keely uses social impact cinema to inspire meaningful action and community engagement. Her strategic approach has empowered independent filmmakers to drive social change globally. 360 MEDIA is also proud to sponsor the 2024 Bridging The Borders Award.
Susan Morgan Cooper
Susan Morgan Cooper is an accomplished Director, Producer, and Writer known for her impactful documentaries. Her notable works include “To the Moon and Back” (2016), “Mulberry Child” (2012), and “An Unlikely Weapon” (2008), receiving critical acclaim for their storytelling. She also directed “Heroes And Sheroes” (2000) and “Mirjana: One Girl’s Journey” (1997). Her narrative projects include the short film “Stringers” (1990) and the feature “Hadley’s Rebellion” (1989). With a career spanning over three decades, Cooper continues to create compelling content that resonates with audiences.
Ali Murat Erkorkmaz
Ali Murat Erkorkmaz , born in 1948 in Istanbul, Turkey, studied architecture at Istanbul Technical University. Besides his career as an architect, he worked on various subjects both on art and technology. He released a daily newspaper, several books and produced 63 animated TV series of 52 half hours till 2023. Besides animation he also produced several documentaries and 3 feature films. He produced more than 4300 TV commercial films internationally. In the past 20 years he’s been working on artificial intelligence programming and robotics.
Matt Ferro
Matt Ferro is a journeyman filmmaker who has continually pushed forward the leading edge of technology in storytelling. Producer of the Academy Award winning visual effects of THE MATRIX and other notable feature films, Matt led the development of the creative and digital pipelines for Warner Bros. HAPPY FEET, winner of the Oscar
Michael Franck
Michael Franck is an internationally awarded documentarian with over 150 documentaries to his credit, aired on Finnish television and globally. His work focuses on Finnish and Nordic political history, entrepreneurship, and socio-political bridge-building in the Middle East, reflecting his family’s three generations of connection to the region. Currently, he leads Franck Doc in collaboration with Parad Fakta, producing films such as the story of the Finnish Student Union and “My Godfather and Kekkonen,” a portrait of his controversial godfather, Georg C. Ehrnrooth. His sons, Arthur and Edvin Franck, also contribute to their family’s documentary legacy.
Marcy Garriott
Marcy Garriott is an independent documentary filmmaker based in Austin, Texas. Originally an electrical engineer and telecommunications executive, she transitioned to filmmaking and social activism. Marcy’s Director/Producer credits include the award- winning SPLIT DECISION and INSIDE THE CIRCLE. She produced THE LEAST OF THESE and the CNN documentary AN UNREAL DREAM: THE MICHAEL MORTON STORY. Recently, Marcy served as an Executive Producer for PEACE OFFICER and BUILDING THE AMERICAN DREAM. She’s a former board member and President of the Austin Film Society and an Advisory Board member of Cine Las Americas.
Vladek Juszkiewicz
Vladek Juszkiewicz was born in Glogow, Poland, and graduated from Szczecin Technical University with a degree in Engineering. He managed The Szczecin Technical University Choir and traveled to 18 countries, including the U.S. After managing Polish singer Maryla Rodowicz in Warsaw, he moved to the U.S. and worked on 11 films with Paul Leder. In 1999, he founded the Polish Film Festival Los Angeles and served as director till 2019, now acting as the Festival’s Programmer. Honored with the Cavalier & Officer Cross and Gloria Artis for promoting Polish culture.
Granaz Moussavi
Granaz Moussavi was born in Tehran and began her career as a literary critic and book review writer at 17. Her poetry, first published at 16, is translated into nine languages and has been featured in international festivals and symposiums. Her second book, “Barefoot Till Morning,” won the best poetry book of the year in Iran (2001) and has four editions. Granaz holds advanced degrees in drama, screen studies, and film editing. Her films, “My Tehran For Sale” and “When Pomegranates Howl,” have earned international acclaim and awards.
Bijan (Hassan) Tehrani
Bijan Tehrani, film director, writer, and critic with a 45-year career spanning multiple international publications. Founder of Cinema Without Borders online publication and Cinema Without Borders Foundation (a Non-profit organization), promoting global cinema. Longtime columnist for Iranian media and Film Emrooz. Recipient of awards for short films, children’s books, and contributions to international cinema. Member of Iranian Film Writers Critics Society and FIPRESCI. 82nd Golden Globe Awards voter.
Abbas Yari
Abbas Yari is an Iranian journalist and film critic born in Arak in 1951. He graduated from the School of Television and Cinema in 1975. Yari began his journalism career at Sobh e Emrouz, Tehran Mosavvar, and Kayhan, before co-founding Film magazine, which he directed until 2021. He launched Film Emrooz in 2021 after Massoud Mehrabi’s passing. Yari helped establish the Iranian cinema museum in Tehran and the foundation of art critics and writers about Iranian cinema. He is also notable for organizing cultural events in Arak.
Nominees for 2025 Bridging The Borders:
DAHOMEY
Senegal
In 2021, 26 looted treasures traveled from France to Benin, West Africa, where they are displayed in a high-tech museum. The latest from Mati Diop (Atlantics, PSIFF 2020) is a thought-provoking, multi award-winning hybrid documentary that explores how the return of these powerful pieces is received in a country that has reinvented itself in their absence.
GHOST TRAIL
France/Germany/Belgium
Hamid is part of a secret group hunting fugitive leaders of the Syrian regime. His mission brings him to France, on the trail of his former torturer. This gripping manhunt expertly balances cloak-and-dagger intrigue with an acute psychological exploration of grief and exile.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Palestine/Germany/France/Italy/Qatar
Told in four chapters, this lively, naturalistic, award-winning drama follows a family of Palestinian citizens of Israel in Haifa. Through his characters, Oscar®-nominated director Scandar Copti (Ajami) explores deep divides between genders and ethnicities while exposing the traditions and values that shape their lives. Best Film, Thessaloniki.
ODD FISH
Iceland/Finland/Czech Republic
In this endearing dramedy, two childhood friends receive an opportunity to keep their seafood restaurant in the picturesque Westfjords open year-round. When one comes out as a trans woman, their long-standing friendship is tested, revealing new perspectives on life and identity.
READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN
Italy/Israel
In this gripping adaptation of Azar Nafisi’s memoir, a fearless professor secretly gathers seven of her most dedicated female students to discuss forbidden Western classics after fundamentalists seize control of their country. Their solidarity helps them navigate life-altering choices in a repressive society. Winner of the Audience Award and Special Jury Prize to the cast of women at the 2024 Rome Film Festival.
SOULEYMANE’S STORY
France
Exhausted by the grueling Parisian gig economy, undocumented Guinean immigrant and bicycle courier Souleymane (2024 Cannes Un Certain Regard Best Actor winner Abou Sangaré) races against time to prepare for his asylum interview in this gripping social thriller.
TATAMI
Georgia/Israel/Iran
Co-directed by the Iran-born Cannes Best Actress winner from Holy Spider (PSIFF 2023) and the Israel-born filmmaker behind Golda (PSIFF 2024), this tension-filled sports drama follows an Iranian judo champion who defies her country’s orders to forfeit a match, leading to dire consequences for her and her coach.
TINĀ (MOTHER)
New Zealand/New Zealand
When grief-stricken Mareta (Anapela Polataivao) takes a substitute teaching role at an elite prep school, she forms a choir to unite the privileged yet disconnected students. As they prepare for an all-school competition, her passion for life is reignited, transforming her students forever in this rousing crowd-pleaser.
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
United Kingdom/Palestine/France/Greece/Netherlands/Germany/Qatar/Saudi Arabia
Winner of the SACD Prize at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, this gritty social-realist drama – with shades of Midnight Cowboy – follows two desperate Palestinian cousins stranded in Athens, far from their families and their dream of opening a café in Germany.
TOUCH
Iceland
As COVID-19 shuts down international travel, an older widower, Kristoffer, embarks on a journey from Iceland to England and Japan to find Miko, the one who got away, in this achingly poignant romantic drama.