Ecumenical

Born in 1967, Marek Lis has a PhD in Communication (Faculty of the Communication Science at the Salesian University in Rome, 2000) and is "dr. habil." in theology (University of Opole, Poland 2007). From 1999 to 2002 he was the Program Director of the Catholic Radio of the Opole diocese. Since 2000 he has been teaching in the Theological Faculty and in the Institute of Political Sciences of the Opole University. Since 2008 he is the Chair of Homiletics, Media and Communication, and typically works on the religious meaning of the cinema. He has several publications (e.g. he co-edited the International Encyclopedia of Religious Film, Krakow, 2007). In 2009, as a member of SIGNIS Poland, he was appointed to the Ecumenical Jury at the Bratislava IFF.

Born in 1946, Gianna Urizio studied sociology and social-psychology at the University of Florence and did her post - graduate studies in Rome. For some years she taught sociology and social-psychology at a post graduate school in Rome. From 1977 to 2006 she worked as a TV producer and director of Protestantesimo – a TV programme of RAI 2, and produced many documentary films on religious, ethical and social issues around the world. At present she is a freelancer for the programme. She has also been a guest lecturer on Communication in universities of Rome and Florence. From 1991 to 1996, in collaboration with the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) – European Region, she promoted media training projects in South European Protestant Churches. For many years she was the member of the Steer Com WACC Europe and was its president from 2002-2005. As a member of the Interfilm Steer Com she has also founded the Associazione Protestante Cinema Roberto Sbaffi. She has also been a member of several Ecumenical Juries in Locarno, Berlin, Cannes and Mannheim. From 2008, in cooperation with Interfilm and the Catholic Organisation Fondazione Ente dello Spettacolo, she is also the organiser of ecumenical events within the framework of Venice IFF.

Born in 1977, in the town of Masis, Saroyan is a graduate of the Gevorkian Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin. He studied English and Psychology at the Concordia College (USA). Saroyan received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Theology from the University of Leeds and the Oxford University in Great Britain respectively. Saroyan is the Dean of the Vaskenian Seminary.