Forum on International Perspectives in Film Education: Speakers

Michal Matus (Israel)

Head of the Education Department of Tel Aviv Cinematheque

Director of Tel Aviv International Children’s Film Festival

For the past decade, Michal Matus has headed the Education Department of the Tel Aviv Cinematheque. In addition, she has directed 14 editions of the Tel Aviv International Children’s Film Festival, the leading showcase of cinema for children and youth in Israel.  Her work was awarded the Tel Aviv Municipality ‘Etgar’ Prize for quality and excellence in educational cinema. She is an expert in the field of children’s media content. Her professional focus has been primarily on international co-operations, initially as a creative producer and content developer of several successful Israeli films and TV series, and subsequently as a curator and artistic director of cinematic content for children and youth. She was invited to be a jury member at several leading children’s film festivals in Europe, Asia, Canada and the United States, including the Generation Section of the Berlinale and Tokyo International Children’s Film Festival.

Michael Harbauer (Germany)

Founder and Producer of the International Children’s and Youth Film Festival Schlingel

Soon after German reunification, Michael Harbauer began working as head of the local film library in Chemnitz, Germany. In 1996 he initiated the International Children’s and Youth Film Festival Schlingel. Originally launched as a film week with no more than 12 films, today it is one of the most comprehensive platforms for international and national children’s and youth films in Germany. In addition, Michael Harbauer is a curator of films in important regulatory institutions and advisory boards on film, film and television in Germany.

Marjo Kovanen (Finland)

Senior Specialist of Koulukino (School Cinema Association)

Marjo Kovanen works as a senior specialist at the film education organisation Koulukino - Skolbio (School Cinema Association) in Finland. Koulukino promotes school cinema screenings in Finland and generates learning materials related to big screen films for all educational levels from early childhood education to upper secondary education. She is also a doctoral student at the University of Tampere (Department of Communication, Media and Theatre) where her field of interest is film education, film literacy and children’s film.

Josep Arbiol (Spain)

Director of Valencia Film Festival for Children, Youth and Teachers ‘MICE. Mostra Internacional de Cinema Educatiu’

Josep Arbiol has a long career in audiovisual media both in Spain and abroad. His direction in educational films with children have been awarded in numerous festivals and competitions both national and international. Most of the artistic activities that he has carried out are educational. As a teacher and as a creative person, his job is to provide more channels for the creativity of young people, trying to achieve the success that leads them to develop their own creativity without copying other ways. He is a member of ECFA, CIFEJ and Red UNIAL.

Kishi Aska (Japan)

Executive Manager & Chief Programming Director of KINEKO International Children’s Film Festival

Lee Tae-yun (Republic of Korea)

Educational Programmer of Busan International Kids and Youth Film Festival (BIKY)

Member of Media Education Lab ‘Square Prism’

Teacher of Haerim Elementary School in Busan