Jury and Awards
Rewards
FIFOI celebrates the cinematic richness of the Indian Ocean region and shines a spotlight on emerging talents through several awards.
The films in competition compete for five awards.
The FIFOI / France Télévisions Award recognizes a feature-length documentary in competition.
Endowed with €3,500 and includes a broadcast on one of the France Télévisions channels.
President of the Jury
Aïssa Maïga
Actress, author, director, and producer
Aïssa Maïga, a French actress, author, director, and producer of Senegalese and Malian origin, has established herself as a major figure in cinema. In 2026, she will appear in several projects: a TV film by Corinne Masiero, Juste après l’Aube by Olivier Boillot (science fiction), and Killing of a Nation by Carlos Bolado (political thriller). She gained wide recognition for her roles in Il a déjà tes yeux and Bienvenue à Marly-Gomont, while also building an international career with productions such as Taken Down, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, and King Shaka.
A committed voice in the industry, she co-wrote in 2018 the book Noire n’est pas mon métier, a manifesto denouncing racism in cinema. As a filmmaker, she co-directed Regard Noir (2021) and directed the award-winning climate documentary Marcher sur l’eau (2021). In 2025, she starred in Promis le ciel by Erige Sehiri, which was selected at the Cannes Film Festival.
Jury
Documentary feature films
Gugi Gumilang
Programme Director
As a documentary producer, Gugi Gumilang is actively involved in various professional platforms within the industry. As program director at In-Docs, he oversees Docs by the Sea and serves on the international programming team at Hot Docs, thereby helping to promote documentary film worldwide.
Ann O’aro
Actress and composer
Anne-Gaëlle HOARAU is a singer-songwriter working on the decolonization of bodies and incestuous relationships. She has released 4 albums (Ann O’aro, Longoz, Bleu, Lagon Nwar) and works in acting and film soundtracks (Atér by Marie Fages, Le Coruskan by Fred Eyriey, …).
Sophie Chegaray
Program Manager of the Documentary Unit at France Télévisions
With a degree from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques and a Master’s degree from the Institut des hautes Etudes sur l’Amérique latine, Sophie Chegaray began her career as an investigative journalist for several programs on La Cinquième (Défi, La Cinquième Rencontre). In 2001, she became a program consultant in the Documentary Unit at France 5, covering science and health, and later society. Since 2019, she has served as program director and deputy head of the Society and Geopolitics division within the Documentary Unit for the France Télévisions group.
Jury
Short Films
Hedi Zardi
Entrepreneur, manager, and communication professional in the cultural and film industry
With more than 20 years of experience in the film and TV industry in a wide variety of fields, Hédi Zardi has built a deep comprehensive knowledge of the international landscape.
Aurélie Chesné
Short Film Program Advisor at France Télévisions
Aurélie Chesné has been a program director in the short film department at France Télévisions since 2011. She curates France 3’s short film segment, “Libre Court.” At France Télévisions, the short film initiative provides artistic and financial support to films from France and around the world, giving promising filmmakers a chance to shine.
Azmina Goulamaly
CEO
Azmina Goulamaly is the CEO of Océinde. As a co-founder of Pipangaï, she served as executive producer on the animated film Adama. A graduate of the IHEDN with a degree in cybersecurity and digital sovereignty, she also serves on ARCOM’s committee for young audiences.
Amil Shivji
Producer
Amil Shivji is a Tanzanian filmmaker & educator whose cinema deconstructs power while celebrating resilience of marginalized peoples. His films have premiered at TIFF, Berlinale, Locarno and was Tanzania’s second ever submission to the Oscars.
Jury
Domin
Florence Labache
Chief editor – Journalist Les Territoires
Editor-in-Chief of Territoire(s) Média, former Editor-in-Chief of Le Quotidien, and a print journalist (holder of the French press card), Florence advocates for rigorous journalism rooted in Réunion Island and oriented toward the Indian Ocean region.
Laurence Rezac
Program Director
A Program Director committed to digital inclusion and social innovation, Laurence develops initiatives that democratize access to digital technology, reveal talents, and create spaces for connection between individuals and ideas.
Marie Sawiat
Editorial Director – Mayotte La 1ère
As Editorial Director of Mayotte la 1ère, Marie Sawiat spent several years working in digital publishing at France Télévisions. She now aims to make Mayotte la 1ère a unifying media outlet that enlightens, entertains, and informs.