PETTERI SAARIO – Finland

The author of “Frontier Life, Episode 1: Oil on the Waves” which won the grand prix of last year’s festival. An environmentalist and a filmmaker. Makes films about the relationship between man and nature in areas like Karelia and Sapmi; he has also portrayed traditional ways of life on the islands of the Baltic Sea as well as made classical nature films like “The Nature of Finland”. Petteri’s films have been represented in Matsalu Film Festival repeatedly – always with positive feedback both from the jury and the public.

YOSSI WEISSLER – Israel

Born in Poland, moved to Israel when he was 12 years old to live in Kibbutz Afikim. Has been working as a producer in Afikim Production studio since 1985. Has a business education. Has played roles in the production of several nature films, for example being the producer of "Pelican Odyssey, Home or Away" – the grand prix of 2004’s Matsalu Film Festival.

TIIT RANDLA – Estonia

An ornithologist; has been studying the ecology of birds of prey in Estonia as well as in other countries. He is a nature conservationist and an acknowledged expert in hunting. Has worked as the director of the nature conservation department in the Estonian Ministry of the Environment and as a director of West-Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve centre in Lääne country. He was awarded the Eerik Kumari nature conservation award in 2006.

ERKI TAMMIKSAAR – Estonia

The director of Centre for Science Studies of the Estonian University of Life Sciences and the extraordinary senior researcher in University of Tartu’s chair of human geography. Has been researching Estonian polar scientists, the changes in landscapes related to the climate change and human interference, Karl Ernst von Baer and the history of geographical sciences in Estonia.

ULVAR KÄÄRT – Estonia

A journalist dedicated to the themes of environment and nature conservation. Has published a number of thorough articles and analyses about the environment in Eesti Päevaleht. He was awarded the Young Conservationist Award in 2010.