Meet the global leaders whose vision, expertise, and passion drive the ACI Film Festival forward.
Multi-Award-Winning Storyteller · Bestselling Author · TED Speaker
Dr. Prachi Gupta is a powerhouse of creativity, intellect, and leadership. She is a bestselling author of 11 books, a TED speaker, and the dynamic CEO of ENN360 — a leading education enterprise — and Galleon Book Publishing House.
Having studied journalism and film writing in Michigan, she also holds a PhD in Vastu Shastra, uniquely blending ancient wisdom with a modern vision. As the Brand Ambassador for the Research Foundation of India, Dr. Gupta has made a significant mark in cinema.
Her acclaimed short film, International Padman, earned 11 national and two international awards. She is the former National Joint Secretary for Global Film, Television & Artist Federation in India.
Globally celebrated for her impact, Dr. Gupta was honored with the Karmaveer Chakra Award in 2025 and is a Padma Shri nominee. She has graced the covers of numerous national and international magazines and recently signed a contract for an upcoming Bollywood film.
Kimberly Douglas, USA
Entertainment Industry Expert,
Film Festival strategist
Blockchain & IP Advisor
Originally from Hollywood, CA, Kimberly Douglas has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry both in front of and behind the camera. She prides herself in completing whatever she commits herself to and in always excelling.
Starting in South Florida as an actress and model, she has starred in dozens of commercials, infomercials, and studio and independent films.
In Los Angeles, she has guest-starred in over 30 network shows.
Kimberly Douglas, a first generation Guyanese-American, desired an education as a creative from early on and studied art and literature throughout her career.
As a testament to her interest in people, Kimberly graduated Cum Laude with bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Cultural Anthropology from University of Florida.
She also received an honorary Liberal Arts degree from Florida International University for her contributions.
Kimberly immersed herself in entertainment, ultimately familiarizing herself with all aspects of production and gained SAG eligibility. She has co-founded New Concepts Films and has worked in the capacities of writer, producer, director, editor, script supervisor, casting director, and Executive Producer for multiple projects.
She held the position of Production Coordinator for S.A.S. Movies, building out a branch for the studio in Horse Cave, KY. and opening a restaurant “The Midway Cafe”.
She was also Vice President of Development at URBT+ (Urban Television Network Corp + Movies on demand), creating their conservative news network.
Kimberly continues to hold a position on the board of BlokTech Network and earned certification in Digital Currencies from The University of Nicosia in order to bolster her ability to integrate blockchain technologies into the entertainment industry.
Kimberly works closely with state film commissions to assist filmmakers in navigating their incentive packages.
She found a love for representation within the industry during the years she was General Manager for The Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival. As such, she is currently President and Co-founder of The FLOW (Florida Leaders Opening Worlds) Film Festival and Film Market in honor of her grandmother, Syble G., a seasoned artist and published poet who has been
deemed a national treasure in Guyana, South America.
In the festival, contributions made by women in production in non-traditional roles are celebrated and guaranteed distribution should they win and there is a specialty namesake award for filmmakers presenting content that documents the lives of women.
Kimberly’s experience in content creation and curation is extensive. She brought her vast skill set to The Los Angeles Tribune when she launched their inaugural International Film Festival in 2025, as their Associate Festival Director. Her community outreach endeavor is The FLOW Project, where she educates underserved youth about production and offers pathways to employment.
She continues to give a voice to those who are underrepresented in government and media as a whole.
She has collaborated with many famous names in the Entertainment & Film Industry such as Shonda Rimes, Kévin Hart, Jamie Foxx, Arsenio Hall, Alfonso Ribeiro and more.
Kimberly Douglas is an Entertainment Consulting bridging Hollywood West & Hollywood East.
Internationally Renowned Cultural Producer · Dancer · Choreographer
Mninawa Mangweni is an internationally renowned dancer, choreographer, and cultural producer with over two decades of experience shaping the performing arts scene in South Africa and abroad.
Hailing from the vibrant community of Kwazakhele, Gqeberha, Mninawa's innovative choreography has earned recognition both locally and internationally for promoting African culture on the global stage. He won the prestigious Isakhono Performing Arts Award for Musical Theatre & Dance Fellow in 2024.
He is the first African to perform at the Pearl International Cultural Festival in Thailand and the first African dancer to host performances and workshops at the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships, sailing across 6 African and 8 European countries. He toured 35 schools in France teaching dance across 15 cities.
He was the face of the Diski Dance in Nelson Mandela Bay during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and won the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts & Culture Award for Best Dance Production: Imvano, the Musical.
Mninawa annually produces the eStage Udaba Dance Festival in partnership with the Mandela Bay Theatre Complex, employing over 100 dancers. He is commissioned by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism Department to provide entertainment for cruise ships, international delegations, and strategic events.
Yves Marie Seraline, Martinique
Author,Musician, Graphic Designer,
Trainer, Cultural Actor & Promoter.
President of the Martinique Organization for the Development of Arts and Culture (OMDAC).
Active in the arts and culture scene in Martinique since his youth, he was already practicing photography and Super 8mm filmmaking. In high school, he published his first piece, featuring his film reviews.
After graduating, he worked as a journalist in Bordeaux, continuing his career in the French West Indies. He now draws on a vision encompassing creation, intercultural exchange, communication, and educational practices to make a concrete contribution to Creole-speaking and Caribbean society. All of this is connected to his ancestral roots through his various forays into several African countries.
In May 1974, after leading activities at the Talence campus near Bordeaux, he became the facilitator of an audiovisual workshop for the Théâtre de l’Ouest Parisien in Fort-de-France. He was then noticed by Aimé Césaire, who hired him in August with the mission of establishing a permanent project for the City of Fort-de-France.
For about ten years, he undertook several entrepreneurial ventures, including the cultural magazine “Mizik,” community centers, and a jazz club, before founding the OMDAC association in 1984.
This organization is now a major cultural player in the region and is accredited as a UNESCO Club. The website www.omdac.fr showcases its contribution to this association through projects focused on the Caribbean and Black cultures. In particular, thanks to its comprehensive vision of cinema, it organized film series starting in 1975, before launching "ARCHIPEL" in 1978, the first and only daily art-house cinema in Martinique, accredited by AFCAE/CICAE. This commitment to sharing knowledge extends to its contributions to the press.
As a professional trainer and qualified lecturer, it has dedicated itself since the 1980s to motivating young people to engage with the creative industries. This was achieved through the creation of the first local diplomas in audiovisual and cultural management within his territory, as well as the establishment of the “Digital Arts Forum” and “Kreyolfiesta” in 2004, which later expanded into the Caribbean, notably Haiti.
To share his societal approach, he produced several documentaries in the 1990s and 2000s to contribute to promoting Caribbean cultural heritage. An active senior citizen, recognized for his cultural engineering skills, he has served as a territorial advisor and has been commissioned by various institutions.
A multipotential artist, graphic designer, and musician—equally skilled in traditional music and jazz—he is also a playwright, musical theater writer, and author of literary works in French and Creole. He is a member of the SACD and SACEM.
Award-winning Director, Screenwriter & producer
Henri Joseph Koumba is a Gabonese director, screenwriter, and producer. He has directed several critically acclaimed films.
In 1982, he was second assistant director to Toni Aboyantz, in charge of local casting for Serge Gainsbourg's "Equateur."
In 1986, he made a splash in the African film industry with his short film "Le Singe fou" (The Mad Monkey), a 16-minute (26-minute) film that garnered numerous awards: Carthage Film Festival 1986: Best First Feature Award and Arab Journalists' Critics' Prize / FESPACO 1987: Grand Prize for Short Film / ACCT 1987: Second Jury Mention at the Short Film Biennial.
From 1993 to 1994, he directed the 5th and 6th episodes of the Gabonese revolutionary television series "L'Auberge du salut" (The Inn of Salvation), produced by CENACI (26-minute video). In 1997, he was the Executive Producer of "Oréga," a 3-episode series of 52-minute episodes produced by CENACI.
In 1999, he was the Executive Producer of "Au commencement était le verbe" (In the Beginning Was the Word), a 52-minute video documentary about the Mvett (traditional Gabonese music) by Antoine Abessolo Minko.
In 2000, he directed the 35-minute feature film Les Couilles de l'éléphant (The Elephant's Balls) (1 hour 40 minutes). Philippe Maury played the lead role in this cinematic masterpiece.
In 2003, he was President of the Jury for the FESPACO 2003 Short Film Festival. In 2004, he directed the first six episodes of "Les Années-Ecole," a 24-episode series of 26-minute episodes. He also served as its executive producer. In 2011, he directed the 35-minute feature film "Le Collier du Makoko." It has a running time of 1 hour and 48 minutes.
From 2015 to 2017, he was the executive producer of various productions, including the feature film "Matris" by Fernand Lepoko; the series "Chez Ombalo" by Nadine Otsobogo and "Sens dessus-dessous" by Matamba Kombila; and the films "Le dernier conseil" by Jean Claude Cheyssial and "Félicité" by Alain Gomis. He has also worked in advertising and corporate video.
Since 2020, he has been firmly committed to training in film and audiovisual professions. He created the Philippe Maury Institute of Audiovisual and Cinema (IPMAC) within the EM-Gabon University group. A fitting tribute to the father of Gabonese cinema and one of the pioneers of sub-Saharan African cinema.
