Talal Afifi is the director of Sudan Film Factory, an independent cultural platform devised to build the capacities of young Sudanese talents, produce films and expose Sudanese audiences to filmmaking and cinema. He is also the president of Sudan Independent Film Festival (SIFF) (2014–present), organised by Sudan Film Factory. SIFF is a week-long annual event of screenings, discussion forums and networking events focused on independent cinema as a form of artistic expression for social debate and change. Previously a human rights activist, Afifi worked in the cultural management field in Egypt and Sudan, and also managed the production of documentaries and short films between 2010 and 2012. He has served on the jury of the Film Festival of Oran, Algeria (2011). Born in 1976 in Germany, Afifi currently lives and works in Sudan. SAF participation: Sharjah Film Platform 5