Erik Knudsen is a filmmaker and Emeritus Professor at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the UK, where he was formerly the Faculty Director of Research for the Faculty of Culture and Creative Industries. Prior to joining UCLan, Erik was a Professor of Visual and Digital Culture at Bournemouth University’s Media School. He has also been Professor of Film Practice at the University of Salford, Manchester, UK, where he was for a period of time Head of the School of Media, Music and Performance. During his many years at the University of Salford, Erik also acted as the University of Salford’s Director of Graduate Studies. Earlier roles at the University of Salford include programme leading the MA in Fiction Film Production, the MA in Television Documentary Production and the MA in Wildlife Documentary Production. Prior to his University of Salford tenure, he was Head of Production at the Northern Film School at Leeds Beckett University. Alongside his current role, Erik is also Visiting Professor, and the former Head of the Editing Department, at the Escuela Internacional de Cine y Television in Cuba. He writes extensively about creative film practice and his latest book, Finding The Personal Voice In Filmmaking, was published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2018. He is principal investigator on two recent Arts and Humanities Research Council grants: StoryLab International Film Development Research Network (2016 - 2018) and StoryLab Skills Training for Democratised Film Industries (2019 - 2020). StoryLab Research Network has since grown to include working with film festivals, such as the Peloponnesus Documentary Film Festival, 2022, and the ongoing Wind Wolves Preserve Archaeology project in California, USA.

As a multiple prize winning filmmaker, his films include Goodwin Island (99 minutes, fiction, 2024), True Calling (88 minutes, fiction, 2021), Cleft Lip (84 minutes, fiction, 2018), The Raven On The Jetty (88 minutes, fiction, 2015), The Silent Accomplice (84 minutes, fiction, 2011), Vainilla Chip (17 minutes, Documentary, 2009), Veil (for Horse & Bamboo Theatre Company’s touring show, 2008), Heart of Gold (40 minutes, documentary, 2006), Sea of Madness (86 minutes, fiction, 2006), Brannigan’s March (99 minutes, fiction, 2004), Bed of Flowers (50 minutes, documentary, 2001), Signs of Life (70 minutes, fiction, 1999), Reunion (50 minutes, documentary, 1995), One Day Tafo (70 minutes, documentary, 1991).

Erik is also creatively engaged with photography, exemplified through projects such as his photographic essay, Cuba in Waiting, which was exhibited at the Cervantes Institute in Manchester (2013) and Dean Clough Galleries, Halifax (2014) and is available as a book. His personal project entitled Doubt is a photographic and poetic book, combined with a film. This work had its opening exhibition in Manchester, UK, during January 2018 and was also exhibited at Dean Clough Galleries, Halifax, UK, from October 2018 to January 2019.

Erkut Altındağ is a professor of economic and administrative sciences at Doğuş University. His papers have been published in several prestigious SSCI-indexed journals, demonstrating his significant contributions to the academic community and underscoring the high quality and impact of his research. His research interests include family firms, strategic management, technology management, modern management theories and strategic human resources management.

Prof.Dr. Özgür Ömer Ersin completed his PhD in the field of Economics and Econometrics in Yildiz Technical University and became a Prof. in Beykent University and afterwards appointed as a Prof. at Istanbul Commerce University in the dept. of International Trade where he teaches undergrad. and grad. level courses in Econometrics and Macroeconomics. Prof. Ersin's research focus is nonlinear econometrics, neural networks, deep learning, environmental economics, development economics and financial econometrics. He has published articles in different international journals under SCI and SSCI indices, and he has received many citations from international audiences especially for his contributions on neural networks, time series, economic development and growth, and environmental economics. He currently works as a Professor in Istanbul Ticaret University as a faculty member of Faculty of Business. He also holds a distinguished researcher and councelor position on EFAR Research Center at Istanbul Commerce University.