Madeleine Thien - Canadian writer and novelist of Malaysian-Chinese descent. Celebrated for her evocative explorations of history, migration, and cultural identity in contemporary literature.
Naomi Kawase - Japanese filmmaker and documentarian. Celebrated for her intimate autobiographical films and awarded the Caméra d’Or at Cannes for her debut feature.
Hidetoshi Nakata - Japanese former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Nakata became the first ever AFC player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or.
Tadashi Suzuki - pioneering Japanese theater director, writer, and philosopher, best known for creating the Suzuki Method of Actor Training and founding the Suzuki Company of Toga (SCOT).
Alexandre Farto, known as Vhils - Portuguese artist recognized for his unique technique of carving and peeling back layers of walls to create powerful urban portraits.
Yoshiyuki Yamana - Japanese architect, professor, and art historian, specializing in modern architecture and heritage conservation. He is a professor at Tokyo University of Science.
Xu Bing - Chinese contemporary artist known for his innovative use of language and text, especially through printmaking and mixed-media installations. His works challenge perceptions of communication and cultural identity across East and West.
Liu Xinwu - Chinese author known as a pioneer of post-Maoist “scar literature” that reflects on the Cultural Revolution. His works, including the award-winning novel The Wedding Party, focus on the lives of ordinary people in Beijing and social issues on the margins of society.
Brian Castro - Australian novelist known for exploring themes of identity and culture in his award-winning works, including Shanghai Dancing. He has received numerous literary awards and serves as Chair of Creative Writing at the University of Adelaide.
Joshua Wong - Hong Kong pro-democracy activist whose leadership in the 2014 Umbrella Movement brought him international recognition. Despite repeated imprisonments, he continues to advocate for democratic reforms and human rights in Hong Kong, playing a major role in the 2019 pro-democracy protests.
Filipe Melo - Portuguese musician, film director, and comic book writer known for his award-winning short films and graphic novels such as The Incredible Adventures of Dog Mendonça & Pizzaboy.
Abdulai Silá - Guinea-Bissaua engineer, economist, social researcher, and writer, born in 1958 in Catió. He authored the first novel published in Guinea-Bissau, Eterna Paixão (1994),
Andre Chiang - Taiwanese chef known for his innovative “Octo-philosophy” and his two-Michelin-starred restaurant RAW in Taipei. With over 30 years of experience, he has significantly influenced modern Asian and French cuisine.
David Braid - Canadian composer and jazz pianist celebrated for his award-winning compositions and performances. A ten-time Juno nominee and four-time winner.
Yu Hua - Chinese novelist, essayist, and short story writer. Yu Hua’s writing combines brutal realism with profound human insight and has been translated into over 20 languages.
Wing Shya - Hong Kong-born photographer, director, and artist known for his collaboration with filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai on films like In the Mood for Love and 2046.
Julián Fuks - Brazilian author known for his acclaimed novels such as Resistance. Born in São Paulo to Argentinian parents, he explores themes of exile, identity, and family in his work.
Zheng Yuanjie - Chinese children’s author and founder of the literary magazine ‘King of Fairy Tales.’ Renowned for his influential works and critique of conventional education in China.
Daniel Pires - Portuguese researcher and writer. Specialized in Portuguese culture and literature, with significant contributions to the study of Bocage and Lusophone literary heritage.
Diogo Muñoz - Portuguese multidisciplinary visual artist. Known for his refined painting and drawing, blending historical and contemporary cultural imagery
Salomé Lamas - Portuguese filmmaker and visual artist recognized for her critical and innovative exploration of social issues, migration, and post-colonial narratives through film and multimedia.