Joseph Cedar was born in New York in 1968. He emigrated to Israel with his family at the age of six. He graduated from the Tish School of the Arts at New York University. His first film Time of Favor received numerous awards and was a popular success in his country. Campfire, his second feature film, was selected for the FICA in 2005 and received the Audience Award. In 2007, he received the Silver Bear at the Berlinale for Beaufort. Footnote is his fourth feature film. Since then, he has been making television series.

Kore-eda Hirokazu was born in Tokyo in 1962. He graduated from Waseda University. In 1987, he joined the team of TV Man Union. He directed many documentaries that were awarded. His first feature-length fiction film Maborosi won an award at Venice in 1995. The FICA paid tribute to him in 2012 by screening 14 of his films. All his films were selected and awarded at major international festivals.