Octavio Arbeláez
A lawyer and one of the most influential cultural managers and curators in the performing arts and music in Latin America. With over forty years of experience, he is the director of the emblematic Manizales International Theatre Festival and Circulart in Medellín, as well as the artistic director of the Bogotá International Festival of Living Arts (FIAV). He has presided over organizations such as REDELAE and ADIMI, and led global markets such as MAPAS in Spain. His foundational impact on cultural networks and his work in professionalizing the sector have earned him the 2025 National Lifetime Achievement Award of Colombia, the French Order of Arts and Letters in the rank of Commander, and the prestigious ISPA Award in New York.
Elena Blednykh
A member of the International Federation of Artists and the Union of Photographers of Russia, she boasts 25 years of experience in professional photography. She specializes in capturing the essence of the performing arts and sports, and in 2008, she firmly immersed herself in the world of circus arts with the Zapashny Brothers. Winner of numerous international competitions, she has collaborated with ROSGOSCIRK, the Great Moscow Circus, the historic Ciniselli Circus, and the state circuses of Saratov and Sochi. Her extensive experience has led her to serve as official photographer and member of the visual and critical juries at 35 of the world’s most prestigious circus festivals.
Luis Caballero
His name is synonymous with excellence and circus legend. He is considered one of the greatest figures on the flying trapeze in the Americas and one of the most important aerial artists in the circus. Recognized as the third man in the world to perform the quadruple somersault, he is also considered the only trapeze artist capable of performing all the classic, most difficult flying trapeze exercises.
With an international career spanning decades, he has shone in major circuses and festivals around the world, standing out for his technique, elegance, and absolute mastery of the air. He currently manages three circuses in the United States and is the teacher of the renowned Caballero Brothers, recognized as the best trapeze artists of our time.
Sarah Davison
Casting and Performance Director at Feld Entertainment, the company behind international shows such as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Disney On Ice, and Monster Jam. A specialist in circus arts and live entertainment, she leads the selection and development of top-tier artists worldwide. Previously, she was with Cirque du Soleil for over a decade, where she served as Head of Casting. As a performer, she participated in productions such as Viva Elvis, Le Rêve, and A New Day.
Peter Dubinsky
After graduating from the Russian Theatre Academy with a diploma of excellence in Circus Direction, Peter Dubinsky was appointed director of the prestigious Moscow Circus. In 1996, he founded his own training company, Firebird Productions, in Orlando, Florida, USA, which produces shows for theme parks (Disney, Universal Studios Japan, Busch Gardens), cruise ships, casinos, circuses, and festivals worldwide. He is an artistic advisor and jury member for numerous international circus festivals.
Raoul Gibault
One of France’s most prestigious circus directors and producers, and a leading figure in contemporary European circus. Director of the historic Cirque Medrano and founder of Arena Production, he has led major international productions renowned for their artistic excellence and the participation of world-class talent. With extensive experience in renowned festivals and shows, his work has significantly contributed to the preservation and promotion of classic European circus. His presence as a jury member at our festival is a great honor and international recognition of his contributions to the highest levels of circus arts.
Bertrand Guay
He has been a photographer for Agence France-Presse for over thirty years. In 1991, he discovered the world of the circus while covering the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris, and since then he has documented performances by Cirque d’Hiver Bouglione, Big Apple Circus, and Roncalli. For Telmondis, he covered the Monte Carlo Festival for eleven years, in addition to the Festivals de Demain and Massy. He collaborates with Genís Matabosch on Euroclowns, Charlie Rivel, the Cirque de Nadal in Girona, and Elefant d’Or. His photographs have graced the pages of magazines such as El Circo del Universo, Circo Zeitung, De pista, and Revista de fotografía de circo.
Maria Nikulina
Born in Moscow, Maria Nikulina graduated from the Moscow Academy of Management. She worked in the international tourism sector and founded and managed one of Russia’s largest travel agencies. In 1985, she joined the family of the great Russian clown and film actor Yuri Nikulin, and since then, her life has been closely linked to the circus.
Together with her husband, Maxim Nikulin, general director of the Nikulin Circus in Moscow on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, Russia’s most famous circus, she participates in major international circus festivals. Her more than 40 years of experience allow her to understand what happens in the ring and evaluate it from the perspective of a professional circus expert.
Estela Paredes
One of the most influential figures in contemporary Latin American circus. Co-founder of La Tarumba, she has dedicated more than four decades to promoting an artistic vision that integrates circus, theater, and music, making it one of the most important cultural initiatives in the region. Her work has contributed to the training of generations of artists and the development of a model that combines creation, education, and social commitment. Recognized with prestigious awards for her contributions to culture and education, she is a key figure in the development of the performing arts in Peru.
Ernesto Pimentel
Renowned for his career as an actor, host, and creator of highly successful programs on América Televisión, he has built a career deeply connected with the Peruvian public. Through his iconic character, La Chola Chabuca, he has toured all of Peru bringing humor, music, and spectacle, becoming part of the cultural landscape for several generations.
For 26 years, he has dedicated his life to the circus with the Circo de la Chola Chabuca, one of the most important and beloved in the country, which celebrates its 26th anniversary in 2026. For Pimentel, the circus is not just a stage, but a space for encounter, emotion, and belonging, where all the arts coexist and where every artist finds a home.