creatives

Sanja Bestic, a director and producer was born and raised in Zemun, Belgrade, Serbia. She attended “Zemunska Gimnazija” High school, while simultaneously studying at the renowned theater studio and acting school run by Mika Aleksic, the famous theater arts professor. Sanja pursued theater directing at Belgrade University, the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, the class under the auspice of Professor Ivana Vujic.

Sanja continued to explore the world of theatre and acting during her continued post graduate studies. She refined her artistic coaching and team building skills while attending a fellowship at the Moving Academy for Performing Arts in Amsterdam. While there, she also did intensive work with the Theater of Shadows. In New York, she studied at The Michael Chekhov Acting Studio and at the Lee Strasburg Institute for Theater and Film.

The Weeping Game by Ben Akiba (aka Branislav Nusic) is Sanja’s third Off-Brodway production. Sanja also directed , Touch my Knees by David Albahari, The Government Inspector by Nikolai V. Gogol, Canary Soup by Milos Radovic, and Two Fools in Love by Dusko Radovic, and Painkillers by Neda Radulovic. Besides theater and acting Sanja has worked in Film and Advertising, and is actively involved in humanitarian work

Jakub Karol C. was born and raised in Poland and moved to NYC in 2000 to proceed with his education and career. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where he now acts as a consultant to Interior Design students. Over the course of his studies he gained knowledge in architecture, interiors, lighting, landscaping, and furniture, graphic and product design. In addition he has worked as a Broadway set designer, jewelry designer and gallery assistant. Jakub’s knowledge base and extensive work experience has led him to start his own practice. Citizen of the world, that’s how Jakub Karol C. describes himself. His design aesthetic is informed by a transition of feel routed in Cracow/Poland, cultivated by his travels to Europe, Asia, and North America and ultimately refined by living in New York City. Jakub Karol C. interiors are clearly historically referenced. Quba Design’s vision includes preserving the heritage of the space and envisions it with a modern eye. In this context one of the kind vintage pieces/objects collected by Jakub Karol appear rustic but timeless

John Pastore, was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He received a Bachelors of Arts in English from Staten Island University. He taught English for four years before having his first full-length production in 2005, titled Death Party. His short comedy, The Calendar, was produced in 2007. His current project, a full length play titled Sidetracked is currently in pre-production.

Aleksandar Simić
Born in 1973, Aleksandar spent most of his formative years shifting between different cultures and continents, from London to Singapore, from St. Petersburg to New York. Half way through med school he switched over to study music and quickly established himself among leading composers of his generation. In his large and versatile opus which encompasses concert, spiritual, world and film music, a special place is reserved for those works that were used to mark important jubilees such as the 50 years of victory in the II WW (for the Russian Federation), 300 years of St. Petersburg or 950 years of the East-West split (for the Vatican). Year after year he is acting as a spokes person and an activist for some of the most important charity campaigns such as Helping the Blind, Program Safe House or Notes from the Heart. His contribution to the global inter-religious dialogue has been significant over the many years, in many different countries, and also as a head of the Balkans division of the Pave the Way Foundation from NY. He was a part time lecturer at the Faculty of Political Sciences teaching Political Philosophy. He is presently assisting the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Special Prosecutors office for War Crimes in Serbia, in a program called The Last Hope, which focuses on bringing before justice the last remaining was criminals from the II WW.