A woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair wearing glasses, pearl earrings, a black top, and a black and white patterned blazer, smiling confidently at the camera.

Lia Beltrami

Dr. Lia Beltrami, an Italian filmmaker, writer and humanitarian was born in 1967 in Trento, a historic city in the Italian Alps. She graduated from the University of Trento in Modern Languages in 1991 and later studied filmmaking at the New York Film Academy in New York. During that time, she began developing projects focused on public health and women’s empowerment across several African countries, including Ethiopia, Mozambique, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Uganda.

In 1997, she founded Religion Today, the world’s first film festival dedicated to interreligious dialogue. Created as a meeting place for filmmakers of different faiths and cultures, the festival explores themes of peace, coexistence, the environment, and harmony. To date, it has featured more than 18,000 films and documentaries while supporting over 2,200 artists and directors worldwide.

From 2008 to 2015, Lia served as Councillor for Solidarity and Coexistence in the Trentino region, overseeing immigration, women’s rights, and equal opportunity initiatives. During her tenure, she led more than 125 international cooperation projects. She also founded Women of Faith for Peace, which began as a small group of women leaders from different faiths and ethnic backgrounds. The initiative encourages women around the world to engage in peacebuilding and dialogue and has since expanded internationally. She serves as the group’s International Representative for FAO-UN.

In 2014, she launched Aurora Vision, a media company that has produced 27 documentaries and reportages focused on humanitarian, social, and intercultural themes. Among her most recognized works are: Alganesh, on Eritrean refugee camps; Wonderful Tapestry of Life, on the inspiring life of Hon. Anita Evelyn Stokes Heyford; Viva Kino! about Father Kino and the current issue of the border US\Mexico; Ukon the Samurai, about the life of a samurai declared Blessed; Heroes Without Capes, about the health system in Uganda; Teardrop in the Ocean, about children endangerment cases in Sri Lanka.

More recently, Lia expanded her work as artistic director of the global photo exhibition Emotions to Generate Change, which has been displayed internationally, including in St. Peter’s Square at Vatican City and the World Economic Forum. Additionally, she proudly serves as a Founding Partner for Lead Integrity. Throughout her career, she has written several columns and authored six books. She is married to musician and composer Alberto Beltrami, and together they have two daughters.