About Us

Born out of the China Women’s Film Festival, Baturu has grown into an internationally recognised platform advocating for equality and empowerment. Each year, we bring together a diverse array of artists, filmmakers, and thinkers from Southeast and South Asia to collaborate, inspire, and challenge societal norms.

The Baturu Festival, originating in China, stands as the nation’s only feminist cultural festival. Dedicated to empowering women in the cultural sector, it strives to elevate feminist perspectives in the arts and integrate them into the mainstream cultural discourse. Recognised for its impact, Baturu received the Intercultural Achievement Award from the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Baturu actively collaborates with international partners to foster cultural exchange and provide a platform for emerging feminist artists to present their work. Over the past eleven years, the festival has built successful partnerships with esteemed organisations such as UN Women, Movies That Matter, Institut Français, Instituto Cervantes, the Goethe-Institut, and numerous embassies worldwide. These collaborations have significantly broadened Baturu’s reach and influence, solidifying its role as a global advocate for feminist art and dialogue.

  • Chairman

    Li Dan holds a degree in Astronomy from Beijing Normal University. In 2003, he left his astrophysics studies at the Chinese Academy of Sciences to focus on non-profit work, dedicating himself to supporting AIDS-affected villages and orphans in central China.

    His contributions to human rights and social advocacy have been widely recognised. He was awarded the Reebok Human Rights Award in 2006 and later became a scholar of the International Visitor Leadership Program (2015) and the European Union Visitors Program (2016).

  • Baturu Representative in Finland

    Viola has a background in non-profit work, focusing on animal welfare and environmental protection. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Data Science at the University of Helsinki, researching gender and social media. She is passionate about using data to drive social change.

  • Julian Rumi Özkal Lorentzen is a board member of Integral Film AS and works as a director’s assistant and scriptwriter. He studied law at the University of Bergen and brings his expertise in storytelling and visual media to his role as a liaison for comics, manga, and graphic novels.

  • Graphic designer

    Scotia Morris is a multimedia professional based in the United States, currently working as a Technical Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in New Media from The State University of New York at Purchase. As the logo designer for Baturu, she uses her creative skills to support human rights and women's empowerment through design and digital media.

  • International Project Manager


    Graduate of Beijing International Studies University, specialising in music and cinema

  • Community Outreach Specialist

    Yang Jingjing previously worked at Dongzhen AIDS Orphan School. In 2009, she founded the Sex Worker Public Health NGO in Beijing and has served as its director ever since.

  • Project Manager

    Estelle Li previously served as the General Manager of Activities in China for a public welfare institution in the United States. She is now the Project Manager of the Baturu Cultural Festival, overseeing key initiatives and cultural collaborations.

  • Senior Advisor

    Jennifer Hyman is a strategic communications leader with over 30 years of experience advancing humanitarian causes and international development across nearly 60 countries. She began her career as a journalist in Beijing, went on to lead global communications for numerous international NGOs, and now serves as Founder and President of Global Impact Narratives LLC, a consultancy that helps mission-driven organizations elevate their voice, visibility, and impact. She is also a practicing visual artist.

  • Manager of Baturu Thailand

    Founder of “Hinghoy Noy”, creating safe spaces for children, youth, and marginalized communities through media and art. In 2025, she joined Baturu Thailand as manaher and serves on boards promoting gender justice in Asia and Africa

  • Creative Director & Community Manager of Baturu Thailand

    Based in Chiang Mai, Ahrtiey was a former Editor-in-Chief of Modernist and Rhythm, media outlets based in Bangkok; former Project Coordinator at Young Pride Foundation (Club); former Information and Creative Officer at Friends Without Borders Foundation. Currently serving as Communications Officer at Project SEVANA South-East Asia and Creative Director & Community Manager at Baturu.

  • Event Manager of Baturu Thailand

    Raptor is a theatre artist that use performing arts as a tool for promoting gender justice. They are the co-founder and co-director of H0M0HAUS, the performing arts festival for diversity that explore the form and content which go beyond the binary, based in Bangkok, Thailand since 2024. Now, they are working as an Event Manager at Baturu Thailand.

  • Project Officer (Liaison) of Baturu Thailand

    Papawin Pechnil is a Thai legal scholar and feminist researcher dedicated to promoting human rights. As co-founder of Thai Students in Europe for Democracy, she has amplified marginalized voices globally for over five years. With an LL.M. from Germany, she is currently pursuing Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, aspiring to create a more just and violence-free world for women. She is serving as a Project Officer in the Liaison Department at Baturu.