Simone Späni studied German Language and Literature, Film Science and History of Arts at the University of Zurich. She is a member of the selection committee for Berlinale Shorts and was a long time programmer for Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur and other Oscar qualifying festivals. Apart from being a programmer, she works as a consultant for festivals and their workshop programs (film, theater and music), mainly in Switzerland (Zurich and Geneva), Berlin and Kigali (Rwanda). She recently founded her own boutique indie film production company COCOON PRODUCTIONS in Zurich. Cocoon is a partner of the pan-African incubation program REALNESS - A SCREENWRITERS RECIDENCY in South Africa (conducted by URUCU MEDIA). She has a strong focus on a diverse film scene, national and international.