Jury Competition Fiction
The Competition Fiction comprises first and second European feature fiction films produrced for theatrical release. During the awards ceremony the Jury Competition Fiction gives out the award to the director of the prize-winning film.
Louise Højgaard Johansen (DK)
Film Industry Consultant, Producer, Festival Programmer
Athens International Children's Film Festival,
Founder Sane Cinema
Louise Højgaard Johansen is a Danish festival programmer and film industry consultant based in Prague. She started her festival career at the Copenhagen Film Festivals and has curated film events around Europe for almost 20 years. She is a producer of films such as GRANDMA LO-FI (2011) and LAST AND FIRST MEN (2020). After becoming a mother, she continues her programming and industry work for Athens Intl. Children's Film Festival. In 2022 she established the initiative Sane Cinema which is pushing for healthier practices in the film industry, through awareness, training and education. Louise holds a Master in Film Studies from The University of Copenhagen, and is a member of the European Film Academy.
Film Industry Consultant, Producer, Festival Programmer
Athens International Children's Film Festival,
Founder Sane Cinema
Louise Højgaard Johansen is a Danish festival programmer and film industry consultant based in Prague. She started her festival career at the Copenhagen Film Festivals and has curated film events around Europe for almost 20 years. She is a producer of films such as GRANDMA LO-FI (2011) and LAST AND FIRST MEN (2020). After becoming a mother, she continues her programming and industry work for Athens Intl. Children's Film Festival. In 2022 she established the initiative Sane Cinema which is pushing for healthier practices in the film industry, through awareness, training and education. Louise holds a Master in Film Studies from The University of Copenhagen, and is a member of the European Film Academy.
Igor Soukmanov (BY/DE)
Film Expert, Critic, Festival Organizer and Consultant
Berlinale Forum, European Film Market, goEast Filmfestival
Igor Soukmanov is a film expert, critic, and festival organizer. He is a member of the European Film Academy and FIPRESCI, and a founding member of the Belarusian Independent Film Academy. From 2010 to 2020, he served as the Program Director of the Listapad International Film Festival in Minsk. Since 2022, he has been an Advisory Board Member for the Odesa IFF. He currently works as an Eastern European film market consultant for the Berlinale Forum and the European Film Market, and is a member of the selection committee for the goEast Film Festival in Wiesbaden.
Film Expert, Critic, Festival Organizer and Consultant
Berlinale Forum, European Film Market, goEast Filmfestival
Igor Soukmanov is a film expert, critic, and festival organizer. He is a member of the European Film Academy and FIPRESCI, and a founding member of the Belarusian Independent Film Academy. From 2010 to 2020, he served as the Program Director of the Listapad International Film Festival in Minsk. Since 2022, he has been an Advisory Board Member for the Odesa IFF. He currently works as an Eastern European film market consultant for the Berlinale Forum and the European Film Market, and is a member of the selection committee for the goEast Film Festival in Wiesbaden.
Sara Summa (FR/IT)
filmmaker
among others ARTHUR&DIANA (DE 2023, CE24)
Sara Summa is a French-Italian director, screenwriter, and actress based in Berlin. She holds an MA in Film Studies, having studied at Université Paris-Sorbonne, Brown University in the US, and the University of Bologna in Italy. She subsequently studied film directing at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin.
Her feature films THE LAST TO SEE THEM and ARTHUR&DIANA premiered respectively at the 69th Berlinale and at TIFF 2023, and have been screened and awarded at numerous festivals internationally.
While developing her new films, Summa also serves as a jury member at international festivals; she is also a fellow of the Villa Aurora residency in Los Angeles and BerlinAiR in Rome, and an alumna of Berlinale Talents.
filmmaker
among others ARTHUR&DIANA (DE 2023, CE24)
Sara Summa is a French-Italian director, screenwriter, and actress based in Berlin. She holds an MA in Film Studies, having studied at Université Paris-Sorbonne, Brown University in the US, and the University of Bologna in Italy. She subsequently studied film directing at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin.
Her feature films THE LAST TO SEE THEM and ARTHUR&DIANA premiered respectively at the 69th Berlinale and at TIFF 2023, and have been screened and awarded at numerous festivals internationally.
While developing her new films, Summa also serves as a jury member at international festivals; she is also a fellow of the Villa Aurora residency in Los Angeles and BerlinAiR in Rome, and an alumna of Berlinale Talents.
Jury Competition Documentary
This award is given out to one of the documentary films from the section Competition Documentary with a minimum length of 60 minutes. The award goes to the director of the prize-winning film.
Daniel Abma (NL/DE)
Filmmaker
Among others THE FAMILY APPROACH (DE 2024, CE25)
Lecturer Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
Pitching Trainer
After completing a degree in educational studies in the Netherlands, Daniel Abma studied film directing at the KONRAD WOLF Film University in Potsdam. His documentaries NACH WRIEZEN (2012), TRANSIT HAVANNA (2016), AUTOBAHN (2019), and THE FAMILY APPROACH (2024) have screened at international festivals such as IDFA, DOK Leipzig, and Visions du Réel and have won numerous awards. Since 2017, he has been a lecturer in documentary film directing in Babelsberg and serves as a tutor at European festivals.
Foto (c) Jonas Ludwig Walter
Filmmaker
Among others THE FAMILY APPROACH (DE 2024, CE25)
Lecturer Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
Pitching Trainer
After completing a degree in educational studies in the Netherlands, Daniel Abma studied film directing at the KONRAD WOLF Film University in Potsdam. His documentaries NACH WRIEZEN (2012), TRANSIT HAVANNA (2016), AUTOBAHN (2019), and THE FAMILY APPROACH (2024) have screened at international festivals such as IDFA, DOK Leipzig, and Visions du Réel and have won numerous awards. Since 2017, he has been a lecturer in documentary film directing in Babelsberg and serves as a tutor at European festivals.
Foto (c) Jonas Ludwig Walter
Olga Gibelinda (UA)
Filmmaker, Producer
among others KOROLEVY RADOSTI (Special Mention: Social Awareness Award – Best Documentary CE25); Founder Malanka Studios
Olga Gibelinda is a Ukrainian filmmaker, director, and producer working in both documentary and fiction cinema, and the founder of Malanka Studios, a Kyiv-based production company focused on auteur films and international co-productions. She is a graduate of the Wajda School and a member of the Ukrainian Film Academy and the European Film Academy. Her work explores themes of war, identity, and resilience, combining intimate storytelling with a strong visual approach. Olga has developed and presented her projects at leading European platforms including Cannes Docs, East Doc Platform, Thessaloniki Agora. Her films have been showcased at major international festivals such as Thessaloniki IFF and DOK Leipzig. She is currently developing several feature documentary and fiction projects within the European co-production landscape.
Filmmaker, Producer
among others KOROLEVY RADOSTI (Special Mention: Social Awareness Award – Best Documentary CE25); Founder Malanka Studios
Olga Gibelinda is a Ukrainian filmmaker, director, and producer working in both documentary and fiction cinema, and the founder of Malanka Studios, a Kyiv-based production company focused on auteur films and international co-productions. She is a graduate of the Wajda School and a member of the Ukrainian Film Academy and the European Film Academy. Her work explores themes of war, identity, and resilience, combining intimate storytelling with a strong visual approach. Olga has developed and presented her projects at leading European platforms including Cannes Docs, East Doc Platform, Thessaloniki Agora. Her films have been showcased at major international festivals such as Thessaloniki IFF and DOK Leipzig. She is currently developing several feature documentary and fiction projects within the European co-production landscape.
Lenka Tyrpáková (CZ)
Programmer, Festival Consultant, Artistic Director
Finále Plzeň Festival
Lenka Tyrpáková is a programmer, festival consultant, and the Artistic Director of the Finále Festival in Pilsen. From 2005 to 2023, she was part of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival as a member of the selection committee and a programmer in charge of films from Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Since 2008, she has worked as a programmer for the Prague Shorts Film Festival. In 2023, she became the Artistic Director of the Czech national festival Finále in Pilsen, the largest competitive showcase of national cinema in the Czech Republic. She is a curator of SHORT RIGA Test Screenings for Riga IFF and consultant for Cottbus IFF. She collaborates with several other film festivals and film institutions and is a member of the EFA.
Programmer, Festival Consultant, Artistic Director
Finále Plzeň Festival
Lenka Tyrpáková is a programmer, festival consultant, and the Artistic Director of the Finále Festival in Pilsen. From 2005 to 2023, she was part of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival as a member of the selection committee and a programmer in charge of films from Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Since 2008, she has worked as a programmer for the Prague Shorts Film Festival. In 2023, she became the Artistic Director of the Czech national festival Finále in Pilsen, the largest competitive showcase of national cinema in the Czech Republic. She is a curator of SHORT RIGA Test Screenings for Riga IFF and consultant for Cottbus IFF. She collaborates with several other film festivals and film institutions and is a member of the EFA.
Jury Competition Local Artists
All the films/videos presented in the program section Local Artists participate in the competition. An expert jury awards the prizes to the director of the prize-winning film. More information about the festival awards here.
Simone Hart (AT)
Cinematographer
Among others: IF YOU ARE AFRAID YOU PUT YOUR HEART INTO YOUR MOUTH AND SMILE, CE25 – CROSSING EUROPE Award Local Artist – Young Talent; TORN, CE24
Simone Hart is an Austrian cinematographer. While studying cinematography and camera work at the Vienna Film Academy, she created numerous short films that were screened at international festivals and won several awards. Her first feature film, IF YOU ARE AFRAID YOU PUT YOUR HEART INTO YOUR MOUTH AND SMILE, directed by Marie Luise Lehner, celebrated its world premiere at the Berlinale in 2025, where it won the Teddy Jury Award and the CICAE Art Cinema Award. Since then, she has shot two more feature films as well as several documentary projects.
Foto (c) Nikolett Kustos
Cinematographer
Among others: IF YOU ARE AFRAID YOU PUT YOUR HEART INTO YOUR MOUTH AND SMILE, CE25 – CROSSING EUROPE Award Local Artist – Young Talent; TORN, CE24
Simone Hart is an Austrian cinematographer. While studying cinematography and camera work at the Vienna Film Academy, she created numerous short films that were screened at international festivals and won several awards. Her first feature film, IF YOU ARE AFRAID YOU PUT YOUR HEART INTO YOUR MOUTH AND SMILE, directed by Marie Luise Lehner, celebrated its world premiere at the Berlinale in 2025, where it won the Teddy Jury Award and the CICAE Art Cinema Award. Since then, she has shot two more feature films as well as several documentary projects.
Foto (c) Nikolett Kustos
Dagmar Schink (AT)
Managing Director VALIE Export Center Linz,
Lecturer University of Arts Linz
Dagmar Schink studied at the University of Arts Linz and at the University of Art and Design Helsinki (UIAH). After working at the Stadtwerkstatt, the OK Offenes Kulturhaus, and Crossing Europe Film Festival, Dagmar Schink has been on the faculty at the University of Arts Linz since 2010. She teaches artistic-scholarly presentation and outreach formats in the fields of visual arts, curation, time-based media, and archives. In early 2016, she began establishing the VALIE EXPORT Center at the Tabakfabrik site in collaboration with the University of Art’s partners, the Lentos Art Museum, and the City of Linz, and was appointed its managing director in 2017.
Foto (c) Violetta Wakolbinger
Managing Director VALIE Export Center Linz,
Lecturer University of Arts Linz
Dagmar Schink studied at the University of Arts Linz and at the University of Art and Design Helsinki (UIAH). After working at the Stadtwerkstatt, the OK Offenes Kulturhaus, and Crossing Europe Film Festival, Dagmar Schink has been on the faculty at the University of Arts Linz since 2010. She teaches artistic-scholarly presentation and outreach formats in the fields of visual arts, curation, time-based media, and archives. In early 2016, she began establishing the VALIE EXPORT Center at the Tabakfabrik site in collaboration with the University of Art’s partners, the Lentos Art Museum, and the City of Linz, and was appointed its managing director in 2017.
Foto (c) Violetta Wakolbinger
Florian Widegger (AT)
Program Director & Curator METRO Kinokulturhaus (Filmarchiv Austria),
Editor and Magazine Writer
Florian Widegger (born in 1986 in Schärding/Inn) studied journalism and communication studies and has held various positions in the film industry since 2007. Since 2017, he has been program director and curator at the METRO Kinokulturhaus of the Filmarchiv Austria and editor of publications on, among others, Karin Brandauer, Axel Corti, and Ludwig Wüst. He also regularly contributes articles to film magazines such as Deadline and Celluloid Filmmagazin.
Foto (c) Alice Stift
Program Director & Curator METRO Kinokulturhaus (Filmarchiv Austria),
Editor and Magazine Writer
Florian Widegger (born in 1986 in Schärding/Inn) studied journalism and communication studies and has held various positions in the film industry since 2007. Since 2017, he has been program director and curator at the METRO Kinokulturhaus of the Filmarchiv Austria and editor of publications on, among others, Karin Brandauer, Axel Corti, and Ludwig Wüst. He also regularly contributes articles to film magazines such as Deadline and Celluloid Filmmagazin.
Foto (c) Alice Stift
YAAAS! Youth Jury
The YAAAS! Youth Jury awards the prize to one of the six YAAAS! Competition titles. More information about the festival awards here.
Cemile Dömez
BORG Grieskirchen
Johanna Hackl
HBLA für künstlerische Gestaltung
Luna Lassingleithner
Akademisches Gymnasium Linz
Anna Lieb
HBLA für künstlerische Gestaltung
Ronja Seyfert
Akademisches Gymnasium Linz
MIOB NEW VISION Award - Jury
Davide Abbatescianni (IT)
Film Critic
Davide Abbatescianni (1991) is a Rome-based film critic, journalist and industry consultant. He serves as International Reporter for Cineuropa, covering the European audiovisual sector through news, interviews and reviews. His work has appeared in international outlets including Documentary Magazine, Variety, Screen, Business Doc Europe and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond website. Alongside his writing, he works as an external expert for two European funding bodies and serves as a senior film curator for the Support to EU Film Festivals project.
Ivan Bakrač (ME)
Film Director, Festival Programmer
Film Director, Festival Programmer
Ivan Bakrač (1987, Nikšić, Montenegro) has written and directed films that participated in many international festivals and won awards. He participated in various programs such as Berlinale Talents, Talents Sarajevo, Zurich FF Academy and Slano Film Days. His debut feature POSLIJE ZIME / AFTER THE WINTER was premiered at the Karlovy Vary IFF. Apart from filmmaking, he also works as a festival programmer. A member of European Film Academy.
Katharina Stumm (DE)
program manager Connecting Cottbus
program manager Connecting Cottbus
Katharina Stumm joined the East-West co-production market connecting cottbus as Programme Manager in 2018. For many years, she has worked as development executive at a Berlin-based film production company and regularly collaborates with the Berlinale Co-Production Market and other festivals/markets. Her background is in film studies (MA King‘s College London).