Jury

Film critic and new media researcher, recognized in the Krzysztof Mętrak Competition. She has published in Ekrany, Kino, Krytyka Polityczna, Filmweb, and Czas Kultury. A graduate in sociology and cultural studies from the University of Warsaw

Journalist and film critic. She studied audiovisual production, film studies, and media culture at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. She regularly collaborates with Filmweb, Ekrany, and Kino. She reviews films, writes in-depth articles, conducts interviews, and covers film festivals such as Berlinale, Venice, and Cannes. She co-produces a radio show on Chicago station of the Polish Radio and hosts events at the Radiowęzeł club café in Poznań.

Film scholar and filmmaker. A teacher of children and youth. In his work, he develops original theories through experimental practices (audiovisual sylva, non-binary editing, and placing commas before “and”). He is interested in art and socially engaged life.

Bilingual film and theater actress, raised in the Netherlands and living in Slovakia. Since childhood, she has been passionate about cinema, which she now translates into her work as a senior film programmer for the International Children’s and Youth Film Festival CINEDU in Slovakia. Juliana has been involved with the festival since its inception in 2019 and was one of its co-founders. Outside of work, she engages in photography, using this medium, like acting, as a form of artistic expression. She speaks English, Dutch, Czech, and Slovak.

Graduate in film studies and journalism at the University of Łódź. For eight years, she has supported projects in the field of promoting film culture and education. At the National Center for Film Culture in Łódź, she co-created permanent exhibitions and coordinated temporary exhibitions, publishing series, and research on using VR in teaching methods and assessing audiovisual knowledge and skills among children and youth. Currently, she supports projects for the Film Culture Promotion Department and the Education Department at the Andrzej Wajda Center for Film Culture.

Program director of the Kristiansand International Children’s Film Festival (BFF) in Norway. She began her career in the film industry in 2007, collaborating with the Tromsø International Film Festival, among others. Since early 2021, Marion has represented children and youth on the board of the Norwegian Federation of Film Societies (NFK). One of her primary goals is involving children and youth in the decision-making process, both at BFF and NFK. Marion has studied in Chile, Spain, Latvia, and Norway.

Assistant professor at the Faculty of “Artes Liberales” at the University of Warsaw, where he conducts research and teaches courses on culture for children and youth. He is an author of books and scientific articles, manager of research projects funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the National Science Centre, and a recipient of the Minister of Science’s scholarship for outstanding young scientists. He writes about children’s culture for Kultura Liberalna.

Film enthusiast and freelancer, a tailor. She has worked in creative industries and as a costume designer, eventually transforming her film hobby into a career: since 2017, she has collaborated with FILMFEST HAMBURG, and in 2019, she established the Filmfest ums Eck (Festival Around the Corner) section. Since 2021, she has chaired the MICHEL Children’s and Youth Festival, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022.

Director and editor. She graduated from the Wajda School, studied photography at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznań, and multimedia techniques at the Faculty of Mechatronics at Warsaw University of Technology. For 14 years, she has been professionally involved in editing and producing short film forms. Last year, her documentary debut—a full-length film “Girls’ Stories”—had its international premiere at the IDFA festival in Amsterdam.

Member of the Polish Film Academy, the Polish Filmmakers Association, the Women’s Film Association, the International Federation of Film Critics FIPRESCI, and the Ex Anima Foundation. She publishes in various Polish films magazines as well as translates books, consults on scripts, organizes cultural events, and promotes Polish cinema domestically and internationally. Between 2016–2019, she was the artistic director of the European Cinema Forum Cinergia in Łódź. For the past three years, she has served as deputy director of the Youth and Film Festival in Koszalin, becoming the festival’s program director this year.

Member of the Polish Film Academy, the Polish Filmmakers Association, the Women’s Film Association, the International Federation of Film Critics FIPRESCI, and the Ex Anima Foundation. She publishes in various Polish films magazines as well as translates books, consults on scripts, organizes cultural events, and promotes Polish cinema domestically and internationally. Between 2016–2019, she was the artistic director of the European Cinema Forum Cinergia in Łódź. For the past three years, she has served as deputy director of the Youth and Film Festival in Koszalin, becoming the festival’s program director this year.

Graduated in social communication and applied audiovisual communication. He has worked as a communication and audience engagement specialist in various Belgian audiovisual institutions. Over the years, he has been active in various fields—exhibiting, distribution, and education—with the goal of bringing audiences closer to film. Since 2019, he has worked as a film programmer at JEF, the organization that hosts the largest film festival for young audiences in Flanders.

A self-taught animator with one foot in the animation world and the other in education. He aims to address socially important topics in his work; aside from studio films, he creates campaign and educational animations for NGOs. His animation Crab (2023), his directorial debut, has won numerous awards at festivals in Poland and abroad—including recognition from the youngest audiences.

Sebastian Scheitz, based in Leipzig, Germany, is a media professional specializing in film education and community engagement. With experience organizing festivals like DOK Leipzig and Kurzsuechtig, he focuses on empowering young audiences through projects like Kurz.Film.Scouts and initiatives within Landesfilmdienst Sachsen, fostering creativity and critical thinking in film and media.

Belgian director, illustrator, and screenwriter. She creates adorable characters and dark stories for both children and adults. Her short films “Catherine” (2016) and “Luce and the Rock” (2022) have been shown at over 200 festivals and won more than 80 awards (including the Golden Goats at Ale Kino! for the latter). She is currently working on a children’s series based on “Luce” and a short film for adults. She enjoys (dark) chocolate, hugs, sketching animals at the zoo, and Nonviolent Communication. While traveling, she collects stones to which she paints eyes. If she were to reincarnate, she would return as a cat named Fluffy.

Program coordinator for the MIDPOINT Institute, offering development opportunities and skills for screenwriters, directors, and producers. She co-founded the DiscoSailing agency, which focuses on festival distribution of Slovak films, helping them reach target audiences in the international market. Occasionally works as a journalist and curator; her main activities are related to short films. She is a graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, where she served as head of the festival department from 2016 to 2021. Since 2020, she has taught festival strategy courses there.

PhD in the field of European policies and practices in youth film education (NATFIZ, Bulgaria). She is a co-founder of the NGO Arte Urbana Collectif and initiator of the Cinema in School program, encompassing several European projects, including CinEd, Le Cinéma, Cent ans de jeunesse, Short Cut – Young Filmmakers Portray Their Cities, and Cinemini Europe. She founded and directs the Meetings of Young European Cinema festival, organized in Sofia and other cities in Bulgaria. She promotes film as an art form among people aged 3 to 19, both in schools and outside, through specialized projects and pedagogical activities.

Vocational subject teacher in a technical school and photographer. She successfully combines her passion for creating images with working with people. She graduated in photography from the University of Arts in Poznań. Co-founder of the „Jestem tym co widzę” (“I Am What I See”) Association. She has collaborated with the Zamek Culture Center and the Short Waves Festival on socio-educational projects. She coordinated audiovisual festivals (Digital_ia, Inspirations) and accompanying art exhibitions. She believes in the empowering power of cinema and its psychoeducational value. For her, film in education is a pretext for conversation.