MAIN COMPETITION JURY

SPAIN

CHAIRMAN

Born in Barcelona. Has produced more than 40 highly original films, winning 140 awards at the most prestigious international film festivals, including the Palme d’Or at Cannes (2010), the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary, and the Tiger Award at Rotterdam. Since 1989, with his production company Eddie Saeta, he has collaborated with renowned directors such as Manoel de Oliveira, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Naomi Kawase, Albert Serra, Lisandro Alonso, José Luis Guerín, and Marc Recha. He has also championed emerging filmmakers. As a director, he has helmed “Familystrip” (2009, doс.) and “Blow Horn” (2009), as well as the fiction films “Stella Cadente” (2014) and “Love Me Not” (2019), both selected at the MIFF. His latest film, “Emergency Exit” (2025), is currently in post-production. His work has been showcased in art galleries and museums, including MoMA, Tate Modern, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and the cinematheques of Mexico, Tangier, or Lausanne, among others. In 2010, he received the City of Barcelona Award for his commitment to the arts.

EGYPT - UK

Actress, singer, TV host, entrepreneur and producer. She was born in the United Kingdom. Her first cinema appearance was at the age of 9 when American director Michal Goldman cast her in a short movie. At the age of 11, Goldman chose her for a documentary on legendary Egyptian singer Um Kalthoum called “Sound of Egypt”. She started her TV career at the age of 18 as a correspondent for Dubai TV and Abu Dhabi TV. Presented her own shows on Dream TV and on Nogoum FM. She acted in the Middle East’s first ever sitcom “Shabab Online”. Participated in a number of successful TV shows, long movies and blockbuster plays before was chosen by iconic Egyptian director Youssef Chahine for his movie “Alexandrie... New York”. She released solo albums as a singer, was producer and deputy CEO of Dollar Film / New Century company, where produced 13 successful movies. She produced and acted in the movie “678” and received multiple awards including the Best Actress Award at the Dubai IFF. Currently she is the CEO of I Productions company, serves for the cinema consultancy committee for the ministry of culture while still pursuing an actor and singer.

 

 

ROMANIA, FRANCE

Director, scriptwriter, producer. Born in Romania. In 1983 graduated from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest (degree in engineering). In 1985–1989 worked as an engineer for Film Centre in Bucharest. In 1990 he emigrated to France where he has lived since. Since 1991 – teacher at ENSAV. In 2013 – PhD at the Jean-Jaures University of Toulouse. His best-known films “Europolis” (2011) and “The Wreck” (2020) got numerous awards of international film festivals, as did his recent film “The Deadman’s Bride” (2022), shown in the main competition of the 45th MIFF. His filmography also includes “Masquerade” (2002, doc.), “The Brassy Bands” (2007, doc.), “The Crypt” (2014), “Sun Dance” (2017, doc.), etc.

 

 

RUSSIA

Film director, scriptwriter. Born in 1976 in Leningrad. Graduated from VGIK (class of Sergey Solovyov and Valery Rubinchik). Multiple participant in Berlin, Venice and Cannes film festivals. His film “Paper Soldier” (2008) won the Silver Lion at the Venice IFF. Winner of Golden Eagle Award for his last film “Air” (2023) and many other film awards. His filmography also includes “Garpastum” (2005), “Crush” (2009, segment “Kim”), “Under Electric Clouds” (2015), “Dovlatov” (2018), “House Arrest” (2021) and others.

 

 

USA

Made his acting debut in the Palm d'Or winning film “Elephant” (2003) by Gus Van Sant, following this film Stacy Peralta personally selected John to play himself in “Lords of Dogtown” (2005) by Catherine Hardwicke. He has acted in 40 plus films to include “The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things” (2004), “Seraphim Falls” (2006), “Transformers” (2007), “Wendy and Lucy” (2008), “Big Sur” (2013), “Looking” (2014-2015), “She's Funny That Way” (2014), “The Amityville Murders” (2018), “Billboard” (2019), and “Alone at Night” (2022). In 2018 John moved to France after getting tired of the American cinema some of his recent credits include role's in Igor Voloshin’s “The Cellar” (2017), a guest star in the France series “Dark Stories” (2019), the Netflix series “Les Papillons Noirs” (2022), “La Maison” (2022), “On the Line” (2022), “Funny Birds” (2024) and “Nikki” (2024). In 2025 he stars in Gus Van Sant’s “Dead Man's Wire”.

RUSSIA

Stage and screen actress. In 2006 graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School Studio (class of Igor Zolotovitsky and Sergey Zemtsov) and was admitted to the troupe of the A.Raikin Satirikon Theatre. Winner of numerous awards for her stage, screen and TV works. Winner of the Golden Eagle Award to the Best Actress of an On-Line Series for her part in the series “Black Cloud” (2023). She also appeared in films and series “Vasily Stalin” (2013), “Loveless” (2017), “Epidemic” (2018–2022), “Cipher” (2018–2023), “Tsoi” (2020), “Le Bureau des Legends” (2020–2021), “Yesterday” (2019), “Mediator” (2021), “My Son’s Mother” (2022), “Liar” (2024), “Zhuki” (2023), “Mammoths” (2024), “Ghost Hunters” (2024) and others.