The jury of the Feature- and Documentary Film competition has been chosen

Feature Film Competition

Jury president: Lee Daniels

Lee Daniels is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker known for his authentic storytelling. His recent film, THE DELIVERANCE (2023), became a hit on Netflix. Daniels gained prominence with MONSTER’S BALL (2001), and his film PRECIOUS (2009) earned multiple Oscar nominations. Daniels created the hit TV series EMPIRE. In addition, he expanded into theater and music, launching ventures like Lee Daniels Music and producing the Tony-nominated Broadway play Ain’t No Mo’. Daniels is a strong advocate for diversity, social issues, and LGBTQIA rights.

Souheila Yacoub

Souheila Yacoub is a Swiss actress and former Olympic gymnast. She is best known for her roles in ENTRE LES VAGUES by Anaïs Volpé, and CLIMAX by Gaspar Noé, for which she was nominated for a César Award. In early 2024, Yacoub starred in Cédric Kahn's MAKING OF and Denis Villeneuve's DUNE: DEUXIEME PARTIE, alongside Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya. She has worked with filmmakers such as Rebecca Zlotowski, Philippe Garrel, and Cédric Klapisch. In September 2024, Yacoub finished filming Lofty Nathan's upcoming film THE CARPENTER’S SON.

Jo Willems

Jo Willems is a Belgian cinematographer who began his career shooting music videos in London. He made his feature film debut in 2003 with HARD CANDY, directed by David Slade, which earned him a Best Cinematography award at FANCINE in Malaga. Willems has collaborated with director Francis Lawrence for over 20 years, working on major projects such as four HUNGER GAMES films, RED SPARROW, SLUMBERLAND, and the upcoming Stephen King adaptation, THE LONG WALK. Willems recently won an Ensor Award for his work on THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES (2023).

Ewa Puszczyńska

Ewa Puszczyńska is a founder and CEO of Extreme Emotions, renowned for producing acclaimed films such as IDA (BAFTA and Oscar winner), COLD WAR (three-time Oscar nominee), QUO VADIS, AIDA? (Oscar-nominated), and THE ZONE OF INTEREST (Cannes 2023 Grand Prix and two Oscar wins). She is also one of the producers of A REAL PAIN by Jesse Eisenberg, which was awarded at Sundance 2024. Puszczyńska is a member of the European Film Academy and of AMPAS. She has been recognized in “Variety 500” and as one of “The 40 Most Powerful Women in International Film” by The Hollywood Reporter.

Sophie Deraspe

Sophie Deraspe is a leading Canadian filmmaker who began in documentary work before transitioning to feature films. Her notable films include LES SIGNES VITAUX (2009), LES LOUPS (2015), and ANTIGONE (2019), which won Best Canadian Feature at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and was Canada's entry for the 2020 Oscars. She has also won awards at international festivals like Rotterdam, Torino, and Sundance. Her latest film, BERGERS (2024), again earned her Best Canadian Feature at TIFF.

Documentary Film Competition

Jury president: Kevin Macdonald

Kevin Macdonald is a director, writer, and producer known for both documentaries and fiction films. His acclaimed documentaries include ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER (Oscar, 2000), TOUCHING THE VOID (BAFTA, 2003), MARLEY (2012), WHITNEY (2018), and ONE TO ONE (2024, part of the ZFF-program). He also directed fiction films like THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND (2006, Oscar and BAFTA winner) and THE MAURITANIAN (2021, Golden Globe winner). Macdonald co-edited IMAGINING REALITY, a book on documentaries, and recently launched a joint venture with Plan B in Los Angeles to support new talent and innovative documentaries.

Franziska Sonder

Franziska Sonder is the producer and founder of Ensemble Film GmbH, established in 2018 in Zurich. She is member of the European Film Academy, Swiss Film Academy and producers' association GARP. Her company is known for producing creative and artistically sophisticated films. Notable works include THE GAME (2020) by Roman Hodel, which won multiple awards, and CAVES (2021) by Carlos Isabel Garcia. DIDA (2021) by Nikola Ilić and Corina Schwingruber Ilić won the Dok Leipzig Audience Award and the Zurich Film Prize, while LOVING HIGHSMITH (2022) by Eva Vitija was released in over 20 countries.

Vincent Kelner

Vincent Kelner is a French director and cinematographer based in Paris. His latest documentary A TASTE OF WHALE premiered at CPH :DOX (Denmark) in 2022 and has been selected at ZFF, Cinéma du Réel (Paris) among others. As a director of photography, he has been commissioned by various TV networks to film investigation, factual as well as travel documentaries. Vincent has worked across more than 90 countries in such places as Bhutan, Afghanistan and the North Pole, always looking at the world through its inhabitants more than its landscapes.

Anna Hints

Anna Hints is an Estonian film director with a background in contemporary art, experimental folk music, and environmental activism. Hints' debut feature, SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD, won the Directing Award at Sundance in January 2023 and received the Audentia Award from Eurimages. It has won multiple awards, including the European Film Award for Best Documentary 2023, and was the Estonian entry for the 96th Academy Awards. Hints is also part of the electronic-folk trio EETER, which collaborated on the film. Her latest project, SAUNA DAY, premiered at Cannes Film Festival’s Critics' Week in 2024.

Ben Bernhard

Ben Bernhard is a filmmaker and cinematographer who studied at DFFB in Berlin and the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles. His work got honoured with multiple awards and is mostly known for his collaborations with Victor Kossakovsky, Shaunak Sen and Annika Pinske. Recently ARCHITECTON premiered in the Main Competition of the Berlin Film Festival 2024, ROHBAU won the German Cinema New Talent Award, while ALL THAT BREATHES earned him an ASC Award, was selected for “Best Cinematography of the 21st century” by the filmmagazine Indiewire and got nominated for the Oscars 2023.