INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION JURY

Sarig Peker

Independent producer in London with experience in film distribution, recently Senior VP European Film Distribution at Warner Bros. Producer of the documentary "1341 Frames of Love and War" and plays such as "A: Rose" and "Clybourne Park".

Alexis Grapsas

Los Angeles based composer, who has written music for a variety of studio and independent films as well as original series. His score for the film "Pig" was voted among the top soundtracks of the year by multiple critics. His latest work is the box office hit "A Quiet Place: Day One".

Jane Giles

Jane Giles is a writer whose film books include ‘Criminal Desires’ (Creation Press, 2002), ‘The Crying Game’ (BFI Modern Classics, 1997), ‘The Cinema of Jean Genet’ (BFI, 1991) and the award-winning ‘Scala Cinema 1978-1993’ (FAB Press, 2018) which inspired this documentary. She was a programmer at Scala from 1988-1992.

Miriam Allen

Miriam Allen is the co-founder and CEO of the Galway Film Fleadh, Ireland’s premier film festival. It showcases international cinema and advocates for Irish film, promoting filmmakers while enhancing appreciation for cultural cinema through an inclusive, educational festival.

Blaine L. Reininger

Blaine Reininger, born in 1953, is a musician and former Tuxedomoon member. He released several solo albums, film soundtracks, and collaborations. Blaine now resides in Athens, continuing his work as a solo artist and actor.

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY JURY

Niklas Engstrøm

Niklas Engstrøm is the Artistic Director of CPH:DOX, the leading doc festival that he has been working for since the festival's first edition in 2003, as well as the organisation Copenhagen Film Festivals that also includes the children's film festival Buster.

Stavroula Papaspirou

Stavroula Papaspirou studied law at the University of Athens and media at the University of Paris II. She has been a journalist in cultural reporting since 1987, she has worked for the newspapers "Avgi" and "Kyriakati Eleftherotypia", as well as in magazines and on TV shows, covering mainly book topics.

Valerie Kontakos

She is an independent documentary filmmaker, a native New Yorker, living and working in Athens. Her most recent film, Queen of the Deuce, won the 2024 Hellenic Film Academy's IRIS award for best Greek documentary.

Arne Semsrott

Arne is the director of the German freedom of information NGO FragDenStaat. He is a political scientist, journalist and co-founder of the Freedom Fund that frees people from jail.

Vassilis Loules

Documentary and fiction director, award-winning with international screenings. Specializing in History and Social Anthropology, using personal stories. Invited to universities in the US and Canada, (Harvard, Yale, etc.), for screenings of his films.

GREEK SHORT STORIES IN COMPETITION JURY

Asimina Proedrou (President)

Asimina Proedrou is a Greek writer/director known for the multi-awarded films, RED HULK (2013; short) and BEHIND THE HAYSTACKS (2022; feature) 

Dimitra Vlagopoulou

Graduate of the State School of Dance and the Drama School of the National Theatre, she has worked with the National Theatre and the Athens Festival. In 2020 she was awarded the Melina Mercouri Prize and participated in the films Park and Animal.

Alexandros Diakosavvas

Alexandros Diakosavas is a journalist, editorial director of LiFO and curator of the Upfront Initiative for inclusion, equality, visibility and diversity in the workplace.

Sofia Kokkali

Sofia Kokkali has been working both in cinema and theater since 2012. Her work includes Thread, Winona, Polydroso by Alexander Voulgaris, Moon, 66 questions, Hector Malot: The Last Day of the Year by Jacqueline Lentzou, Little England by Pantelis Voulgaris.

Pavlos Pavlidis

Pavlos Pavlidis is a musician and singer, born in 1964 in Germany. He participated in the band Mora in Fotia, formed Xylina Spathia and B-Movies, with whom he worked until 2020. 

GSC AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY JURY

Giorgos Arvanitis

Giorgos Arvanitis, born in Dilofo, Fthiotis, studied Electrical Engineering and started his career in cinema as a cameraman's assistant. In 1966, he made his debut as director of photography with "The Barefoot Prince" at Finos Films. He worked with important directors such as Theo Angelopoulos, participating in over 60 films. He is a member of GSC and since 1989 he has lived in France, where he has directed over 40 films and won 9 awards at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.

Phedon Papamichael

Phedon Papamichael, a member of GSC and two-time Academy Award and BAFTA-nominated cinematographer, was born in Athens, Greece, in 1962. After starting as a photojournalist, he moved to NYC and then LA, working with Roger Corman. With over fifty feature films as Director of Photography, highlights include Sideways, The Descendants, and Ford vs. Ferrari. His directorial works include The Sketch Artist and the recent Light Falls, which premiered at Tallinn Black Nights in 2023.

Haris Zambarloukos

Haris Zambarloukos is an acclaimed cinematographer with a BA from Central Saint Martin’s College and an MFA from the American Film Institute. His work includes Belfast (ASC nomination), Murder on the Orient Express, Thor, Mamma Mia!, and Eye in the Sky. A frequent collaborator with Kenneth Branagh, he’s earned numerous awards and accolades, including Variety’s “10 to Watch” and Camerimage honors. Haris is a member of AMPAS, GSC, BAFTA, and the BSC.