JURY

Julián Génisson (Madrid, 1982) studied philosophy in France and then returned to Spain, where he co-founded the audiovisual comedy collective Canódromo Abandonado with filmmaker Lorena Iglesias and musician Aaron Rux. Together they made web series, live shows and a feature film, Towards Bruce Lee’s Tomb (2013). In 2016 he co-wrote and co-directed “That Feeling”, which had its world premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival. His first solo feature, “In- motep”, premiered in 2022 at the Sevilla European Film Festival. Génisson has also published a collection of short stories, “Cerebroleso”, and is currently work- ing on an essay on laughter.

Karla Šola is an actress and third-year student at the Academy of Arts in Split, mentored by Goran Golovko. She has showcased her skills in notable theatrical roles including Euripides’ “Cassandra” and Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” With training at the Youth Theatre, Playdrama in Split, and Kubus Studio in Zagreb, Šola has a strong foundation in acting. She is drawn to European and international film and TV productions, having appeared as an extra in films like “Ibiza” and “Dig.” Šola’s versatility extends to commercials such as “7 Reasons to Visit Kaštela” and various music videos.

Jenni Zylka lives in Berlin, writes about film and music for newspapers includ- ing Der Spiegel and Rolling Stone; works for radio and television stations including Deutschlandradio and ZDF; was head of the Perspektive Deutsches Kino section of the Berlinale until 2023 and is now the delegate for German talent films at the festival; hosts press con- ferences and film discussion panels for the Berlinale and other film festivals; is head of the series section at Nordic Film Days Lübeck; is a member of the feature film selection committee for the Panorama section at Berlinale; writes novels, short stories and screenplays; is a member of the Film Critics Associations VdFK, FIPRESCI and Golden Globes; teaches journalism; is a member of the juries for the Grimme Award since 1999, and works for the German association for youth media protection FSF.

Agim Abdula is a filmmaker and producer known for directing the feature film “Coma” and the award-winning short film “Conversation on Life,” recognized at over 30 international festivals including Rome-Italy. His directorial prowess ex- tends to “The Beginning” and “Decision,” both celebrated at international forums under the support of the Film Agency of North Macedonia. With over two decades in the industry, Abdula has also produced impactful documentaries addressing profound social issues emphasizing a global perspective on human narratives and societal complexities.

Gjoko Simjanoski was born in 1947 in Skopje. He graduated from the Higher Technical School in Bitola. On his vocation, electrical engineer, he worked until his retirement. (2011) At the same time as an external collaborator, he worked for 32 years at Radio Ohrid (since 1974), where he was editor, host and author of several musical shows and articles dedicated to film art. During that period, he made a large number of conversations with famous people from the music and film scene. He was the author and host of the movie shows “Filmsko Oko” and “Kino Bavcha”. He is the author of several documentary films: “The Ohrid Cine- ma Paradiso”, “The Song as a Reason for Conversation”, and “Ohrid Brilliants”, “Life as a Rainbow.”

Vele Mitanoski (1949, Crvena Voda, Ohrid) is a distinguished figure in Macedo- nian journalism and culture. Graduated in literature and Macedonian language at the Faculty of Philology in Skopje, he briefly served in politics before dedicating himself to journalism. As an editor at TANJUG and director of Radio Ohrid, he contributed significantly to media development. He co-founded Macedonia’s first independent radio station, Kanal 77 and continues to write columns while sup- porting young poets through initiatives like the Balkan Poetry Camp. His early career in theater and film adds depth to his multifaceted contributions to Mace- donian arts and media.

Sveto Stefanoski (1947 D.Dobrevoec, Kicevo) is a renowned journalist, publicist, and ecologist. Graduated in literature and Macedonian language at the Faculty of Philosophy, he served as Chief Editor of the newsletter “Student Union” and editor of the publishing at the Ministry of Information of RM. He founded and led “Ecology Review” and has authored books like “Small Journalistic Lexicon.” Stefanoski’s passion for film led him to cover major festivals such as FEST, while his artistic pursuits include participation in the “Trpejca” art colony. His work has earned him numerous accolades in journalism and environmental advocacy.