EFP European Film Promotion is announcing an esteemed jury for this year’s EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS of five experienced professionals from across Europe who represent film directing, production, casting, acting and film criticism. The jury will pick out ten of the most talented and internationally versatile emerging actors and actresses from candidates nominated by their respective national film promotion institutes and film centres. The appointed talent will be honored as European Shooting Stars and take part in EFP’s flagship programme at the Berlin International Film Festival (13–23 February 2026) which is supported by the Creative Europe - MEDIA Programme of the European Union.
Danis Tanović began studying film and music before the Bosnian War interrupted his education. After documenting the siege of Sarajevo, he completed his directing studies at INSAS in Brussels and gained international recognition with his debut, No Man’s Land, winner of the Oscar®, Golden Globe, César, and European Film Award. Celebrated for his powerful and socially engaged storytelling in films such as, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker, Death in Sarajevo, and HBO’s Success, Tanović is a regular at major festivals and a committed advocate for culture and education. His latest film, My Late Summer, was Bosnia’s 2024 Oscar® submission.
Award-winning Danish actress Danica Ćurčić, herself a former European Shooting Star (2014), began her career at the Royal Danish Theatre before moving on to acclaimed screen performances in, The Chestnut Man, Secrets We Keep and Silent Heart. She has worked with directors including Bille August, Hans Petter Moland and Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović and can be seen in Maria Sødah’s, The Last Resort and in Pernille Fischer Christensen’s, Unraveled.
Belgian producer Jacques-Henri Bronckart, founder of Versus Production, has produced over a hundred films and series including Eldorado, The Giants, Close, The Night of the 12th and Vermiglio, regularly showcased in Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Toronto. His work champions bold storytelling and strong cinematic voices, complemented by ventures such as Inver Tax Shelter, O’Brother distribution and a recent partnership with Caviar.
Portuguese casting director and filmmaker Jo Monteiro brings a global perspective from her work across Europe and the US. After more than a decade as an Assistant Director and casting hundreds of commercials, she now focuses on fiction projects. As a casting director, she has contributed to acclaimed productions such as the Netflix series, Glória, the family film, Campamento Garra de Oso by Silvia Quer and the German TV series, Lost in Fuseta. In addition, she has directed several award-winning shorts and a TV film for Portugal’s RTP.
London-based Leila Latif, a Sudanese-British critic and broadcaster, is a contributing editor at Total Film and writes for Little White Lies, Monocle, The Guardian and Sight & Sound. She also hosts the Truth & Movies podcast and frequently appears on BBC radio, offering analytical perspectives on film, television and representation.
The ten European Shooting Stars 2026 will be announced in mid-December. During the Berlinale, the selected talents will be on-site to participate in a four-day programme that includes networking sessions, industry meetings, press events, the presentation of the European Shooting Stars Award, and a special red-carpet moment with an official presentation of the group at the Berlinale Palast.
For nearly three decades, EFP’s flagship programme has connected exceptional young actors from across Europe with the global film industry, celebrating artistic diversity and shaping the future of European cinema.
EFP EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS 2026 is made possible thanks to the support of Creative Europe – the MEDIA Programme of the European Union and the following confirmed partners, such as MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein and Hessen Film & Medien.
For further information about the jury see below.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Danis Tanović began studying music and film before the Bosnian War interrupted his education. During the siege, he documented the conflict, footage that was used in reports and documentaries, and completed directing at INSAS in Brussels. He gained international acclaim with his debut, No Man's Land (2001), winner of the Oscar®, Golden Globe, César, and European Film Award and continued to explore compelling human stories in films such as, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker and Death in Sarajevo. A respected festival juror and public intellectual, his recent work includes HBO’s, Success (2019) and My Late Summer (2024), Bosnia’s Oscar submission.
Danis Tanović
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Denmark
Danica Ćurčić is an award-winning Danish actress and graduate of The Danish National School of Performing Arts (2012). She began her career at the Royal Danish Theatre before moving into acclaimed screen work. A former European Shooting Star (2014), she has appeared in, The Chestnut Man (2021–26), Lars von Trier’s, The Kingdom Exodus (2022), and Secrets We Keep (2025). Her feature credits include Bille August’s, Silent Heart (2014), Hans Petter Moland’s, Out Stealing Horses (2019), and Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović’s, Murina (Camera d’Or winner, Cannes 2021). She also stars in Maria Sødahl’s, The Last Resort and Pernille Fischer Christensen’ Unraveled.
Danica Ćurčić
Denmark
Belgium
Jacques-Henri Bronckart founded Versus Production in 1999 and has since produced over 100 films and series, renowned for bold storytelling and distinctive cinematic voices. His credits include Eldorado, Illegal, The Giants, A perdre la raison, The Night of the 12th, Close, and Vermiglio. Frequently showcased at Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Toronto, his films have garnered numerous awards. In addition to his production work, he founded Inver Tax Shelter and O’Brother distribution, co-founded The Creatives and, in 2024, partnered with Caviar.
Jacques-Henri Bronckart
Belgium
Portugal
Jo Monteiro is a casting director and filmmaker collaborating on international film and television projects across Europe and the US. After more than a decade as an Assistant Director and casting hundreds of commercials, she now focuses on fiction, contributing to acclaimed productions such as the Netflix series, Glória, the family film, Campamento Garra de Oso by Silvia Quer and the German TV series, Lost in Fuseta. She has also directed award-winning shorts and a TV film for Portugal’s RTP and holds a film degree from Université Libre de Bruxelles.
Jo Monteiro
Portugal
United Kingdom
London-based Leila Latif is a Sudanese-British film critic, broadcaster, and writer. She is a contributing editor at Total Film and contributes to Little White Lies, Monocle, The Guardian, and Sight & Sound. Latif hosts the Truth & Movies podcast and frequently appears on BBC radio, offering analytical perspectives on film, television, and cultural issues, with a particular focus on representation and global cinema.
Leila Latif
United Kingdom
