With great pleasure and honour, we introduce to you the jurys members of FIFF 2024.
International Jury: Feature Films
IRYNA BARDAKOVA, Ukraine
Ukrainian actress Iryna Bardakova, who was forced to seek refuge in Switzerland due to the war in her country, discovered FIFF last year. Impressive both off and on screen, she has appeared in multiple Ukrainian films and TV series. She has since returned to Kyiv and resumed her acting career.
FLAVIEN DEMARIGNY, AKA MAMBO, France
Contemporary artist Mambo, whose creative journey began in the street art and skateboarding scene, draws on his intercontinental travels for inspiration. Abstract, energetic and popping with vivid colours, his works often focus on humanity and the power, beauty and chaos it is capable of unleashing.
DIETER KOSSLICK, Germany
Film critic Dieter Kosslick was director of the Berlinale from 2001 to 2019. During his tenure in this prestigious post, he created a concept which brought together the worlds of cinema and gastronomy. His curiosity was therefore piqued last year when FIFF revived his idea with its new Movie and a dinner event.
CARLOS LEAL, Switzerland, Spain
In 1990, Carlos Leal and his group Sens Unik burst on to the Swiss and French rap scene. He later set up the first independent French rap label, Unik Records. The artist subsequently moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. His film appearances include Casino Royale and Pedro Almodóvar’s Los abrazos rotos.
International Jury: Short Films
LAURIANE GILLIÉRON, Switzerland
Crowned Miss Suisse in 2005 and the second runner-up at Miss Universe 2006, Lauriane Gilliéron went on to forge a career in Los Angeles as an actress and producer. She has appeared on screen with Al Pacino and Christopher Walken (Stand Up Guys), and with George Clooney and Matt Damon in an international advertising campaign.
ELIE GRAPPE, France, Switzerland
The director and screenwriter enjoyed great acclaim following his debut feature Olga (2021). The Franco-Swiss production was screened as part of Critics’ Week in Cannes and won three Swiss Film Awards in 2022 (Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Sound). It was also Switzerland’s Oscar entry in 2022.
TEONA STRUGAR MITEVSKA, North Macedonia
The North Macedonian screenwriter, director and self-professed “femartivist” (feminist, artist and activist) has two films in this year’s New Territory section: God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya (awarded at Berlinale 2019) and The Happiest Man in the World (Venice 2022).
Ecumenical Jury
Anne-Cécile Antoni, FRANCE
Peter Dietz, SWITZERLAND
Renata Werlen
Julie Lagarrigue, FRANCE
Critics’ Choice Award
Emmanuel Deonna, SWITZERLAND
Kathrin Halter, SWITZERLAND
Monika Schärer, SWITZERLAND
Youth Jury COMUNDO
Ivan Almeida
Anna Barras
Eleo Emil Billet
Justine Bonvallat
Louis-Marie Bors
Valentine Mauron
Eva Salamon Pérez
Jury CH Cinema Network
Jonathan Daza Ospina, ECAL/HEAD
Silvia Grandi, USI
Rahel Magdalena Jung, UZH
Anne-Charlotte Neidig, UNIL
Theofanis Papadopoulos, ECAL/HEAD
Foreign Visa Jury
The Macedonian filmmakers and producers invited for the New Territory section: Teona Strugar Mitevska, Sabidin Aliu.
Prix Röstigraben
The Schweizer Jugendfilmtage (SJFT) and the FIFF have joined forces to offer an award for Swiss film-school students. Young filmmakers whose filmis selected at the FIFF judge the work of their peers selected at the SJFT, and vice versa. The two winning films receive prize money of CHF 500 each. The aim is to promote cooperation and closer ties between young filmmakers working on either side of the “Röstigraben”, the invisible border between French- and German-speaking Switzerland.
Rafael Graf
Elina Huber
Elias Koller
Sina Marie Lerf
Daniel Perez Valderrama
Liza T. Raheem
Ella Rocca
