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For 14 years, 27 Times Cinema has not only introduced young film enthusiasts to the world of cinema but has also integrated them into the very fabric of the European filmmaking community. These participants, selected for their passion and insight among the Europa Cinemas network members' young audiences, have had the unique opportunity to engage with industry professionals, watch films, and build lasting networks that have supported their careers. Today, many of these former participants have become established figures in the film industry, excelling as exhibitors, programmers, film critics, producers, distributors, and more.

The 2024 edition of 27 Times Cinema will bring together ten former participants to serve as the jury for the prestigious GdA Director’s Award, marking the tenth anniversary of this accolade. This award, a significant honour within the industry, recognises one of the ten films in competition at Giornate degli Autori with a €20,000 prize. This amount is to be split between the film's director and its international distributor, supporting both the creative and commercial aspects of filmmaking.

This year’s jury will be headed by the acclaimed British director Joanna Hogg, whose commitment to cinematic skilfulness makes her an inspiring leader for this special jury. Together with her ten-strong team, these former 27 Times Cinema participants will evaluate the films in competition with a fresh perspective, informed by their diverse experiences across various film industry fields.

The jury sessions, coordinated by Karel Och, Artistic Director of the Karlovy Vary Festival, will be an opportunity for these young professionals to demonstrate the skills and insights they have gained since their initial involvement with 27 Times Cinema.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also recognise that the legacy of 27 Times Cinema will endure. The participants of this final edition, like those before them, will carry forward the spirit of the initiative, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the world of cinema. Their involvement in the GdA Director’s Award jury is a testament to the success of 27 Times Cinema in nurturing the next generation of film industry leaders. Their names and biographies are:

Chris Zahariev (Film Director, Bulgaria)
Chris is one of Bulgaria's young and leading storytellers and film directors. After finishing a Bachelor's degree in Film Directing from the National Academy of Film & Theatre Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria, he has written and directed several award-winning short films, commercials, and digital social cause projects, for which he was awarded the "Flight in Art Award" by the Stoyan Kambarev Foundation—the most prestigious award for a young artist in Bulgaria. In both 2023 and 2024, Chris won the "Best Music Video Director" award at the Bulgarian Radio Awards, making him the youngest director to win two consecutive years. Throughout his career, he has worked with some of the biggest names in the film and entertainment industry in Bulgaria, has travelled around the world to shoot campaigns, and is currently writing his debut feature-length film. As a director, Chris passionately believes that by telling the stories that move us, we can unite, challenge, and change ourselves, those around us, and the world.

Maarja Hindoalla (Head of Acquisitions and Access, Estonia)
Maarja Hindoalla has worked at the Film Archive of the National Archives of Estonia since 2016, previously as a curator and programmer and, since 2022, as the Head of Acquisitions and Access. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Communication from the University of Tartu and a Master’s degree in Art History from the Estonian Academy of Arts. Her academic work has focused on film criticism, its functions, and its audiences in contemporary journalism. She is a board member of the Estonian Association of Film Journalists. Maarja has been the editor and host of “Kinovärgiga mandariin,” a weekly radio broadcast on Raadio 2 of the Estonian Public Broadcasting. She is also a film teacher at Tallinn Secondary School No. 32 and teaches a film criticism course at the Baltic Film and Media School and a film aesthetics course at the Estonian Academy of Arts.

Victor Courgeon (Cinema Exhibitor, France)
A graduate of La Fémis, Victor Courgeon has worked for the Jean Eustache Cinema in Pessac before joining Le Méliès in Montreuil in 2021 as the Audience Development and Communication Officer. Alongside his exhibitor activities, he is part of the programming team of the Festival International du Film Indépendant de Bordeaux (FIFIB), works as a film critic, and serves as an alternate member of the Avance sur Recettes for the CNC. Currently on the board of Cinémas 93, an association of independent cinemas in Seine-Saint-Denis, and the founder of Inclusiv Cinema, he advocates for strengthening diversity and inclusion in movie theaters. In 2019, Victor was the French representative on the 28 Times Cinema jury.

David Bakum (Film Curator & Community Builder, Germany)
David Bakum is a passionate film curator and social advocate, specializing in raising awareness of human rights issues through film and research. His experience spans curating film programs, engaging in advocacy initiatives, and conducting interdisciplinary research. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Narrative Futures: Art, Data, Society at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. David is dedicated to exploring and innovating within the film industry and human rights organizations while promoting sustainability and ethical practices. As a film curator, programmer, and pre-viewer for various film festivals in Europe, he raises the visibility of marginalized filmmakers, with expertise in queer cinema. Beyond film curation and production, he works on human rights initiatives and interreligious dialogue projects, with a specific interest in migration, forced displacement, post-migrant societies, anti-racism work, and diaspora communities.

Dimosthenis Kontes (Film Sales Professional, Greece)
Dimosthenis Kontes began his career in film sales after serving as a jury member at Giornate degli Autori in 2018. He started as a Sales Assistant at Heretic (Greece) and later moved to Berlin, where he became a Sales Manager at Pluto Film (Germany), representing celebrated titles such as Golden Bear Winner Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn by Radu Jude. Dimosthenis is also a Thessaloniki Locarno Industry Academy and MFI Script2Film Assistant Trainer alumnus.

Isabella Weber (Film Development Executive, Italy)
Isabella Weber is based in Rome, where she works as a Development Executive at Kino Produzioni. She also collaborates internationally as a Story Editor with the Torino Film Lab. Before moving into film development, Isabella worked as a consultant for the Lux Film Prize of the European Parliament and for Europa Distribution, an international network of independent film distributors. After participating in the first edition of 27 Times Cinema in 2010, she worked with the Giornate degli Autori team until 2022.

Saulė Savanevičiūtė (Programmer and Event Coordinator, Lithuania)
Saulė Savanevičiūtė is a Lithuanian programmer and coordinator with extensive experience in international film festivals, awards, and cultural organizations. She is currently involved with the Leeds International Film Festival and the Europa Distribution Association while also contributing as a freelance film critic. Her previous roles include serving as a selection panel member for the LUX Audience Awards and Guest Coordinator for the Reykjavik International Film Festival and the European Film Awards. Saulė holds a BA in Philosophy and Visual Theory from Vilnius University, with research focused on the intersection of feminism, phenomenology, and film experience.

Esmée Van Loon (Director & Programmer, Netherlands)
Esmée van Loon (born in 1996) is a documentary director and film programmer from Rotterdam. She focuses on socially relevant themes, with a strong emphasis on observation, involvement, and humanity. Her work has been screened at several national and international festivals, including the International Film Festival Rotterdam and Sheffield DocFest. In addition to directing, she works as a programmer for the arthouse cinema LantarenVenster. Esmée is also a member of the Culture Advisory Committee of Rotterdam.

Amalia Mititelu (Production Designer & Art Director, Romania)
Amalia Mititelu is a production designer and art director for film, TV, and commercials, working professionally since 2017. She has been part of the art department of many productions created by visionary award-winning directors such as Roy Andersson, Martin Campbell, Jacques Audiard, and Tim Burton. As a production designer, she has worked on several short films, most notably Iulian Daniel Popa’s When Clouds Grow Towards Each Other, which was part of the Rotterdam Film Festival's official selection in 2022. Amalia was part of the 2020 GdA Director’s Award jury and continued collaborating with Giornate degli Autori, working as a pre-viewer for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 editions.

Gregor Valentovic (Director and Screenwriter, Slovakia)
Gregor Valentovič graduated in Film and Television Directing at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia. His short films premiered at several film festivals around the world, notably at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic and the Premiers Plans Festival in Angers, France. He has just completed shooting his debut feature film, Twenty-seven. He is also preparing his second feature film, Nepela. His work primarily focuses on stories of queer people.

We invite you to join us in celebrating this pivotal moment. As we close the chapter on 27 Times Cinema, we do so with pride in all that has been accomplished and with excitement for the future of those who have been a part of this extraordinary journey.

As we prepare for this final edition, it is impossible not to acknowledge the profound impact that 27 Times Cinema has had on the lives of its participants and on the broader European film community. This project has been a beacon of cultural exchange, fostering a pan-European dialogue through cinema, helping to shape the future of the industry, and sustaining European Union values. The connections formed and the experiences gained through 27 Times Cinema have been invaluable, creating a network of professionals who continue to contribute to the vibrancy of European cinema.