JURY 2020
JURY 2024
MAIN JURY: fiction & documentary
PETER MACDONALD
Film director / cinematographer / producer
(born 1939, London, England) is an accomplished English film director, cinematographer and producer. Peter began his career under the mentorship of renowned cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth and became himself an international ‘legend‘ in the British and American film industry. He has a life and amazing career working as an operating camera man and 2nd unit director on many world class films, like “Yentl” (Barbara Streisand), “Cabaret” (Liza Minelli), “Superman” (Christopher Reeve), “Harry Potter”, “Guardians of the Galaxy”, “Prisoner of Azkaban”, “The Bourne Ultimatum” etc. and also as director, e.g. Rocky III (Sylvester Stallone).
MADELYN MOST
Cinematographer
Madelyn Most is a film crew professional with extensive experience in the Camera and Electrical Department. She has contributed to major films such as X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Jack the Giant Slayer (2013). Known for her technical expertise and creative vision, Madelyn has played a key role in bringing iconic cinematic scenes to life.
PETER & MADELYN
are not only full of great authentic stories about films we probably all have seen and love – they also care passionately to pass on the 'spark' of being true professionals in the movies to future generations of filmmakers..
We are delighted and honoured to have them with us in Prishtina both as prominent Jury members but also for a special event, a "masterclass" during the Festival.
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DANIEL HADENIUS-EBNER
Director of Vienna Shorts
(*1981) is the co-founder and director of VIENNA SHORTS, Austria's international short film festival. He has a Master's degree in Political Science and studied Cultural Studies and Film Studies in Vienna and Berlin. Daniel has been a cultural editor and film critic at APA Austrian Press Agency for many years. He is the co-producer of the football short-film reel "Eleven Minutes" (A/CH 2008), co-founder of the Association of Austrian Film Festivals and the initiative Fair Festival Work Now, and also works as a film and art curator.
SUELA BAKO
Actress
born in Tirana, is a director, actress, and educator. A graduate of the Academy of Arts in Acting (1999) and Film and TV •Directing (2014), she has created acclaimed short films and documentaries featured at festivals like Thessaloniki and Krakow. Winner of the Best Actress award at the 2017 Nashville Film Festival, she works at the Aleksandër Moisiu Theatre and teaches at the University of Arts. As co-founder of Z-Studio, her debut feature film "Ne Te Treja" earned the Grand Prize at DotOn TheMap in 2020.
ANIMATION JURY
ERGYS FAJA
Animator
is an Albanian artist, animator, and educator. A graduate in applied graphics from the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana •(1992), he worked as an animator and director in various institutions; including the National Center of Cinematography and Digitalb. He directed several animated short films, such as The Woodman's Ballad (1998) and The Princess and the Moon (2004). A skilled painter, he has showcased his work in exhibitions and illustrated numerous books.
KHURRAM H. ALAVI
Director / screenwriter / animator
is a director and screenwriter with over 15 years of experience in visual storytelling, blending his passion for animation, comics, and pop culture with influences from Ridley Scott, Zhang Yimou, and Hayao Miyazaki. A graduate of Pakistan's Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture, he combines creative and technical expertise with emerging technologies. His directorial debut, Bilal: A New Breed of Hero, is the Middle East's first animated feature to gain international acclaim, showcasing his commitment to crafting impactful and groundbreaking narratives.
MELIHATE (MELI) QENA
Actress
studied acting at the Academy of Theatre, Film, and Television in Belgrade. She began her career at Radio Television of Prishtina until its •closure in the 1990s. In 1986, she joined the Dodona Puppet Theatre in Prishtina, debuting as a director with the play Pylli eshte i te gjitheve. Qena directed at Dodona until her retirement and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Ministry of Culture in 2015. She continues to perform, with recent roles in films like Martesa, Kesulat, and A Dream. Currently, she is a resident actress at Dodona Theatre Prishtina-Kosova.
SPECIAL JURY
HARI BUDHA MAGAR
Mountaineer
is a former Nepalese Gurkha soldier for the British army who was also serving in Kosovo. In the war in Afghanistan he lost both his legs when he stepped on a hidden mine. After his long recovery and training on various mountains he became 2023 the first double above the knee amputee to reach the summit of the Mount Everest (8.848m). This was recently also acknowledged in the Guinness Book of World Records.
HELGA PASKVAN
Uhvati Film Festival, Croatia
is a Croatian actress based in Rijeka and ar active contributor to the Uhvati Film Festival, a prominent event in Croatia that focuses on films addressing topics of disability and diversity. Known for her passion for performing arts, she has participated in various theater and film projects, showcasing her talent and dedication to meaningful storytelling. Through her work, Helga combines her artistic pursuits with advocacy for inclusivity in the arts.
PAOLO DURANTI
Festival del Cinema Nuovo, Italy
Paolo Duranti is a key player in the international film network, enhancing Cinema del Nuovo through global partnerships.for emerging filmmakers. An architect and business leader, he has worked with firms like Nielsen and GFK and in sectors like media and non-profits, including CESVI. He was Vice-President of the IAA and has lectured at top universities.
