The Jury
and Awards
Lone Scherfig
Born in Copenhagen, Lone studied at University of Copenhagen and The National Film School of Denmark. She began working as a 1st AD and script supervisor, moving into directing commercials, short films, and tv-series. Her third feature film, Italian for Beginners, a dogma 95 film, gave her an international breakthrough. It was followed by six English language features: Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself, An Education, One Day, The Riot Club and Their Fines. As well as directing, Lone works as a scriptwriter and executive producer. Lone’s most recent film, The Kindness of Strangers opened the Berlin Film Festival in 2019.
Photo: courtesy NFTVF
Maria Ekerhovd
Maria Ekerhovd, is a Norwegian film producer. One of Ekerhovd’s first films as producer, Bobbie Peers’ 2006 short film Sniffer, won Norway’s only Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival.
In 2011, Maria founded the production company Mer Film. Her last productions include GRITT by Itonje Søimer Guttormsen which premiered in Competition at Rotterdam and THE INNOCENTS by Eskil Vogt, which premiered in Un Certain Regard in Cannes in 2021. Maria was also the Norwegian co-producer on Jonas Poher Rasmussen’s FLEE, EFA-winner for best documentary and triple Oscar nominated.
In 2021, Maria Ekerhovd was awarded the Eurimage Co- production Award at the European Film Awards.
Maria Ekerhovd and Mer Film has just released the historical drama WAR SAILOR by Gunnar Vikene which has been a big box office success and that is the Norwegian Oscar candidate for 2023, WAR SAILOR is also released as a three-part mini – series worldwide on Netflix. In 2023 she produced the Sami feature film Ellos Eatnu- Let The River Flow by Ole Giæver , the film created big public debate ,received great critical acclaim and also reached big box office numbers.
Still: Hakon Borg
Matti Paunio
Head of Production at Finnish Film Foundation. was earlier- since 2017 – CEO of the production company Fisher King (Bordertown). The Finnish executive who holds a Master’s degree in Political Science, has also worked as the head of domestic acquisitions at MTV, and as a journalist and acquisition executive at Yle. He is also one of the founders of the Helsinki International Film Festival (Love & Anarchy) and of the distribution company Cinema Mondo.
Photo: Courtesy NFTVF
Neil Peplow
Currently the CEO of the internationally renowned London Film School, Neil has been helping major international organizations balance social and commercial sustainability for over 30 years. Until January 2023, he was the Director of International and Industry Affairs at the BFI, where he led the growth of investment in the UK sector while increasing global awareness and distribution of UK content and talent. As CEO of Australia’s national film school, he established the Screen Diversity and Inclusion Network (SDIN), helping broadcasters and industry bodies realize the value of cultivating diversity. Bringing together his experience in commercial strategy, funding, public policy, innovation, and education, Neil led the UK Skills Review commissioned by the UK Government in 2022. He has produced and executive produced numerous UK independent films and TV shows. Neil’s passions are developing talent, education, and generally making the world an easier place for everyone to navigate.
Photo: Courtesy NFTVF
Anton Máni Svansson
Anton Máni Svansson co-founded Join Motion Pictures in 2007. His productions have sold worldwide and won awards at prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, San Sebastian, and Locarno. His credits as Producer include Whale Valley, Heartstone, A White, White Day, Beautiful Beings, Nest, and Godland. His films have collected over 230 awards, received three nominations for the European Film Awards, four nominations for the Nordic Council Film Prize, and been Iceland’s contribution to the International Feature Award at the Oscars in both 2020 and 2022.
Anton, an EAVE and EAVE+ graduate, was Iceland’s 2017 Producer on the Move in Cannes, and won a Lorens Award for Best Producer at Goteborg Film Festival the same year. He is currently the Chairman of both SÍK – Association of Icelandic Film Producers, and ÍKSA – the Icelandic Film & TV Academy.
Still: Lilja Jons