Selection process

Ireland | Film Producer, Author, Journalist, Chair of the European Film Academy
Chair of the LUX Audience Award Selection Panel in 2021 - 2026

Mike Downey is a British film producer and the founder of Film and Music Entertainment (F&ME). He has played a key role in several international film festivals, including the Motovun and Pula Film Festivals. As an advocate for the arts, he has served on the board of the European Film Academy for nearly two decades and was elected its Chairman in 2020. He has also been involved with BAFTA and the Sundance Institute. He is also the Honorary President of the LUX Audience Award and a board member of the Arctic Indigenous Film Fund. His work spans filmmaking, cultural advocacy, and humanitarian efforts.

Spain | Head of Distribution at Lazona Pictures
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2026

Óscar Alonso is the Head of Distribution at LAZONA Pictures. He has extensive experience in the film industry, having worked primarily at LATIDO Films, where he served as Head of Acquisitions and specialized in festival strategies. Alonso holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, a Master’s in Film and Television Production from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and completed the USC/Universal Studios Production and Directing Programme at the University of Southern California. He has been a jury member at festivals including Berlin and Karlovy Vary, and a speaker at events such as Cannes, Rotterdam, and Warsaw. Alonso is also involved in film development programs and is a member of the European Film Academy.

Czech Republic | Producer
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2026

Šárka Cimbalová is a Czech film producer and is a member of the European Film Academy, the Czech Film and Television Academy, and the Producers Guild of America. Cimbalová has worked with production companies Etamp Film and Etic Film, focusing on film production and servicing foreign film commissions in the Czech Republic. Her notable credits include Charlatan, directed by Agnieszka Holland, which received international acclaim, including a spot on the Oscar shortlist for Best International Feature. Cimbalová won the Czech Lion Award for Best Film as producer. Her second collaboration with Holland, Green Border, won the Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and garnered multiple nominations from the European Film Academy. Cimbalová is the CEO of Marlene Film Production.

Italy | Writer and Director
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2026

Maurizio Braucci is an Italian writer and director known for “Gomorrah”, “Piranhas”, and “Black Souls”. With a background in political science, he focuses on social issues in his work. Braucci won the 2008 EFA Awards and the 2009 David Donatello for Best Screenplay for “Gomorrah”. As a writer, he has edited books, collaborated with “La Repubblica”, “Il Mattino”, and “Radio Tre”, and promotes social projects for marginalized groups. In 2008, he was named "Honorary Social Worker of the Campania Region".

Netherlands | Mimik Theatre, Young Talent Programme Representative
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2026

Cathelijne Debets is marketer at MIMIK Film, Theatre & Café in Deventer, The Netherlands. She is specialized in film, project, and festival marketing. She contributed to the Movies that Matter On Tour, a series of documentaries about human rights. Cathelijne has also been working on Film op de Brink, an open-air film festival in the historic city centre of Deventer. She has a degree in fine arts and film education. Cathelijne has been actively involved in the LUX Young Talent Programme, a project that offers young professionals in the film industry the chance to participate in a training program at the European Parliament.

Netherlands | Agent, Executive Producer, and Entertainment Lawyer
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2026

In 2005, Vanessa founded Henneman Agency, which has become one of the leading talent agencies in the Benelux, representing over 200 creatives in film, television, and theatre. Before founding her own agency, she was a senior agent at Features Creative Management and worked as a director and producer for various networks and production companies. Henneman studied Film and Television Sciences at the London Institute, graduating with first-class honours, and began her career as a junior producer at Canal+ in Madrid. She also earned a degree in Entertainment Law from the University of Amsterdam, graduating in 2000.

Ukraine | Producer and Distributor at Arthouse Traffic
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2024 - 2026

Denis Ivanov is a Ukrainian producer, film distributor, and cultural manager. He is the founder and head of Arthouse Traffic, a leading Ukrainian film company known for distributing and producing arthouse cinema. Established in 2003, Arthouse Traffic has released in theaters more than 400 films and produced 12 full-length feature films, including Oleh Sentsov’s “Rhino”, which was featured at the Venice Film Festival. Ivanov is also the founder of the Odesa International Film Festival and the International Film Festival for children and teenagers, "Children Kinofest".

Latvia | Kino Bize, Young Talent Programme Representative
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2024 - 2026

Janeta Henzele holds a Master's in Film Studies from the University of Groningen and a Bachelor's in Film Theory from the Latvian Academy of Culture. Since 2020, she has worked at Kino Bize, an arthouse cinema in Riga, where she coordinates projects and manages social media. Henzele has also served on film selection committees for the Riga International Film Festival and "2ANNAS" and is an alumna of the Locarno Industry Academy. As the Young Talent Programme representative from Latvia, Henzele has been actively involved in the LUX Young Talent Programme, a project that offers young professionals in the film industry the chance to participate in a training program at the European Parliament.

Slovenia | Producer and Teacher, European Film Academy Board Member
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2026

Danijel Hočevar is a film producer and CEO of Vertigo, a Ljubljana-based production company renowned for its work on prominent Slovenian films and international co-productions. Recognized by Variety as one of the Ten Producers to Watch in 2001, he is a board member of the European Film Academy. Danijel has served as president of the Association of Slovenian Film Producers and actively mentors emerging talent through European training programs such as MIDPOINT and EAVE. He is also a member of the selection team for the When East Meets West co-production market in Trieste.

Poland | Producer 
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2026

Izabela Igel is a Warsaw based film producer and graduate of EAVE and the Wajda School. Founder of Harine Films, she is focusing on discovering new voices in international cinema. Her debut feature Floating Skyscrapers by Tomasz Wasilewski premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and won the East of the West Award at KVIFF. Her latest film, Pierce by Nelicia Low, won Best Director at Karlovy Vary IFF 2024 and Best Film at the OFF CAMERA IFF. Izabela also serves as a trainer for several institutions.

Ireland | Film PR Specialist and Consultant 
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2026

Charles McDonald is a film PR specialist with extensive experience in film, television, and theatre promotion. Since 2008, he has worked as a freelance consultant, representing clients like Europa Cinemas, Picturehouse Cinemas and the European Film Awards. Charles works regularly with directors such as Joanna Hogg, Andrea Arnold, Ken Loach, Pawel Pawlikowski, Lukas Moodysson, Lynne Ramsay, Wim Wenders, Sally Potter, Sofia Coppola and Jim Jarmusch, and has coordinated international press at major festivals such as Berlin, Cannes, and Venice. He also teaches film PR at renowned institutions, including the National Film & TV School and the European Film College.

Bulgaria | CEO, Producer, Distributor, Film Festival Director
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2026

Jacqueline Wagenstein is a producer, distributor, publisher, and the creator and director of Cinelibri International Film Festival, the world's first book-to-film festival. The festival’s mission is to promote European cultural values, share experiences, and showcase both timeless classics and contemporary achievements, offering new perspectives on universal themes. Jacqueline holds a Master of Arts and Culture from the Sorbonne and a Doctor of Humanities. She has directed, produced and released several shorts and documentary films. Her film Angel’s Torah, a feature documentary about her grandfather, a famous scriptwriter and writer, is currently in postproduction. She is also producer of two live action feature films and one feature animation film in development. Her company has distributed more than 40 European films.

Romania | CEO of Cine Grand Group 
Member of the LUX Selection Panel in 2024 - 2026

Amitabh Vardhan is a seasoned business leader with a diverse global career cutting across multiple industries - from entertainment to consumer goods. Since 2010, Amitabh has served as the Managing Director & CEO of Cine Grand, where he shapes the future of cinema through bold leadership and a deep passion for the industry. A recognized thought leader, Amitabh has been featured in Forbes Bulgaria and has delivered inspiring talks as a TEDx speaker. He is also the author of "The Magic of The Big Screen", the first and only book dedicated to the multiplex cinema business, offering rare insights into the evolution and inner workings of the industry.