Artists Jury

Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel, born in 1990 is a Norwegian director and screenwriter, based in Oslo. He studied directing at Westerdals School of arts. His debut feature Armand (2024), starring Renate Reinsve, won the Camera d’or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and the European Discovery - Prix FIPRESCI at the 37th European Film awards. In 2025, he earned a nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement for a First feature at the 77th Directors Guild of America Awards.

Anamaria Vartolomei made her screen debut at age 10 in Eva Ionesco’s My Little Princess, starring alongside Isabelle Huppert – a role that earned her a Lumières Award nomination for Most Promising Actress. She went on to appear in Riad Sattouf’s Jacky in the Kingdom of Women (Jacky au royaume des filles), Marc Dugain’s The Royal Exchange (L’Échange des princesses), and Martin Provost’s How to Be a Good Wife (La Bonne épouse). In  2021, she portrayed Anne in Audrey Diwan’s Happening (L’Événement), the winner of the Golden Lion in Venice, and was awarded the César for Most Promising Actress in 2022. In 2024, she filmed The Empire (L’Empire) with Bruno Dumont and Maria with Jessica Palud. She also appeared in The Count of Monte Cristo (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière, Traffic by Teodora Ana Mihai, Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17, and the HBO Max series Merteuil, directed by Jessica Palud.

Malick Bodian is a Senegalese photographer born in Mbao in 1997. He lives and works between France and Senegal.
He first began his career in front of the camera, working as a top model for the most prestigious international fashion houses.
Self-taught artist, Malick started out taking photographs through the discovery of his roots and the African continent. Sensing positive and optimistic representations, his gaze observes both the modernity and refinement of his subjects.
While being commissioned regularly by leading fashion brands and publications, he’s been focusing his personal work on documenting and celebrating the beauty and singularity of Africa.

In 2019, at just 18 years old, Paul Kircher made his screen debut in How to Make Out (T’as pécho ?)  by Adeline Picault, followed by a role in A Little Lesson in Love (Petite leçon d’amour) by Ève Deboise, opposite Lætitia Dosch and Pierre Deladonchamps. In 2022, he portrayed the title role in Christophe Honoré’s Winter Boy (Le Lycéen), acting opposite Juliette Binoche and Vincent Lacoste. His luminous, magnetic performance earned him the Silver Shell for Best Actor at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, as well as the Best Actor Award at Cinemania. He was nominated for the César Award for Best Newcomer in 2023, and again in 2024 for his role in The Animal Kingdom (Le Règne animal) by Thomas Cailley. He next appeared in And Their Children After Them (Leurs Enfants Après Eux) by Ludovic and Zoran Boukherma, and will star in Colours of Time (La Venue de l’Avenir) by Cédric Klapisch and Meteors by Hubert Charuel in 2025.

Sofia Carson is an award-winning actor, singer, and producer acclaimed for her role in Netflix’s Purple Hearts which she also executive produced and co-wrote the soundtrack for. She starred in Netflix’s Carry-On and The Life List with all three films debuting at #1 globally. A multi-platinum artist, she recently duetted with Andrea Bocelli and BTS’s Jimin, and earned an Oscar nomination for Applause by Diane Warren. A UNICEF Ambassador, she advocates for youth and education, speaking at Capitol Hill and the UN.

Mallory Wanecque, born in 2006, is best known for her breakout performance, at 15, in The Worst Ones (Les Pires), where she portrays Lily, a teenager from a housing project cast to star in a film. The feature won the Un Certain Regard Award at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. Her compelling performance earned her a nomination for Best Newcomer at the 2023 César Awards. In 2023, she took on the roles of Mélissa in Like A Prince (Comme un prince) and Océane in The Good Teacher (Pas de vagues). The following year, she portrayed the young Jackie in Gilles Lellouche’s Beating Hearts (L’Amour ouf) – a role she shares with Adèle Exarchopoulos. In 2025, Wanecque continues to build a remarkable career with roles in Peter Dourountzis’ Rapaces and Mélissa Drigeard’s Le Gang des Amazones.

Ludovic and Zoran Boukherma, born on June 5, 1992, in Marmande, have been film enthusiasts since childhood. After studying at La Cité du Cinéma in Paris, they co-directed their first feature film, Willy 1er (2016), alongside Hugo P. Thomas and Marielle Gautier. The film won the Prix d'Ornano for Best First Film at the Deauville American Film Festival. In 2019, they released Teddy, that was part of the Official Selection at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival. The following year, they directed Year of the Shark (L'Année du requin) before being approached by Hugo Sélignac and Alain Attal to adapt Nicolas Mathieu’s novel And Their Children After Them, which was selected in competition at the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

Nicholas recently starred with Anne Hathaway in Prime Video’s The Idea of You, which broke trailer records andbecame Amazon MGM’s No.1 rom-com debut, drawing nearly 50M viewers in two weeks. He also starred with Julianne Moore in Mary & George, praised for his “electric energy.”

Next, he’ll lead Masters of the Universe as He-Man, and appear in Three Bags Full, 100 Nights of Hero, and voice Wings of Freedom.

Past hits include Red, White & Royal Blue, Prime Video’s #1 global movie at launch, now getting a sequel, andNetflix’s Purple Hearts, the platform’s #1 film for three weeks.

Sally, whose real name is Salima Poumbga, embodies the new wave of journalism in France. Originally trained as a lawyer, she turned to journalism to give voice to her beliefs. On social media, she offers sharp, accessible analysis and investigations, blending clarity with purpose. She is also the creator of Chez Sally, a heartfelt interview series. A devoted film buff, she directed Motherland, a documentary series celebrating the richness of the African continent. Both curious and committed, Sally tells stories designed to enlighten and spark awareness.