European Film Promotion (EFP) is proud to announce the ten EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS of 2021. For the first time, EFP will present the ten emerging European actors to the film industry, public and international press as part of a three-day online programme. The 24th edition of EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS, EFP’s oldest and most prestigious initiative to promote European acting talent, will take place digitally, from 23 to 25 February 2021, one week before the industry events of this year’s 71st Berlinale (1 – 5 March). The Shooting Stars Award Ceremony will take place in the framework of the Berlinale screenings in the summer.
Selecting the top ten actresses and actors out of an outstanding pool of nominations from throughout Europe was not an easy task for this year’s international jury consisting of US Casting Director Cassandra Han, Kosovan director Antoneta Kastrati and Danish producer René Ezra.
The ten selected European Shooting Stars for 2021 are: Seidi Haarla (Finland), Nicolas Maury (France), Albrecht Schuch (Germany), Natasa Stork (Hungary), Fionn O’Shea (Ireland), Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė (Lithuania), Martijn Lakemeier (The Netherlands), Sara Klimoska (North Macedonia), Alba Baptista (Portugal) and Gustav Lindh (Sweden).
For her first leading role in Andrius Blaževičius’ second feature film RUNNER, which was presented as part of the online Karlovy Vary Eastern Promises programme, Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė from Lithuania received high praise from the experts: „Elena proves a force of nature, full of passion and raw energy that virtually leaps off the screen.”
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