Cannes - Directors' Fortnight
Meet our EC Label Jury
Four Network exhibitors from France, Greece, Latvia and Romania will take part in the Europa Cinemas Label Jury at the upcoming 78th Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. The Jury members will announce the award-winning film on Thursday, May 21, 2026, in the evening, at the Closing Ceremony of the Directors’ Fortnight (Théâtre Croisette).
The four EC Label Jury members are:
Panos Achtsioglou (Olympion Cinema, Thessaloniki, Greece)
“Cinema in its natural home, where stories meet audiences.”
Panos Achtsioglou is a film programmer and curator with experience across international festivals, cinematheques and independent cinemas. As Head Programmer of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival’s annual activities and Curator of the Thessaloniki Cinémathèque, he develops audience-driven programmes spanning first-run films, retrospectives, special events and premieres. His curatorial work combines artistic ambition with community engagement and long-term audience development. Cinema Olympion received the Europa Cinemas Award for Best Programming in 2020.
Octavian Dăncilă (Cinema Victoria, Cluj-Napoca, Romania)
“A cinema that fosters dialogue between films and audiences.”
Octavian Dăncilă is the co-founder of Silver Screen and the Pasaje International Film Festival in Romania. With over 10 years of experience in the film industry, he has worked in festival programming for the Transilvania International Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival. He is currently a film curator and programming manager at Cinema Victoria in Cluj-Napoca. Octavian holds an MA in Film Programming and Curation from the National Film & Television School (UK) and is also an associate professor at Babeș-Bolyai University.
Alicia Hernanz (Le Lucernaire, Paris, France)
“A unique cultural venue in the heart of the Latin Quarter.”
Alicia Hernanz began her career in Madrid at Cines Verdi, working in film exhibition and distribution. In 2008, she completed the Atelier Ludwigsburg–Paris workshop at La Fémis, France. She later moved to France, where she spent 13 years at Diaphana Distribution, developing her expertise in promoting and distributing the best arthouse films. In 2023, Alicia returned to her original field of practice, managing the Majestic Bastille cinema in Paris and, since August 2025, is the new head of programming at Le Lucernaire in Paris’ 6th arrondissement.
Māris Prombergs (Kino Bize, Riga, Latvia)
“An arthouse cinema built by friends and family.”
Māris Prombergs is a co-founder and the head of arthouse cinema at Kino Bize in the city centre of Riga, Latvia. Māris, with a background in management, communication and anthropology, and voluntary social work, started weekly screenings of the Dirty Deal Cinema Club in 2009 in collaboration with local embassies and film institutions. Kino Bize, a full-time cinema, was founded in 2012. Māris has published film-related articles, given lectures, and participated in public debates.
List of European films eligible for the Europa Cinemas Label:
BUTTERFLY JAM by Kantemir Balagov (France)
THE DIARY OF A CHAMBERMAID (Le Journal d’une Femme de Chambre) by Radu Jude (Romania)
GABIN by Maxence Voiseux (France)
LOW EXPECTATIONS (Lave Forventninger) by Eivind Landsvik (Norway)
RED ROCKS (Les Roches Rouges) by Bruno Dumont (France)
SHANA by Lila Pinell (France)
THANKS FOR COMING (Merci d’être venu) by Alain Cavalier (France)
TOO MANY BEASTS (L’espèce explosive) by Sarah Arnold (France)
VERTIGINOUS (Le Vertige) by Quentin Dupieux (France)
VIVA CARMEN (Carmen, l’oiseau rebelle) by Sébastien Laudenbach (France)
EC Label contacts:
Fatima Djoumer, CEO / fdjoumer@europa-cinemas.org
Lisa Püscher, International Event Coordinator / lpuescher@europa-cinemas.org
Charles McDonald, Press Officer / charles@charlesmcdonald.co.uk
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