Shooting Stars Showcase Shines Light on 10 Rising European Actors at the Berlinale
Now in its 29th edition, the European Shooting Stars platform, run by European Film Promotion and supported by Creative Europe’s Media Programme, brings another 10 promising European acting talents to the Berlin Film Festival, to help them build their careers internationally. From Feb. 13-16, the selected performers will participate in workshops and panels, as well as meetings with international journalists, producers and casting directors.
An open event in the Berlinale Hub on Feb.16 will introduce the talents to the public along with a mix of conversations, video clips and games in a playful and relaxed atmosphere. Entrance is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
This year’s Shooting Stars were picked by a jury comprising Danish actress Danica Ćurčić, Bosnian helmer and Academy Award-winner Danis Tanović, Portuguese casting director Jo Monteiro, Belgian producer Jacques-Henri Bronckart and British-Sudanese critic Leila Latif. They were selected from candidates nominated by their national film promotion institutes and film centers.
Meet this year’s Shooting Stars:
Violet BraeckmanBelgiumBraeckman, who was praised by the jury as being “chameleonic… the rarest talent you can find,” stars in the Berlinale Special Gala “Heysel 85.” She plays the daughter of the mayor of Brussels, one of many characters caught between professional duty, family loyalty and moral responsibility when violence erupts during the European Cup Final. This year will also find Braeckman in Dutch director Thom Lunshof’s feature debut, “First Zone,” as well as Peter Krüger’s “The Age of Magic.” In addition, she is currently developing her feature directing debut.
Joes BrauersThe NetherlandsBrauers launched his acting career at the age of 8 and has compiled impressively diverse credits in theater, film and TV, including Jasmila Zbanic’s Oscar-nominated feature “Quo vadis, Aida?” In 2026, he will be seen in Dutch helmer Sander Burger’s 1980s period drama “Youri,” as the journalist who forges a relationship with the world-famous Soviet refugee concert pianist Youri Egorov. The jury noted that he has the “gravitas and the ingredients to become a big movie star.”
Fatlume BunjakuAlbaniaA Kosovar-Albanian, Bunjaku combines her acting career with work as a professor of performing arts. She’s been active in film and theater since 2013. Commenting on her “commanding screen presence,” the jury noted, “You can see her dance background in her physicality; in the way her spine transforms from one performance to another. It’s very exciting to see what she does next.” Bunjaku wrote and is currently producing her first short film, “Visa, Champagne and a Sandwich.”
Salif CisséFranceAlso chosen as one of Unifrance’s 10 to Watch this year, Cissé discovered his passion for acting during a high school workshop. He made his feature debut in 2020 with “All Hands on Deck,” which earned him a César nomination for most promising actor. He demonstrated his aptitude for blending pathos with comedy in “Filmlovers!” and “Guess Who Is Calling?,” and brought a real sense of humanity to his antihero in “Meteors.” After helming the short “Allies” in 2024, he is planning his feature directing debut.
Cleo DiáraPortugalThe Cape Verde-born talent moved to Lisbon as a child, where she discovered a love for the theater. She has since appeared in many acclaimed stage productions, and brings that same energy and authenticity to her onscreen performances. Her starring role in Pedro Pinho’s “I Only Rest in the Storm” scored Diára the prestigious Un Certain Regard — best performance award at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. That year, she also played in the Cannes ACID title “Night Passengers.” She will soon be seen in the Prime Video Original series “Lisbon Noir,” directed by Artur Ribeiro.
Lucas EnglanderAustriaThe versatile, multilingual, Vienna-born performer has had a busy few years in international projects, including the popular miniseries “Nine Perfect Strangers” alongside Nicole Kidman, and “Transatlantic.” After making the latter, he became an Ambassador for the International Rescue Committee. Trained at the Stella Adler School of Acting in New York City, the actor’s next leading role will be in Adrian Goiginger’s “Das Café ohne Namen.” He has two projects in development: Théo Hellermann’s “Quand Le Monde Nous Regardera” and Harald Sicheritz’s “Bruno, der junge Kreisky.”
Danielle GalliganIrelandCurrently embodying the fascinating Irish historical figure Lady Olivia Hedges-White on the Netflix series “House of Guinness,” Galligan boasts diverse TV credits on other prestige TV series including “Game of Thrones” (Sarra Frey), “Shadow and Bone” (Nina) and “The Walsh Sisters” (Claire). On the big screen, she impressed in “Lakelands” and “Spilt Milk.” Upcoming features include Sam Johnson’s debut, “A Rare Breed,” and John Madden’s “But When We Dance.” The jury calls her a “charismatic, transformative talent.”
Tecla InsoliaItalyA student of music since the age of five, Insolia’s musical flair and prize-winning role in the Sky Original miniseries “The Art of Joy” made her the perfect choice for the lead in opera director Damiano Michieletto’s feature debut, “Primavera.” In that feature, she plays the vibrant, rebellious convent girl violinist taught by composer Antonio Vivaldi. The youngest of the Shooting Stars, she also boosts several pop/rock singles.
Sofia Tjelta SydnessNorwayOften credited simply as Sofia Tjelta, the Norwegian actress has a significant part in what is perhaps the most hotly anticipated title of 2026: Ruben Ostlund’s “The Entertainment System Is Down,” playing the daughter of Daniel Brühl and Kirsten Dunst. In real life, the rising talent is the offspring of Norwegian performers Pia Tjelta and Kyrre Haugen Sydness. She established herself as a talent to watch in the TV series “Delete Me,” following that with a role in the Netflix miniseries “Midsummer Night.”
Enno TrebsGermanyLike fellow Shooting Star Joes Brauers, Trebs’ film credits extend back to his youth, and include, most notably, Michael Haneke’s “The White Ribbon.” His collaboration with German auteur Christian Petzold covers three titles: “Undine,” “Afire” and “Mirrors No. 3.” This year, he’s the lead in helmer Nicolas Ehret’s “Echo of Tomorrow’s War.” The jury praised him as an “intense, precise actor who combines a youthful energy with a distinct maturity.”
An open event in the Berlinale Hub on Feb.16 will introduce the talents to the public along with a mix of conversations, video clips and games in a playful and relaxed atmosphere. Entrance is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
This year’s Shooting Stars were picked by a jury comprising Danish actress Danica Ćurčić, Bosnian helmer and Academy Award-winner Danis Tanović, Portuguese casting director Jo Monteiro, Belgian producer Jacques-Henri Bronckart and British-Sudanese critic Leila Latif. They were selected from candidates nominated by their national film promotion institutes and film centers.
Meet this year’s Shooting Stars:
Violet BraeckmanBelgiumBraeckman, who was praised by the jury as being “chameleonic… the rarest talent you can find,” stars in the Berlinale Special Gala “Heysel 85.” She plays the daughter of the mayor of Brussels, one of many characters caught between professional duty, family loyalty and moral responsibility when violence erupts during the European Cup Final. This year will also find Braeckman in Dutch director Thom Lunshof’s feature debut, “First Zone,” as well as Peter Krüger’s “The Age of Magic.” In addition, she is currently developing her feature directing debut.
Joes BrauersThe NetherlandsBrauers launched his acting career at the age of 8 and has compiled impressively diverse credits in theater, film and TV, including Jasmila Zbanic’s Oscar-nominated feature “Quo vadis, Aida?” In 2026, he will be seen in Dutch helmer Sander Burger’s 1980s period drama “Youri,” as the journalist who forges a relationship with the world-famous Soviet refugee concert pianist Youri Egorov. The jury noted that he has the “gravitas and the ingredients to become a big movie star.”
Fatlume BunjakuAlbaniaA Kosovar-Albanian, Bunjaku combines her acting career with work as a professor of performing arts. She’s been active in film and theater since 2013. Commenting on her “commanding screen presence,” the jury noted, “You can see her dance background in her physicality; in the way her spine transforms from one performance to another. It’s very exciting to see what she does next.” Bunjaku wrote and is currently producing her first short film, “Visa, Champagne and a Sandwich.”
Salif CisséFranceAlso chosen as one of Unifrance’s 10 to Watch this year, Cissé discovered his passion for acting during a high school workshop. He made his feature debut in 2020 with “All Hands on Deck,” which earned him a César nomination for most promising actor. He demonstrated his aptitude for blending pathos with comedy in “Filmlovers!” and “Guess Who Is Calling?,” and brought a real sense of humanity to his antihero in “Meteors.” After helming the short “Allies” in 2024, he is planning his feature directing debut.
Cleo DiáraPortugalThe Cape Verde-born talent moved to Lisbon as a child, where she discovered a love for the theater. She has since appeared in many acclaimed stage productions, and brings that same energy and authenticity to her onscreen performances. Her starring role in Pedro Pinho’s “I Only Rest in the Storm” scored Diára the prestigious Un Certain Regard — best performance award at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. That year, she also played in the Cannes ACID title “Night Passengers.” She will soon be seen in the Prime Video Original series “Lisbon Noir,” directed by Artur Ribeiro.
Lucas EnglanderAustriaThe versatile, multilingual, Vienna-born performer has had a busy few years in international projects, including the popular miniseries “Nine Perfect Strangers” alongside Nicole Kidman, and “Transatlantic.” After making the latter, he became an Ambassador for the International Rescue Committee. Trained at the Stella Adler School of Acting in New York City, the actor’s next leading role will be in Adrian Goiginger’s “Das Café ohne Namen.” He has two projects in development: Théo Hellermann’s “Quand Le Monde Nous Regardera” and Harald Sicheritz’s “Bruno, der junge Kreisky.”
Danielle GalliganIrelandCurrently embodying the fascinating Irish historical figure Lady Olivia Hedges-White on the Netflix series “House of Guinness,” Galligan boasts diverse TV credits on other prestige TV series including “Game of Thrones” (Sarra Frey), “Shadow and Bone” (Nina) and “The Walsh Sisters” (Claire). On the big screen, she impressed in “Lakelands” and “Spilt Milk.” Upcoming features include Sam Johnson’s debut, “A Rare Breed,” and John Madden’s “But When We Dance.” The jury calls her a “charismatic, transformative talent.”
Tecla InsoliaItalyA student of music since the age of five, Insolia’s musical flair and prize-winning role in the Sky Original miniseries “The Art of Joy” made her the perfect choice for the lead in opera director Damiano Michieletto’s feature debut, “Primavera.” In that feature, she plays the vibrant, rebellious convent girl violinist taught by composer Antonio Vivaldi. The youngest of the Shooting Stars, she also boosts several pop/rock singles.
Sofia Tjelta SydnessNorwayOften credited simply as Sofia Tjelta, the Norwegian actress has a significant part in what is perhaps the most hotly anticipated title of 2026: Ruben Ostlund’s “The Entertainment System Is Down,” playing the daughter of Daniel Brühl and Kirsten Dunst. In real life, the rising talent is the offspring of Norwegian performers Pia Tjelta and Kyrre Haugen Sydness. She established herself as a talent to watch in the TV series “Delete Me,” following that with a role in the Netflix miniseries “Midsummer Night.”
Enno TrebsGermanyLike fellow Shooting Star Joes Brauers, Trebs’ film credits extend back to his youth, and include, most notably, Michael Haneke’s “The White Ribbon.” His collaboration with German auteur Christian Petzold covers three titles: “Undine,” “Afire” and “Mirrors No. 3.” This year, he’s the lead in helmer Nicolas Ehret’s “Echo of Tomorrow’s War.” The jury praised him as an “intense, precise actor who combines a youthful energy with a distinct maturity.”