This year’s edition of Star Film Fest brings together a five-member professional jury composed of filmmakers, actors, and film professionals whose experience spans directing, acting, animation, film criticism, and interdisciplinary art. Their diverse perspectives and extensive professional backgrounds ensure thoughtful evaluation of the competing films and the recognition of new creative voices shaping contemporary short film.
Hannah Koselj Marušič
Slovenian director, interdisciplinary artist, performer, and poet Hannah Koselj Marušič is the author of award-winning short films and music videos, which she develops through screenwriting, directing, and editing. Her films have been screened and awarded at numerous international festivals, including last year’s Star Film Fest award Special Star – for the Best Film Selected by the Festival Selectors for “Rats with Flowery Hats”. She is currently developing a new short film produced by Vertigo with the support of the Slovenian Film Centre and the Croatian Audiovisual Centre. Alongside her film work, she is active in the fields of performance, video, poetry, and installation, with her interdisciplinary projects presented at numerous festivals and exhibitions. In 2024, she published the poetry and audiovisual collection VSE JE ENO VSE JE VSEENO, which was nominated for Best Literary Debut at the Slovenian Book Fair.
Petra Kurtela
Actress Petra Kurtela graduated in Acting and Puppetry from the Academy of Arts in Osijek. Throughout her successful career, she has performed in more than thirty theatre productions and collaborated with numerous acclaimed directors. She is the recipient of the Croatian Theatre Award for the play “Glumice i to”, while her role as Janica in “Breza” earned her a nomination for Outstanding Achievement by Young Artists. In film, she has achieved notable roles in collaborations with renowned European and Croatian directors, including Cristi Puiu, Andrei Tănase, Ivona Juka, Matija Kluković, and Hana Domazet.
Lucija Brkić
Director Lucija Brkić graduated in Film and Theatre Directing from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, following her studies in Cultural Studies at the University of Rijeka. She is the author of several acclaimed short documentary films, including “U tranzitu” (In Transit), which received the award for Best Short Film at ZagrebDox in 2024. Alongside her creative work, she leads film workshops, moderates film programs, and is currently developing new short and feature-length film projects.
Bartol Babić Vukmir
Bartol Babić Vukmir graduated in Comparative Literature and English Studies from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zagreb. He is a film critic for Hrvatski filmski ljetopis and the film portal Zona filma, as well as a member of the Executive Board of Kinoklub Zagreb, where he participates in organizing film and discussion programs. Since 2020, he has collaborated with Filmske mutacije: Festival nevidljivog filma (Film Mutations: Festival of Invisible Cinema), and alongside his critical work, he is the author of several short experimental films.
Ana Despot
Animator, director, and illustrator Ana Despot graduated in Animated Film from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, having previously completed studies in English Language and Literature and French Language and Literature at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. She is the author of two animated films, as well as numerous illustrations for books, picture books, magazines, and other artistic projects. Her animated film “Šuma Striborova” (Stribor’s Forest), based on the work of Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić, premiered at Animafest Zagreb and won the award for Best Animated Film at Star Film Fest, as well as a Special Mention at Tabor Film Festival. She is currently developing a new animated film in collaboration with Zagreb Film, works as a coordinator and selector of the animation program at Vukovar Film Festival, and teaches animation as an assistant lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb.
The five jury members will use their experience, knowledge, and diverse professional perspectives to select the films that will receive awards at this year’s Star Film Fest. We look forward to their decisions and to welcoming the authors who will once again present the best of contemporary short film in Sisak.
