The Jury

Steen Agro
" Steen Agro is a writer/director and producer, living and working in Prague since 2010. Having started his film career in commercials, he’s shot upwards of 300 ads in the UK and around Europe. Steen made his feature film debut with the 2005 Shut Up and Shoot Me, which garnered a raft of awards and critical acclaim. Along with over 40 short films and web series, Steen continues to develop for both TV and movies. He established his production company, Electric Dinosaur Films, in 2015, through which he and his team scooped first prize in the global 48-hour World Film Challenge, screening at Cannes in 2021. As a screenwriter, he works in both animated and live-action, over an eclectic mix of genres. From Comedy to Horror, Drama to Thrillers. Steen is also an actor and voice artist, as well as teaching directing and screenwriting at the Prague International Film School."

Maya Volava
Maya Kvetny, CSA, is a casting director with a successful track record in feature films and TV series targeting the international market. Maya’s portfolio includes casting for high-profile productions such as Universal Pictures, “Nosferatu”, Marvel's "Spiderman: Far From Home," Amazon’s "Carnival Row," the Oscar-winning film "Jojo Rabbit," Netflix’s "Extraction 2" and "The Gray Man," as well as Ron Howard’s series, "Genius.” Throughout her career, a unique expression has been the common thread that defines Maya's work. Her keen eye for talent and her ability to nurture the creation of authentic, memorable characters have made her a sought-after professional in the industry. Recently, Maya has taken on the role of mentoring actors, offering coaching from the unique perspective of a casting director with extensive experience collaborating with some of the most prominent directors in the field. She is a member of the Casting Society of America (CSA)

Bára Jíchová Tyson
Bára Jíchová Tyson is a Czech-American filmmaker and artist. She is directing her second feature documentary, Playtopia, a European co-production. Her first feature, Talking About Adultery, premiered at the 2019 Sheffield Doc/Fest (New Talent Award nominee) and was nominated for Best Czech Documentary at Ji.hlava IDFF, with a North American premiere at DOC NYC. Her short animated documentary, The Hatch House, premiered at the 2016 New York and Los Angeles Architecture and Design Film Festival. She has collaborated on several acclaimed films, with projects premiering at Sundance, MoMA/Doc Fortnight, and New Directors/New Films. A recipient of The MacDowell Fellowship (2016), she was also selected for IDFA Academy (2023) and the Yaddo residency (2025). She holds a BFA from MASSART and has studied film and fine art in Boston and Amsterdam. The Municipal Bonds Gallery in San Francisco represents her artwork.
AWARDS
Best Independence/Freedom-themed Film Award
Best Live Action Short Film
Audience choice award
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Animated Short Film
The main prize is the 4-week summer filmmaking workshop,
courtesy of the Prague Film School.
