Gregory Coutaut is one of the jury members
The European Union Film Festival (EUFF) 2026 has announced the jury for the inaugural edition of its short film competition, The EUFF Film Project, bringing together five professionals from across the international film industry. Aranya Sahay Sahay’s debut feature, Humans in the Loop (2024), examines artificial intelligence, labour and algorithmic bias through the story of an Adivasi woman working as a data annotator. I am thrilled to be part of the inaugural EUFF Short Film Competition jury and look forward to witnessing how young Indian storytellers engage with the world through fresh, courageous, and deeply observant lenses. ” Producer Nancy Nisa Beso, who works across India and the UK, has contributed to more than 200 projects spanning feature films, television, documentaries, advertising, digital content and audio. Her recent production, ANGH, written and directed by Theja Rio, won the Platform competition at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. The jury also includes Polish director and screenwriter Marek Brodzki, who has been active in the film industry since 1984 and has taught at the Warsaw Film School since 2009. He directed the feature film and television series The Witcher (2000–2002), alongside television docudramas, documentaries and projects exploring accessible storytelling. He founded the online magazine Le Polyester in 2017 and serves as its co-editor-in-chief. In 2022, he joined the selection team for the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival as an artistic adviser, overseeing short-film selection. He subsequently joined the short-film selection committee at Cannes Critics’ Week in 2024.
Announced in September, The EUFF Film Project invited emerging filmmakers to submit completed short films exploring themes including identity and belonging, migration and diaspora, language and cultural memory, women’s interior worlds, queer stories, climate change and indigenous narratives. The winner will be announced during the Delhi edition of the festival.
Speaking about his appointment, Sahay said,”Short films hold a unique power. Nancy Nisa Beso Beso said,”Cinema thrives when diverse voices find the space and support to tell their authentic stories. Marek Brodzki Marek Brodzki said, “Having spent decades working across various cinematic formats, I have always admired the concise artistry and emotional impact that a short film can deliver. Gregory Coutaut said, “Short films are a vital, vibrant incubator for the future of global cinema, offering a space where radical creativity and singular vision can truly flourish.
The jury comprises filmmaker Aranya Sahay , known for his feature Humans in the Loop; award-winning producer Nancy Nisa Beso; film critic Sucharita Tyagi; Polish filmmaker and screenwriter Marek Brodzki; and French film critic and Cannes Film Festival programmer Gregory Coutaut. The competition was open to fiction, documentary, animation and hybrid formats. The five-member jury brings together expertise spanning independent filmmaking, international film production, criticism, direction and festival programming. An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College and the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Sahay’s work combines social realism with questions surrounding science and technology. They allow filmmakers to take bold structural risks and interrogate complex social, human, and technological realities without compromise. Her experience includes creative development, financing, executive production and international collaborations. Short films are often where the most inventive storytelling begins, serving as a powerful springboard for new voices. As the jury member of the EUFF short film competition I am excited to discover original narratives that bridge cultural borders and spark meaningful international connections. His career includes collaborations on Polish and international productions with filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg, Krzysztof Zanussi, Andrzej Wajda and Roman Polański. It is an honor to serve on the inaugural jury for the EUFF Short Film Competition. I look forward to exploring films that demonstrate visionary directorial skill, narrative economy, and a genuine passion for human storytelling. Completing the panel is Gregory Coutaut, a French film critic, journalist and programmer specialising in international arthouse cinema. Coutaut is also a member of FIPRESCI and the French Syndicate of Film Critics, and a voting member of the Académie des César. I am delighted to collaborate with EUFF India and my fellow jurors to celebrate these fresh cinematic voices and witness how young Indian filmmakers interpret pressing universal themes through their unique artistic perspectives. The inaugural competition marks an expansion of EUFF’s engagement with India’s emerging filmmaking community, adding a dedicated platform for short-form storytelling to the festival’s broader programme. Through the initiative, the festival aims to encourage new voices, support cross-cultural exchange and create opportunities for Indian filmmakers to connect with the international film community.
The 31st edition of the European Union Film Festival will open in Shillong from November 12 to 18, followed by its New Delhi chapter from November 25 to December 4, before concluding in Pune. This year’s festival will showcase 28 films from EU Member States and Ukraine, representing 30 languages. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.
From the entries received, 10 shortlisted films will be screened exclusively during the festival’s New Delhi chapter. The winning filmmaker will receive the EUFF Film Project Award 2026, along with a fully funded opportunity to participate in the 15th edition of Script Fiesta, a screenwriting festival scheduled to take place in Warsaw, Poland, from March 17 to 21, 2027.