International Film Festival Glasgow, First Draft and Female Film Club have revealed the international jury for the FFC Bulgaria €50,000 prize in partnership with Film Forge.
The jury was announced Monday at a reception event, in partnership with Variety and the Female Film Club, which took place at The Social Hub Berlin.
FFC Bulgaria, the Bulgarian chapter of Female Film Club – an initiative of First Draft Productions, IFFG and the Female Film Club – launched the prize at their inaugural event in Sofia, Bulgaria, during the CineLibri Intl. Film Festival.
The jury will have from Feb. 22, the closing date for the competition, and the beginning of May to decide on the winner, who will be announced at an event on May 18 during the Cannes Film Festival.
Both short and feature length projects of any genre are accepted and must have a Bulgarian co-producer and intend to utilize the studio space and equipment offered on the ground at Nu Boyana Studios in their Sofia facilities. All submitters must be first members of FFC Bulgaria.
IFFG festival director and chair, Martin I. Petrov, said: “It is really heartwarming to welcome so many women and gender expansive creators to the IFFG family, through our work with the Female Film Club, and our Bulgarian partners. Film production in Eastern Europe is blooming and the generous support of Film Forge and Boyana show the high level and professionalism all young filmmakers deserve to be greeted with for their first projects.”
FFC creators Liza Van Der Smissen and Nicole Lieberman said: “We are delighted to bring together a dynamic jury that truly cares about the filmmaking process, each having an expertise in a different area. FFC is excited that the work from our members will be seen by these industry leaders.”
Krassimira Belev, co-creator of FFC Bulgaria and producer (First Draft), said: “For many filmmakers – especially women and non-binary creators working outside major markets – the biggest barrier is not talent but access to professional resources. Through Female Film Club Bulgaria, our aim is to support diverse voices and make the industry feel possible, not distant. We’re deeply grateful to Film Forge for this collaboration and for investing in storytellers and their future.”
The international jury members are:
Sara Putt
Putt established Sara Putt Associates in 1989 and has worked here as M.D. and agent ever since. In 2021 The Partnership Group was formed between Sara Putt Associates, Sayle Screen and The Artists Partnership to maximise opportunities for all of their clients. Putt is chair of BAFTA where she has been a trustee since 2014. Putt is also a trustee of the Film and TV Charity and sits on the advisory board of the British Film Commission. She was previously deputy chair of Women in Film and Television where she served on the board for eight years. Putt has also produced a number of short films including the BAFTA nominated “Tattoo.”
Jacqueline Wagenstein
Wagenstein is a film festival director, film producer and distributor, and entrepreneur. She holds a degree from the New York Film Academy in Florence and a PhD in humanities from Paris. She is the founder and director of the Cinelibri Intl. Film Festival, an event that showcases films based on or inspired by literary works. Cinelibri has become one of the most prestigious international film forums in Bulgaria. Wagenstein is also the creator of BOB (Based-on-Books), an international cinema industry forum. As a producer, her work includes 10 short films, two documentaries, and more than 20 commercials and music videos.
Vanessa Hanneman
Henneman studied drama in Guildford and Film, Television Sciences at the London Institute and law at the University of Amsterdam where she specialized in entertainment law. In 2005, Henneman founded her own company, Henneman Agency, which has since become one of the leading talent management agencies in the Benelux, representing over 200 prominent actors, writers, directors, and other creative talents. Henneman Agency plays a key strategic role in the Benelux entertainment industry. In addition to the standard services as agency, Henneman Agency initiates new TV, film and theater projects.
Nina Blagoeva
Since 2003, Blagoeva has been a member of the team at Alexandra Films, the longest-established film distribution company operating in the Bulgarian market. Alexandra Films is recognized as the most successful distributor of Bulgarian films, and has been a licensee of 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros, as well as of numerous independent U.S. and European film companies.
Morgan Cano Long
Cano Long is a producer and development executive with over a decade of experience building premium film and television projects across scripted and unscripted, studio and independent spaces. She has worked extensively in early-stage development, shepherding projects from concept through packaging and financing, with a particular focus on complex, character-driven stories that sit at the intersection of culture, environment and social impact. Based in London with U.S. and LatAm industry roots, Cano Long brings a cross-border perspective to development and production. Cano Long is the founder of Spiral Shell, a hybrid commercial and impact-oriented storytelling studio focused on early-stage development, supporting diverse voices.
Lisa Cole
Cole is a writer/director whose work is shaped by living with 201 host families across 12 countries. Her global perspective is evident in her 2024 Oscar-shortlisted short film, “Bienvenidos a Los Angeles,” inspired by a true immigration story. Selected for the 2025 Alliance of Women Director’s Rising Director Fellowship, Cole specializes in adapting true stories that champion female liberation. Current projects include “Diamond Girls,” a feature film with Selena Gomez and producer Laura Bickford, and “Filthy,” a Sundance Development Lab Finalist. Her portfolio includes documentaries for Viacom, A&E, & BET, and films for The Gates Foundation and Sundance Institute, focusing on women’s health and safety in Kenya and DR Congo.
Mariana Conde-Grant
Conde-Grant is a creative producer and director shaped by a multicultural identity. With over 20 years’ experience across short film, commercials, branded content, documentary and animation, she has produced work for clients including Apple, Disney and Google, and brings a strong, practical understanding of both creative development and production.
Her short film C.T.R.L. screened at close to one hundred international festivals, including the BFI London Film Festival, and received multiple awards. She is currently developing “Mar Sin Leat,” a character-driven short exploring identity, grief and belonging.
In addition, the jury will be joined by a representative from each of the organizations involved in creating FFC Bulgaria and from Film Forge: Krassimira Belev, Martin I. Petrov, Liza Van Der Smissen, Nicole Lieberman and Jasmine Becker Williams.
