2008 / jury

Anneke de Lind van Wijngaarden

(1971)
Anneke made several children's documentaries: French kissing 2002, Cherry flip 2002, Bye Bye 2003, The Freckles 2003 and Titties 2004, How Nikita got herself a horse 2006 and Danny's Parade 2007.

Next to documentarymaking she loves to invent strange interactive installations for theatre and theatre festivals. She made for example Lie or die (2002), The crying grandmother (2004) Airmail (2004) Praatapparaat (2005) Filmstripper (2006) and the Film machine. In the film machine you can make your own flipbook. The only thing you have to do is dance for 5 seconds. You can visit the film machine at this festival!

"I am so happy to be part of the festival because.... I love watching films all day!! Next to that I love Belgium a lot! I am really looking forward to it."

Bram Renders

(1973)
Till recent, writer producer Bram Renders was a full time screenwriter. Together with two college friends he founded 'de SKRIPTank', a small screenwriting company. He co-created 'W817', a sitcom aimed at youngsters, 'En daarmee basta!', a comedy series about kids in a dysfunctional family and he co-developed 'Kinderen van Dewindt' a prime time drama series.

In 2006, production company MMG, the most renowned Film and TV fiction production company in Belgium, hired him as creative producer to develop new sitcoms and youth fiction. He is also working on an adaptation of the successful novel 'Los'. This movie is currently in postproduction and will be released in September 2008.

"I'm happy to be a member of the jury because this is a wonderful festival and because at this festival, I won the 'Gouden Zapper' for W817, my first award as a scriptwriter. Hurray!"

Catharine Des Forges

After completing her MA in Film & Television at the University of London, Catharine Des Forges worked for the British Film Institute, programming and advising a number of cinemas in the UK. A few years later, she started to work as a freelance programmer and arts consultant for a number of British festivals as well as art and cinema clubs. She is a lecturer at various universities and founded The ICO (The Independent Cinema Office) in 2003 and has been its Director ever since. She is assistant programmer at the London Children's Film Festival which takes place at 'The Barbican' every year in November.

Steve Geerts

(1974)
Steve studied Dramatic Arts at the conservatory in Brussels and less than one year later, he was already a member of the permanent KVS/De Bottelarij ensemble. He works as a stage actor as well as a television actor. Steve is perhaps best known for is role as Ruben in the Ketnet (the Flemish children's television channel) series 'En Daarmee Basta'.

“I am a huge film fan and it is always nice to be carried away by the performance of new talent in good stories and adventures.”

Julia Ziesche

(1985)
Julia Ziesche interned at Blow Film and the distributor Delphi-Filmverleih. She worked at the department of Programme Presentation of RBB (Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg) and for UFA-Fernsehproduktion. Since October 2005 she has been studying Strategic Communication and Planning at the University of Arts in Berlin. In 2007 she directed two short films including Louis Elefantenherz. This short film was screened at various film festivals and will be included in the Youth Film Festival programme.

"I feel very happy that you like my film, I am even more happy that you want to screen my film and now you even ask me to be a part of the jury - this is just great."

Lyisa Bina Patel

8 years old - Berchem
I am Lyisa Bina Patel. I am very happy to be a member of the children's jury at the Youth Film Festival. I love watching films and I also read a lot. My hobbies are: going to the theatre, acting in stage plays, going to music school, dancing and singing,. One of my biggest dreams is to act in a film.

Storm Brabants

11 years old - Zoersel
I love watching films and I think that last year's festival was a fantastic and very exciting experience. I also like reading a lot. I know that the most famous books are not always the best ones and that may apply to films as well.
I would be proud if I - as a member of the children's jury - could select a film that will be released and will be seen by many people.
And.watching great films during the holidays is a welcome bonus.

Sil De Schepper

11 years old - Boechout
Hi, I would like to be a member of the Youth Film Festival jury because someone who is called Sil (the beachcomber) must be fond of films of course. As a member of the jury, I can decide which film is the most beautiful and that is great.
I am ready for it.are you?

Joachim Hauters

9 jaar - Antwerp
I love reading and I am a member of the Children's and Youth Jury of Flanders. I am also very interested in foreign films. Last year, I did not see all films in competition but luckily I will be able to this year!
It is also great to talk about films with other children.
It is a valuable experience. I am sure that it is going to be a fantastic week!

Nina Van Belle

10 years old - Puurs
My favourite film is We Shall Overcome, last year's opening film. Maybe I will have a new favourite film after this year's festival. I love being a member of the jury because I like watching films and because I visit the festival every year to watch the opening and closing film. This year, I will get the opportunity to see all films, which is great.

Kyra Verheyen

9 years old - Antwerp
I would like to be a member of the children's jury because I love watching films. I seem to be in another world when I am watching a film. It gets all quiet and you can only hear the sounds of the film.

Rebecca Wyn

11 years old - Berchem
It is cool to be a member of the jury and to get the opportunity to give my opinion about funny or exciting aspects. I always wonder if those things really happened. Sometimes I am roaring with laughter, sometimes I am sad. You feel so many different things when you watch a film.

Linden Pu

12 years old - Bruges
My hobbies are playing chess, cooking and playing the saxophone. My mother says that I watch too much TV but I am allowed to go to the film festival!
I hope I will have a wonderful time as a member of the jury and I hope to see some great films. You always get to watch the same programmes on TV which is not very interesting. So now I hope to discover new things.

Hendrik Lasure

10 years old - Bruges
My hobbies are playing badminton, Scouting, playing the piano and singing and watching films. 'Billie Elliot' is the best film I have seen so far. 'I know what you did last Wednesday' by Anthony Horowitz is the best book I have read so far.
I would like to be a member of the jury because I love to give my opinion on things. It must be fun to talk about the festival films and to hear someone else's opinion on films. Fantastic!

Robin Van Kerckhove

11 years old - Bruges
My hobbies are: athletics, playing football, watching films, working at the computer and playing the guitar. I love watching films. Most of the time, watching a film is an exciting, compelling, nice and funny experience. I expect the festival to be great. I am also looking forward to talk about the festival films with other members of the jury.

Monica Fierlafijn

10 years old - Ghent
My hobbies are playing the violin, drawing and going to ballet lessons. My favourite book is Ezzie's Diary' and my favourite film is 'Spirited Away'. It is very nice to be a member of the jury as I will get the opportunity to watch many films and to discuss them. I like to give my opinion on things and because I often go to exhibitions, theatrical performances and to the cinema, it is great to be a member of the jury.

Robbe Leber

10 years old - Bruges
My hobbies are: tinkering, playing judo, being a member of the youth movement, being a member of the reading jury, collecting Winnie the Pooh things. I like watching films because you get to see so many things: foreign countries, people experiencing nice things, people experiencing sad things. My expectations of being a member of the children's jury: I hope to learn something by watching so many films, I hope to make new friends and that it will be a nice experience.