Meel Paliale is a filmmaker from Tallinn who has been making films since elementary school. In 2022, he graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts with a BA in Photography. His second feature, Rolling Papers, was awarded Film of the Year by the Estonian Cultural Endowment and is also Estonia’s official submission for Best International Feature at the 2026 Academy.
Nuria Aidelman is co-director of A Bao A Qu, a non-profit cultural organization devoted to the development of projects that link art, culture, and education, as the film pedagogy program Cinema en curs -started in 2005 and now developed internationally-, and the European projects Moving Cinema and Inside Cinema. She is also a lecturer in Cinema and Photography at Pompeu Fabra University. She has written articles for a range of books and anthologies and was a film programmer at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona.
Jen Skinner is the Screen Argyll Programme Manager and director of Sea Change Film Festival. Jen has over 25 years’ experience in film exhibition – including managing Hebden Bridge Picture House, developing the film education programme at the National Media Museum and working across its film and animation festivals. Jen has been an advisor to the Independent Cinema Office, Into Film,, and BFI Film Audience Network. Jen has created resources and led sessions on engaging with young audiences for organisations including Into Film, the ICO, the BFI FAN Network, Europa Cinemas and the CICAE.
Janne Vierth has been writing for children and youth since 1998; movies, TV and radio - puppets, animation, and live action. He has been nominated twice for a "Guldbagge" (Swedish film Award) in the category best screenplay. Janne has been part of the coaching team at Cinekid Script Lab for many years and is a member of the board at ECFA.
Since 2021, he has been the commissioner of Feature films, short films, and documentaries for children and youth, ages 2-18, at the Swedish film Institute.
Nora Lakos is a Budapest-based director/screenwriter, producer, graduated from the National Theatre and Film Academy, Budapest (SZFE), and studied film directing at London Film School and at INSAS / Brussels Film Academy. Her debut feature, HAB / CREAM, was released in the Hungarian cinemas to critical acclaim in 2020, competed in many festivals, and won 12 international awards. Nora's second feature film I Accidentally Wrote a Book, became the most-watched family film in Hungarian cinemas in the past three decades, garnered over 20 international awards at prestigious film festivals and has been sold for theatrical release in eight European countries. Previously, Nora was busy directing TV shows for Hungarian TV channels and directed four short films, which were screened in numerous international film festivals. With her short film Edina, she won awards at the Sarajevo Film Festival. Nora was nominated for the Robert Bosch co-production Prize with her creative documentary: "Hungarian mustache". Nora is also dedicated to creating and distributing quality family films. She founded the first film festival for children and youth in Hungary: Cinemira - International Children’s and Youth Film Festival in 2018. Nora named her festival after her daughter: Míra.
Aimei is an 18-year-old student in class 12.D at Tallinn 32nd Secondary School. Alongside her studies, she is involved in acting, volunteer work, and traveling. She has performed in various stage productions as well as in films. She has also felt a deep love for cinema her entire life and believes that a truly great film can change people’s lives.
As a 17-year-old high school student from a multicultural background, Tristan Sebastian has always been drawn to film. This year, he had an exciting opportunity to work as a background actor on an Estonian film set, which gave him a real look at what happens behind the camera. Tristan Sebastian also recently started a drama club at his school. Having attended PÖFF since childhood, some of his all-time favorite films are ones he discovered at the festival.
Karl Jakob is 11 years old, and his love for films and series began when he started watching different shows and movies with his mother every evening, such as House, Pinocchio, Knives Out: Glass Onion, and the James Bond films. He is fascinated by the world of cinema because there, you can be whoever you want, whenever you want. Karl Jakob also enjoys reading, his favorite author is Roald Dahl, and his favorite producer is Michael Schur.
Lumi is 12 years old and studies ballet at the Tallinn School of Music and Ballet. In addition, she learns piano and dances Latin. She performs almost every week at the Estonian National Opera together with her favorite ballerinas. Her favorite part of a performance is always the final bow — it feels powerful and makes her eyes sparkle. She really enjoys going to school, but she doesn’t like school holidays very much because there aren’t as many active things to do.
Maarja is 12 years old and attends 6th grade at Jäneda School. She is very passionate about films. She enjoys going to the cinema, watching movies on Netflix, on TV, and sometimes on Lasteekraan.ee. She likes discussing films and sometimes watches movies multiple times. She often Googles information about actors, how a particular film was made, and whether there are any books related to it.
Mika is 8 years old and attends 2nd grade at Rocca al Mare School. She enjoys drawing, crafting, and reading. Her family loves watching movies together. Mika’s favorite film is Titanic. She has also acted in a few commercials and one film, and she participates in a theater club. She really enjoys acting and everything related to film.
Nora Christella is 8 years old. Her favorite film is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. She enjoys cooking and playing outside. Together with her friends, Nora Christella has also made her own animations and films. When it comes to movies, she thinks it’s important that they have meaningful content.
Silvia is 9 years old. She likes drawing and sewing clothes, and she hopes to become an art teacher. She also enjoys aerial acrobatics. Silvia likes movies that are full of action and excitement and that don’t get boring easily. She enjoys films that make her think that the world could be completely different.
Piia works as a marketing specialist at Swedbank and has been a member of the #noorfilmitegija jury for several years. She believes that cinema is a powerful way to draw attention to different facets of society that we might not think about in our everyday lives.
Helen Takkin is a director who graduated from the Baltic Film and Media School with a degree in Audiovisual Media. Her creative range spans feature films and music videos to commercials and experimental short films. Her feature debut “Life and Love” was one of last year’s biggest domestic box-office hits, gaining attention from both audiences and critics. Professionally, Helen mainly works as a commercial director, while in her free time she enjoys creative freedom through music videos and artistic experimentation. She is characterized by her boldness, playfulness, and the belief that every crazy idea is worth pursuing if it feels right.
