Ten Up-and-Coming European Actors Selected for Shooting Stars Program at Berlinale

European Film Promotion has revealed the 10 emerging acting talents selected for the 29th edition of the European Shooting Stars, who will be presented to the film industry, the media and the public during the 76th Berlin Film Festival, running from Feb. 12-22.

The program is designed to boost the international visibility of the actors, connect them with key decision-makers and highlight their potential at a pivotal stage in their emerging careers. They will take part in a four-day program during the Berlinale, featuring networking sessions, industry meetings and press events, as well as a red-carpet moment at the Berlinale Palast, where they will be presented on stage.

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Past Shooting Stars include Riz Ahmed, Carey Mulligan, Alicia Vikander, George MacKay and Maisie Williams.

This year’s Shooting Stars were selected by an international jury consisting of Danish actress Danica Ćurčić, Bosnian Academy Award winning director Danis Tanović, British-Sudanese critic and writer Leila Latif, Belgian producer Jacques-Henri Bronckart, and Portuguese casting director Jo Monteiro.

The European Shooting Stars 2026 are Fatlume Bunjaku (Albania), Lucas Englander (Austria), Violet Braeckman (Belgium), Salif Cissé (France), Enno Trebs (Germany), Danielle Galligan (Ireland), Tecla Insolia (Italy), Joes Brauers (The Netherlands), Sofia Tjelta Sydness (Norway) and Cleo Diára (Portugal).

Since Bunjaku’s debut in 2013, she has steadily built an impressive portfolio, from winning best actress at the Nine Eleven Film Festival to her striking turn in Ujkan Hysaj’s “Hana” (2025). In addition to her screen work, she is committed to inclusive arts education, teaching performing arts and holding a master’s degree in children’s theater. According to the jury, she “leaves an indelible mark on the viewer,” demonstrating a “commanding screen presence, complete with a striking emotional depth,” while they are excited “to see what she does next.”

Englander originally considered a diplomatic career before discovering his passion for acting. His versatility has since been demonstrated in projects such as “Transatlantic” (2023), the César best newcomer-shortlisted “Appearances” (2020), and his role opposite Nicole Kidman in the series “Nine Perfect Strangers” (2025). The Austrian actor will next star in Adrian Goiginger’s “Das Café ohne Namen.” The jury highlights that Lucas “is exceptionally versatile and moves effortlessly between roles and languages with a real freedom, and impressive ability to transform.”

Braeckman built a multidimensional career across theater, television and music videos before shaping a strong presence in cinema. With roles in Teodora Ana Mihai’s “Heysel 85” (2026), “First Zone” (2026) and “The Age of Magic” (2026), as well as the Netflix series “The Twelve,” she continues to expand her range. She has a parallel career curating arts festivals. The jury commends her performance in “Heysel 85,” where she “balances the conflict beautifully, capturing your attention from the first moment. She is chameleonic, delivering with no restrictions.” The jury added, “Being a chameleon is the rarest talent you can find.”

Cissé discovered acting at 18, a late but decisive start that soon led to a César nomination for Most Promising Actor for “All Hands on Deck” (2020). He has since demonstrated an exceptional ability to blend humor and emotional weight in films such as “Filmlovers!” (2024), “Guess Who Is Calling” (2025) and the series “Lupin” (2023). More recently, he won over audiences in Cannes with his performance in “Meteors” by Hubert Charuel (2025), while also nurturing ambitions to move into directing. The jurors describe his performance in the latter as one that “evokes deep empathy, bringing warmth and a gentle power to this antihero.” They also said that he is “a pure charisma machine; you cannot help but be intrigued and charmed by him.”

Trebs began his career with a remarkable debut in Michael Haneke’s Palme d’Or-winning “The White Ribbon” (2009). He has since developed into one of Germany’s most intriguing young performers, collaborating with Christian Petzold in “Undine” (2020), “Afire” (2023) and “Miroirs No. 3” (2025). He now takes on a leading role in Nicolas Ehret’s “Echo of Tomorrow’s War” (2026). The jury observes an “intense, precise actor who combines a youthful energy with a distinct maturity,” noting in his latest performance “six levels of emotion that he is playing all at once. His balancing of kindness and brutality is astonishing. You believe in both.”

Galligan trained at The Lir Academy and first made her mark in theater before transitioning to screen roles that quickly showcased her versatility. Following early appearances in “Game of Thrones,” she has become a compelling lead in series such as “Shadow and Bone” and “Kin” (both 2021) and she was most recently seen in Steven Knight’s “The House of Guinness” (2025). Her acclaimed film performance in “Lakelands” (2022) earned her IFTA nominations for Best Lead Actress and Rising Star. According to the jury Danielle is “a charismatic, transformative talent,” highlighting in “The House of Guinness” that there is “something very classic about her, bringing a brittle element to her performance, with a fierce, humoristic, and playful demeanour that lights up every scene.”

The youngest of this year’s selection is Insolia, who has already crafted a promising career. After early roles in “L’allieva” (2018) and “Off Grid” (2020), she gained international attention as the protagonist of Valeria Golino’s “The Art of Joy” (2024). This was followed by strong performances in “Familia” and “L’albero” (both 2024), as well as in Amata and Damiano Michieletto’s “Primavera” (both 2025). The jury members admire the Italian actress for bringing “real force to intense roles, with a magnetism that commands the screen. She catches the light and projects power while also delivering nuance and fragility.”

Brauers began acting at eight and has since built a diverse career, including roles in “Quo Vadis, Aida?” (2020), “Do Not Hesitate” (2021) and “Hardcore Never Dies” (2023). He next appears in Sander Burger’s “Youri” (2026), portraying a journalist in 1980s Amsterdam. The jury points to his “impressive physical transformation, shifting from hardened to gentle with ease,” and are convinced that he has the “gravitas and the ingredients to become a big movie star.”

Tjelta Sydness first gained recognition through her standout performance in “Delete Me” (2021), earning a Gullruten nomination and establishing herself as a rising talent. She has since appeared in Netflix’s “Midsummer Night” (2024), taken on a key role in Ruben Östlund’s “The Entertainment System Is Down,” and demonstrated her range in the drama “Fighter” (2026), directed by Irasj Asanti. The jury describe her as “fresh, direct and unpretentious,” praising her “vivid, precise screen presence,” concluding that she is “talented, beautiful and bigger than life – what we are looking for in a European Shooting Star.”

Diára began her artistic journey in theater before transitioning into film. Her breakthrough came with Pedro Pinho’s “I Only Rest in the Storm” (2025), which earned her the Un Certain Regard Best Performance award in Cannes. She also appears in the cult favorite “Diamantino” (2018) and the upcoming series “Lisbon Noir.” The jury highlights her as “fierce and feminine,” and were fascinated by the fact that she is “natural and spontaneous, she has something about her that cannot be learned.”

“This is a truly remarkable group of talents, selected by our jury from an exceptionally strong field of nominees,” Tina Hajon, the programme director of European Shooting Stars, said. “They represent some of the most exciting new voices Europe has to offer.”

Variety is Shooting Stars’ main media partner.