WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION

HOW TO DIVORCE DURING THE WAR by Andrius Blazevicius
Produced by Marija Razgute (ACE Lithuania)
Co-produced by Jessie Fisk (ACE Ireland) & Vratislav Slajer (ACE Czech Republic)

LEVITATING by Wregas Bhanuteja
Co-produced by Si En Tan (ACE Singapore)

SHAME AND MONEY by Visar Morina
Co-produced by Marija Dimitrova (ACE North Macedonia)

PREMIERES

FRANK & LOUIS by Petra Biondina Volpe
Produced by Reto Schärli (ACE Switzerland)

IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE by Andrew Stanton
Executive Produced by Daniel Bekerman (ACE Canada)

TIME AND WATER by Sara Dosa
Co-produced by Heather Millard (ACE Iceland)

THE WEIGHT by Padraic McKinley
Executive Produced by Oana Iancu (ACE Romania)

FICTION PILOT SHOWCASE

WORRIED by Nicole Holofcener
Produced by Daniel Bekerman (ACE Canada)

NONFICTION PILOT SHOWCASE

THE OLIGARCH AND THE ART DEALER by Andreas Dalsgaard
Produced by Miriam Nørgaard (ACE Denmark)

ACE Producers today announces a leadership transition reflecting the Association’s continued growth and long-term vision. President Marleen Slot and the ACE Board are delighted to welcome Inke Van Loocke as its new Director and Adrien Barrouillet as Senior Studies Manager, following the hugely successful nine-year tenure of outgoing Director and Head of Studies, Jacobine van der Vloed.

The transition follows Jacobine’s much lauded leadership during which she implemented the successful move of the association from Paris to the Netherlands in 2017, and where she and the ACE team re-established the Association as Europe’s premier training and networking community of independent producers. Other accomplishments included expanding the ACE Annual Programme and revitalising the organisation, shown by a 40% growth of the ACE Network and a 200% rise in applications.

Jacobine oversaw the development of new programmes including the ACE Series Special, ACE Animation Special and ACE Leadership Special, which have trained over 240 experienced producers. The ACE Springboard Programme was also established to mentor and train emerging professionals, with the aim of creating a successful new generation of independent producers.

Marleen Slot, President of ACE Producers, said:
“Jacobine has played a pivotal role in the development of ACE. Under her leadership we have grown in strength and professionalism and she has laid a solid foundation for the years ahead. We are deeply grateful for her vision, commitment, and the way she has shaped the Association. We look forward to hearing what she chooses to do next and wish her all the best.

As part of the transition we are delighted to welcome our new Director, Inke Van Loocke. Inke comes to us with a wealth of experience in talent and project development at IFFR as well as a wide international network and broad industry knowledge. She and our new Senior Studies Manager Adrien Barouillet bring complementary strengths which align perfectly with ACE’s next phase, expanding the relevance of its programmes, deepening international partnerships and strengthening our producer network. We look forward to working with them to build ACE’s future while embracing new opportunities.”

As Director, Inke Van Loocke will lead ACE’s Amsterdam-based international team and manage the Association towards the realisation of its mission to deliver Europe’s premier executive training to independent producers.

Inke Van Loocke joins after nearly two decades at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, followed by an impactful managerial role at the Schiedam Library. During her tenure at IFFR, Inke became head of the festival’s industry strand, overseeing its strategic vision and professional programmes, while before that she led two of IFFR’s cornerstone initiatives: the CineMart co-production market and the Rotterdam Lab workshop.

Inke Van Loocke said:
“ACE Producers embodies the kind of filmmaking culture that I value most: one that is grounded in artistic ambition, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in independent voices. Over the past years, Jacobine, the team, board and members have built an amazing home for creative leadership together. Fostering a supportive and thriving network has been a guiding principle throughout my career, and I am honoured and excited to take on this role.”

Inke will join the ACE team at the beginning of 2026, alongside new Senior Studies Manager Adrien Barrouillet. In his role, Adrien will deliver ACE’s outstanding training programmes which continue to evolve and adapt to the needs of the industry. Adrien was previously the founder of Furyo Films in France, producing the 2024 film In the Land of Brothers, which won the Directing Award – World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival.

Jacobine van der Vloed said:
“I am delighted to be leaving the wonderful ACE organisation in such good health. Inke and I worked together at Rotterdam, so I know how kind, driven and motivated she is. I am so pleased that she is stepping up to the role of Director and I’m sure she will lead ACE to discover fresh perspectives. It’s been the most amazing job, but I’ve been thinking for a while about what I want to do next. In the short term my next steps are going to be physical ones, as I plan to take some time off and do some hiking!”

Best Picture – Drama

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT by Jafar Panahi
Produced by Philippe Martin (ACE France) and David Thion (ACE France)

THE SECRET AGENT by Kleber Mendonça Filho
Co-produced by Leontine Petit & Erik Glijnis (ACE The Netherlands)

SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

Best Picture – Musical or Comedy

BUGONIA by Yorgos Lanthimos
Produced by Ed Guiney (ACE Ireland)

Best Director

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT by Jafar Panahi
Produced by Philippe Martin (ACE France) and David Thion (ACE France)

SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

Best Screenplay

Jafar Panahi for IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT by Jafar Panahi
Produced by Philippe Martin (ACE France) and David Thion (ACE France)

Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier for SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture – drama

Wagner Moura for THE SECRET AGENT by Kleber Mendonça Filho
Co-produced by Leontine Petit & Erik Glijnis (ACE The Netherlands)

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture – drama

Renate Reinsve for SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture – musical or comedy

Amanda Seyfried for THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE by Mona Fastvold
Produced by Viktória Petrányi (ACE Hungary)

Emma Stone for BUGONIA by Yorgos Lanthimos
Produced by Ed Guiney (ACE Ireland)

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture – musical or comedy

Jesse Plemons for BUGONIA by Yorgos Lanthimos
Produced by Ed Guiney (ACE Ireland)

Best supporting actor

Stellan Skarsgård for SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

Best supporting actress

Elle Fanning for SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

Best picture – non-English language

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT by Jafar Panahi
Produced by Philippe Martin (ACE France) and David Thion (ACE France)

THE SECRET AGENT by Kleber Mendonça Filho
Co-produced by Leontine Petit & Erik Glijnis (ACE The Netherlands)

SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

SIRAT by Olivier Laxe
Produced by Mani Mortazavi (ACE France)

THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB by  Kaouther Ben Hania
Produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha (ACE France)

Best original score

Kangding Ray for SIRAT by Olivier Laxe
Produced by Mani Mortazavi (ACE France)

 

We’re also very excited to see a project developed during the ACE Animation Special nominated for Best Motion Picture – Animation: Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

EUROPEAN FILM

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT by Jafar Panahi
Produced by Philippe Martin (ACE France) and David Thion (ACE France)

SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

SIRAT by Olivier Laxe
Produced by Mani Mortazavi (ACE France)

THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB by Kaouther Ben Hania
Produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha (ACE France)

EUROPEAN DIRECTOR

BUGONIA by Yorgos Lanthimos
Produced by Ed Guiney (ACE Ireland)

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT by Jafar Panahi
Produced by Philippe Martin (ACE France) and David Thion (ACE France)

SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

SIRAT by Olivier Laxe
Produced by Mani Mortazavi (ACE France)

EUROPEAN ACTRESS

Léa Drucker for DOSSIER 137 by Dominik Moll
Produced by Carole Scotta (ACE France)

Leonie Benesch for LATE SHIFT by Petra Volpe
Produced by Reto Schärli (ACE Switzerland)

Renate Reinsve for SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

EUROPEAN ACTOR

Stellan Skarsgård for SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

Sergi López for SIRAT by Olivier Laxe
Produced by Mani Mortazavi (ACE France)

EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER

Jafar Panahi for IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT by Jafar Panahi
Produced by Philippe Martin (ACE France) and David Thion (ACE France)

Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier for SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

Santiago Fillol and Oliver Laxe for SIRAT by Olivier Laxe
Produced by Mani Mortazavi (ACE France)

EUROPEAN DISCOVERY

LITTLE TROUBLE GIRLS by Urška Đukić
Co-produced by Miha Cernec (ACE Slovenia), Dragana Jovovic (ACE Serbia) and Julie Paratian (ACE France)

MY FATHER’S SHADOW by Akinola Davies Jr.
Executive produced by Ed Guiney (ACE Ireland)

EUROPEAN YOUNG AUDIENCE AWARD

I ACCIDENTALLY WROTE A BOOK by Nóra Lakos
Co-produced by Joram Willink (ACE The Netherlands)

LUX AUDIENCE AWARD

IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT by Jafar Panahi
Produced by Philippe Martin (ACE France) and David Thion (ACE France)

SENTIMENTAL VALUE by Joachim Trier
Produced by Andrea Berentsen Ottmar (ACE Norway)
Co-produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany), Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

ACE Producers and the Independent Film Foundation are excited to announce the 12 emerging producers selected for the fifth edition of ACE Training Days Poland, a workshop aimed at strengthening upcoming producers from Poland and other Central Eastern European countries. Focusing on “Fundamentals of International Co-productions”, it gives the participants the opportunity to learn from established producers and film professionals and to further develop their international network. The ACE Training Days Poland is supported by the Polish Film Institute.

The 2-day interactive workshop, taking place on 26 and 27 November 2025, includes plenary sessions and case studies, as well as group meetings and round table discussions, provided with the help of ACE consultants and producers who have notably strong track-records in international financing, co-production, sales and distribution, and who will share their knowledge and international expertise.

The Training Days Poland is connected to the ACE 35 Financing Strategies Workshop (24 – 29 November 2025, Warsaw), which is a workshop within the ACE Annual Programme organised for the selected 18 experienced producers from Europe and beyond.

 

SELECTED PRODUCERS FOR ACE TRAINING DAYS POLAND:

Greta Akcijonaite – Magic Film – Lithuania

Marita Bierońska – Hamsa Film – Poland

Malwina Gorecka – EGo FILM and nonoto film cooperative – Poland

Kristina Husová – Pure Shore – Czech Republic

Małgorzata Małysa – Furia Film – Poland

Matěj Paclík – Breathless Films – Czech Republic

Justinas Pocius – Smart Casual – Lithuania

Jakub Rálek – BFILM.cz – Czech Republic

Agnieszka Rostropowicz – Consigliere Film Studio – Poland

Nevena Semova – Attic Films – Bulgaria

Rafał Ulicki – Raster Film – Poland

Maria Wachowiak-Czuchnowska – No Prob Production House – Poland

Together with the ACE Mentoring Programme, the ACE Training Days are part of ACE Springboard, a combination of programmes strengthening emerging independent producers. ACE Springboard provides participants with the tools needed to be adaptable and innovative in an ever-changing film industry – for a successful new generation of independent producers.

Please find more information here, for more information please contact us at ace@ace-producers.com.

11 emerging producers have been selected for the upcoming ACE Training Days NL. Taking place on 14 and 15 October 2025 in Leiden and Amsterdam, the workshop will focus on “How to Build a Sustainable Economic Foundation for Your Business”.

The ACE Training Days NL is a tailor-made programme designed for emerging producers at relatively early stages in their careers, who are looking to expand their network and learn more about the international context of the audiovisual industry. The workshop welcomes producers working in fiction, animation and documentary, and strives to make the industry more inclusive and diverse.

The world is changing fast, and the world of film and television is no different. Just when you think you have everything under control, something changes. Ever-evolving technology, changing legislation, climate change, turbulent politics and so on. This has a huge impact on film production companies and the people who work for them, requiring a great deal of flexibility, adaptability and above all, the right strategy supported by accurate leadership.

In this workshop, we will focus on two main pillars of building a sustainable business in this VUCA* time:

• Developing and implementing an agile and, at the same time, sustainable strategy;
• Effective leadership in a VUCA world.

 The ACE Training Days NL has been set up in collaboration with the Netherlands Film Fund, a key funder of ACE Producers.

 

PRODUCERS SELECTED FOR THE ACE TRAINING DAYS NL 2025:

Maritza Grass – Carousel Film – Germany

Dwight Groot – Narang Film – The Netherlands

Rosalien Hollestelle – Bind Film – The Netherlands

Katharina Kolleczek – Kalekone Film – Germany

Nina Landau – Associate Director – Belgium

Zipporah Nyaruri – Zippy Creatives – The Netherlands

Sulin Passial – Pantalla Chica Productions – Curacao

Anna-Sophie Philippi – Contando Films – Germany

Felix Schreiber – Sommerhaus Filmproduktion – Germany

Daniel Tenné – 70 Steps – Germany

Marijn van der Ploeg – Mad Scientists Movement – The Netherlands

Together with the ACE Mentoring Programme, the ACE Training Days, is part of ACE Springboard, a combination of programmes focusing on emerging independent producers to strengthen their careers at an early stage. ACE Springboard provides participants with the tools needed to be adaptable and innovative in an ever-changing film industry – for a successful new generation of independent producers!

More information on the ACE Springboard Programmes can be found here.
For questions, contact us at ace@ace-producers.com.

Anaïs Bertrand – Insolence Productions – France
“Bergies” directed by Dian Weys

Ioanna Bolomyti – Atalante Productions – Greece
“Sunbruise” directed by Stavros Markoulakis

Vanessa Ciszewski – Luftkind Filmverleih – Germany
“Minzi Monster” director to be confirmed   

Agnieszka Dziedzic – Koi Studio – Poland
“We Have No Chances” directed by Marta Karwowska

Emilia Fort – Avalon – Spain
“Basarda” directed by Salvador Sunyer

Lixi Frank – Panama Film – Austria
“Ice Cream” directed by Patric Chiha

Sébastien Haguenauer – 10:15 Productions – France
“Paz” directed by Guillaume de Fontenay

Elisa Heene – Mirage – Belgium
“L’Invention du Sauvage” directed by Fien Troch

Anda Ionescu – Tangaj Production – Romania
“Agatha Candy” directed by Andrei Tănase

Veselka Kiryakova – Red Carpet – Bulgaria
“Magdalena” directed by Dimitar Kutmanov

Kirill Krasovski – Blue Monticola Film – Germany
“Little Explosions” directed by Vladimir Beck

Vladimír Lhoták – Hausboot – Czech Republic
“The Northern Star” directed by Eléa Gobbé-Mévellec

Kim McCraw – micro-scope – Canada
“Heart’s Exil” directed by Ivan Grbovic

Kristýna Michálek Květová – Cinémotif Films – Czech Republic
“Nora” directed by Martin Krejčí

Rikke Tambo Andersen – Tambo Film ApS – Denmark
“The Devils’ Film” directed by Thora Lorentzen

Si En Tan – Momo Film Co – Singapore
“Other People’s Dreams” directed by Daniel Hui

Flaminio Zadra – Dorje Film – Italy
“Moldovan Story” directed by Giuseppe Gagliardi

Flavia Zanon- Close Up Films – Switzerland
“Sunlash” directed by Carmen Jaquier

ACE Producers has selected 18 experienced independent producers to participate in the 35^th edition of its ACE Annual Programme. Representing 15 different territories, the selected producers will attend three workshops throughout 2025 and 2026, developing the projects with which they applied and moving them forward. After completing the programme, these producers will join the established ACE Network.

The selection committee consisted of members of the ACE Network, ACE president Marleen Slot and director and head of studies Jacobine van der Vloed.

“We are delighted to welcome this inspiring new group of established producers, chosen from a record-breaking pool of applicants this year. Representing fifteen territories and a wide range of backgrounds, they bring with them a wealth of perspectives, experience, and expertise. Each producer adds something unique to the ACE Network, and we look forward to the collaborations and exchanges that the coming year will bring” Jacobine van der Vloed commented.

Four events make up the core of the training. The first workshop takes place in Leiden, The Netherlands, in mid-October, with the support of the Netherlands Film Fund. This workshop is dedicated to content development and includes group sessions and individual meetings, analysing the concepts, dramaturgy, and target audiences of producers’ projects.

In November, the second workshop, offering the producers advice on possible financing strategies for their projects, will take place in Warsaw, Poland, with the support of the Polish Film Institute and in collaboration with Independent Film Foundation. This week-long workshop consists of interactive sessions exploring international financing opportunities and strategies through detailed analysis of the producers’ finance plans, with input provided by high-grade professionals from across the industry. The sessions offer a uniquely open exchange of experience and ideas which sheds light on the evolution of co-production practices, of public and private funding schemes, and of the global marketplace in the digital age.

The third workshop looks at the producers’ business strategies, providing them with models of sustainable company management and ways to build businesses that have real value. Group sessions and panel discussions guide the producers through keener applications of marketing techniques and diversified commercial activities. The Business Prospects Workshop is immediately followed by the ACE Annual Reunion, where the new producers will be officially welcomed into the ACE Network.

The ACE Annual Programme is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, Netherlands Film Fund, Polish Film Institute, Procirep, Screen Ireland, German Films, Téléfilm Canada, Roma Lazio Film Commission, Focal and APA Czech Republic – Audiovisual Producers Association.

Please find more information here:
https://ace-producers.com/programme

Or contact:
thijsvanderlaak@ace-producers.com