Opening Ceremony

Annemie Vanackere is the artistic and managing director of HAU Hebbel am Ufer in Berlin. After studying philosophy, theatre and film in Leuven and Paris, she worked as a production manager for the STUC arts centre and the KLAPSTUK festival, taking over as artistic director of the Nieuwpoorttheater in Ghent in 1993. She worked for the Rotterdamse Schouwburg from 1995 to 2011, acting as artistic co-director from 2001 as well as directing the affiliated Productiehuis Rotterdam.

Christine Tröstrum is a cultural manager, organisational developer, trainer and coach. She has been in charge of Berlinale Talents since 2004 and in 2014 was joined by Florian Weghorn, with whom she has been co-running it ever since. Christine has worked in the international film and media industry for more than two decades and, among many achievements, was responsible for pioneering digital projects in the film industry and the animation co-production market Cartoon Movie in Babelsberg. She has been supporting companies in the areas of strategy, leadership and change management for many years, and since 2021 is a Managing Partner in the academy and consultancy biniasz und partner.

Florian Weghorn is the Programme Manager of Berlinale Talents. Together with Nikola Joetze, he heads the initiative and advises its seven international branches and the alumni network around the globe. He holds an MA in Theatre, Film and Television Studies from the University of Cologne. Florian joined Berlinale Generation in 2002 and served as the co-director and curator of the programme from 2008 to 2014. Between 2012 and 2019, Florian was also a member of the Berlinale Competition Selection Committee. He has written and edited several publications on film and youth culture.