– 20 selected European producers are participating in the promotion and networking platform before and during the Cannes Film Festival
EFP European Film Promotion and its member organisations have announced the 20 producers selected for the 27th edition of Producers on the Move, taking place during the Cannes Film Festival (12–23 May). The new group of producers who are taking part in the EFP networking programme at this year’s festival embraces a strong female presence.
The 2026 Producers on the Move are:
Lixi Frank (Austria)
Production company: Panama Film
Roxanne Sarkozi (Belgium)
Production company: De Wereldvrede
Constantinos Nikiforou (Cyprus)
Production company: Caretta Films
Dagmar Sedláčková (Czech Republic)
Production company: MasterFilm
Maria Møller Kjeldgaard (Denmark)
Production company: Manna Film
Marianne Ostrat (Estonia)
Production company: Alexandra Film
Daniel Kuitunen (Finland)
Production company: Komeetta
Julie Billy (France)
Production company: June Films
Philipp Trauer (Germany)
Production company: BerghausWöbke Filmproduktion
Danae Spathara (Greece)
Production company: Heretic
Sunna Guðnadóttir (Iceland)
Production company: Bjartsýn Films
Julianne Forde (Ireland)
Production company: Tailored Films
Stefano Centini (Italy)
Production company: Volos Films
Marion Guth (Luxembourg)
Production company: a_BAHN
Olivia Sophie van Leeuwen (The Netherlands)
Production company: 100% Film
Ivana Shekutkoska (North Macedonia)
Production company: Minimal Collective
Agata Novinski (Slovak Republic)
Production company: NOVINSKI | Film
Xavi Font (Spain)
Production company: ZuZú Cinema
Linda Mutawi (Sweden)
Production company: Fikra
Michela Pini (Switzerland)
Production company: Cinédokké
Through their diverse company profiles, the respective 20 producers reflect the breadth and vitality of contemporary European filmmaking, spanning different genres, from drama and comedy to thriller, fantasy, documentary, animation, and coming-of-age.
Two of the producers are attached to titles in the Cannes Film Festival Official Selection: Lixi Frank from Austria is producer of Sandra Wollner’s Everytime, screening in Un Certain Regard, and co-producer of Valeska Grisebach’s Competition entry, The Dreamed Adventure. Italy’s Stefano Centini is aboard Jorge Thielen Armand’s Death Has No Master which has been selected for Directors’ Fortnight.
Several participants are linked to internationally recognised productions, including recent submissions to the Academy Awards’ International Feature Film category: Marianne Ostrat from Estonia was behind the acclaimed Smoke Sauna Sisterhood which won the Directing Award at the World Cinema Documentary Competition at Sundance. Icelandic producer Sunna Guðnadóttir is associated with Beautiful Beings (2022), Iceland’s Oscar submission. The Producers on the Move party also includes Xavi Font, Spanish producer of Cannes Jury Prize winner, Sirāt, which was nominated twice for the last year’s Academy Awards as well as Swedish producer Linda Mutawi, whose credits comprise Sweden’s Oscar® entry, Eagles of the Republic, which premiered last year in the Cannes Film Festival competition. Further names in this year’s line-up are Julie Billy from France, whose film The Little Sister won the Best Actress Award at Cannes, Philipp Trauer from Germany, associated with September 5 which was nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe, as well as Finnish producer Daniel Kuitunen and his film Nightborn, which premiered in this year’s Berlinale Competition. Ivana Shekutkoska from North Macedonia is one of the two producers of DJ Ahmet, which received the Special Jury Award for Creative Vision and the Audience Award at Sundance, while Julianne Forde from Ireland produced The Apprentice, which received nominations at the Oscars, BAFTAs, and Golden Globes. Danish producer Maria Møller Kjeldgaard was behind Kalak, which won the Special Jury Prize at San Sebastián.
Production of documentaries and animation films is likewise a strong part of the different company portfolios: Agata Novinski from the Slovak Republic, produced animated feature Living Large which won the Contrechamp Jury Award at Annecy; Marion Guth brings to the fore a cross-disciplinary approach entailing film, animation, and immersive storytelling, such as Ceci est mon coeur, which was screened out of competition in the Immersive section at Cannes. Olivia Sophie van Leeuwen has established a distinctive voice in documentary filmmaking with this year’s Berlinale entry, Two Mountains Weighing Down My Chest.
The selection underscores a strong focus on female-driven storytelling and a close collaboration with women directors: Dagmar Sedláčková from the Czech Republic produced Caravan and Michela Pini from Switzerland was behind Love Me Tender.
A few participants are connected to debut features and emerging directing talent: Constantinos Nikiforou from Cyprus produced Kristijan Risteski’s Snow White Dies at the End (2022); Danae Spathara produced Kostis Charamountanis’ debut Kyuka: Before Summer’s End (2024), the opening film of ACID Cannes 2024; and Roxanne Sarkozi from Belgium produced Leonardo Van Dijl’s Julie Keeps Quiet (2024), winner of both the SACD Award and the Gan Foundation Award at Cannes Critics’ Week.
