about shooting stars

SHOOTING STARS is a unique pan-European initiative which puts a spotlight on Europe's best young actors. It helps to put emerging new acting talent at the forefront for the busy film and entertainment agenda which unfolds each year at the Berlin International Film Festival.

2012 marks the 15th edition of SHOOTING STARS. 10 prominent young actors who come from across Europe are chosen by a jury of experts from a broad list of potential candidates nominated by the member organisations of European Film Promotion (EFP).

The aim of EFP and the SHOOTING STARS project is to raise the profile of European film internationally.

Kick off in Berlin

Each year, European Film Promotion (EFP), a network of promotion and marketing organisations from 32 European countries, presents the most talented young actors from throughout Europe to the press, public and industry during the Berlin International Film Festival.

Based on certain criteria, the EFP member organisations nominate an actor/actress who is then presented to an international jury of experts who select the final ten actors as Shooting Stars.

Once chosen as a SHOOTING STAR, the actors are invited to the Berlin International Film Festival where they participate in a full programme on the first weekend of the festival. Activities include several presentations to the film industry and public, a press conference, an intimate one-on-one-meeting with international casting directors, a reception and presentation at the Awards Ceremony in the Berlinale Palast.

With the recognition as a SHOOTING STAR, the impact is often immediate. Actors with established national careers are suddenly on the international stage at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival. "Shooting Stars put me in the right place at the right time" said Daniel Brühl, Shooting Star 2003.

Among the actors recognized with the SHOOTING STARS AWARD over the years are such top-flight actors as Daniel Craig, Ludivine Sagnier, Maria Bonnevie, Rachel Weisz,  Moritz Bleibtreu,  Johanna Wokalek and Nina Hoss.

The SHOOTING STARS programme kicked off in 1998 during the Berlin International Film Festival.