Award of the Student Jury

This award makes the perspective of students at the IFFMH visible and goes to the film in the competition ON THE RISE with which the jurors make the most passionate connections.

The award is presented by the Student Jury, which consists of three film-enthusiastic students from the region.

This is our Student Jury 2025!

Effi Armbrust

Effi Armbrust studies ethnology and sociology at Heidelberg University, where she is involved in the student film club. Influenced by a study visit to South Korea, she has a particular interest in East Asian cinema and films that raise social issues. With a critical eye, sharpened by academia, a queer-feminist perspective and socio-political engagement, she understands film not only as an aesthetic expression, but also as a tool for making power relations visible and shifting perspectives.

Firenze Leem

Firenze Leem is a transnational, transcultural, transmedia, film, festival and cultural professional with B.A. in Cultural Studies from the University of Sydney and currently pursuing a Master's in Transcultural Studies at Heidelberg University. Experienced in diverse roles across the international film festival circuit, as Film Curator, Festival Relations Manager and others. Passionately committed to connecting bold, diverse films from underrepresented communities with global audiences, focusing scholarly and professional research on intersections between international film festivals and marginalized/niche narratives - including Global South, diaspora, decolonial, and activist cinema. Academic works have been presented and published internationally, in the U.S., Poland, the U.K., and beyond.

Sara Wasicsek Junge Jury

Sara Wasicsek is studying political science as her main subject and psychology as her minor at the University of Mannheim. Her enthusiasm for film began in her hometown of Timișoara, Romania, where she was involved in community cinemas and film festivals. She is particularly interested in films that address social issues and highlight human connections.