Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė selected for the European Shooting Stars 2021

Today the European Film Promotion (EFP) has announced that Lithuanian actress Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė has been shortlisted among the ten talented newcomer actors selected for the European Shooting Stars 2021!

For her first leading role in Andrius Blaževičius’ second feature film Runner, which was presented as part of the online Karlovy Vary Eastern Promises programme, Žygimantė Elena Jakštaitė from Lithuaniareceived high praise from the experts: ″Elena proves a force of nature, full of passion and raw energy that virtually leaps off the screen”.

An international expert jury selected the year’s ten best European talented newcomers from the candidates who were nominated by 37 EFP member organisations – including the Lithuanian Film Centre.

For the first time, EFP will present the ten emerging European actors to the film industry, public and international press as part of a three-day online programme. The 24th edition of EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS, EFP’s oldest and most prestigious initiative to promote European acting talent, will take place digitally, from 23 to 25 February 2021, one week before the industry events of this year’s 71st Berlinale (1 – 5 March). The Shooting Stars Award Ceremony will take place in the framework of the Berlinale screenings in the summer.

EUROPEAN SHOOTING STARS is considered an important stepping-stone towards an international career – most notable SHOOTING STARS of recent years include: Matilda de Angelis (The Undoing), Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman, The Great Gatsby), Alba Rohrwacher (Happy as Lazzaro), Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider), Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), Riz Ahmed (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Mogul Mowgli- Berlinale2020), George MacKay(1917), and Louis Hofmann (Netflix’s Dark)

The European Shooting Stars which kicked off in 1998 during the Berlin International Film Festival is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the EU as well as the participating EFP member organisations and other cooperation partners. The Lithuanian Film Centre is the member of EFP since 2013.

Further information on the European Shooting Stars is available online at www.shooting-stars.eu.