Youth Award

Young voices matter!

In order to amplify young peoples perspectives, the Youth Jury Prize will be awarded again in 2026. Together with Schools Against Hunger, we emphasize the importance of youth involvement in key sociopolitical issues. In this way, we are promoting the active participation of dedicated young people in shaping our future.

The winning film will be screened in schools across Germany, further extending its impact and engaging students nationwide.

Winner 2026: THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT by Emily Mkrtichian

To the Film

Nominated Films 2026

BLACK WATER

In southern Bangladesh, Lokhi and her family flee the immediate impacts of the climate crisis to Dhaka – a film about the unavoidable present of the crisis.

TO THE FILM

CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS

As the first councilwoman in her Iranian village, Sara Shahverdi fights against patriarchy by teaching girls to ride motorcycles and stopping child marriages, until accusations put her identity in turmoil.

TO THE FILM

NIÑXS

Karla is 15 and, in Tepoztlán, Mexico, navigates her gender transition and journey of self-discovery. She shapes her own story and over eight years, a radiant film about friendship, autonomy, and hope unfolds.

TO THE FILM

RUNA SIMI

In Peru, Fernando dubs Disney clips into Quechua with his son. His dream: “The Lion King” in their own language — a fight for visibility and cultural participation.

TO THE FILM

THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT

The first line of every Armenian fairy tale, THERE WAS, THERE WAS NOT tells the collective myth of a homeland lost forever – and four women’s resistance to that loss.

TO THE FILM

Jury 2026

Charlotte Kleinert

As part of her voluntary social year, Charlotte is involved with Schools Against Hunger, the educational programme run by Action Against Hunger. She particularly values the opportunity to engage students in discussions about global issues, to hear their perspectives, and to help ensure that young people’s voices are heard on the major challenges of our time. As the youngest member of the team, she brings exactly this perspective into the jury. Outside of this, Charlotte is a passionate handball player, demonstrating the same energy and team spirit that she brings to her voluntary work.

Dimitrios L. Margellos

Dimitrios is a Berlin-based writer and researcher with a passion for the human dimension of politics. As a published author and expert in international relations, he has explored topics such as economic inequality, climate change, and geopolitics. A politics nerd by day and an art hunter by night, Dimitrios is always in search of films that distil the complex world of political life into stories where politics feels real. Dimitrios lives by Kurt Vonnegut’s saying: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.

Dorothea Herrmann

Dorothea is completing her voluntary social year with Schools Against Hunger, the educational programme run by Action Against Hunger, where she is committed to promoting a more just world. As the youngest member of the team, she brings the perspective of the main target group into the film evaluation: she still closely relates to the viewpoint of students and understands what elements a film needs to truly reach, inspire, and motivate young people to take action. Outside of her voluntary work, Dorothea finds balance and energy in martial arts.

Haidy Alrafie

Haidy is a Berlin-based creative designer specialising in visual communication, branding, and social issues. She works at the intersection of art, culture, and NGO initiatives focused on inclusion and representation, and has collaborated with projects such as YOUNA and SİNEMA TRANSTOPIA. Her approach combines research with design, aiming to develop accessible and thoughtful design solutions that empower underrepresented communities.

Janani Padmanabhan

Janani is a project manager with an intersectional feminist approach and around six years of experience at the intersection of politics, public policy, and gender. She currently works at the Open Government Partnership, where she coordinates fundraising, donor relations, and organisation-wide reporting. Previously, she worked at the Better Politics Foundation, managing a project portfolio aimed at promoting women’s political leadership worldwide. She holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from the Hertie School in Berlin, with a focus on digital governance and gender. In her free time, Janani enjoys crocheting, learning languages, cooking, and—of course—watching films.

In cooperation with:

Schulen gegen den Hunger | Gymnasium Verl

last update:

22. APRIL 2026