European Film Promotion has unveiled its list emerging acting talents from across Europe, the 2026 European Shootings Stars.
The group of 10 actors from across Europe will be introduced to the international industry at the Berlin International Film Festival (Feb. 12-22).
Now in its 29th year, the Shooting Stars program has proven to be the most successful program in identifying and feting up-and-coming European talent. Shooting Stars alum who have used the platform as a springboard include Daniel Craig, Nina Hoss, Daniel Brühl, Andrew Scott, Carey Mulligan, Alba Rohrwacher, Alicia Vikander, Riz Ahmed, Franz Rogowski, Michaela Coel, and Leonie Benesch.
The Shooting Stars class of 2026 includes:
The Kosovan-Albanian won the Best Actress honor at the Nine Eleven Film Festival for her debut, in the short film Rrota, and has been growing her reputation every since, most recently with acclaimed turns in Bujar Alimani’s The Albanian Virgin (2021) and in Ujkan Hysaj’s Hana (2025).
The Belgian-based actress has worked across theatre, TV, and music videos as well as film, where she’s had stand-out roles in such features as Teodora Ana Mihai’s Heysel 85 (2026), and Thom Lunshof’s First Zone (2026). On the small screen, she’s appeared in popular Belgian series The Twelve (2019). Next up is Peter Krüger’s fantasy-tinged drama The Age of Magic (2026).
Joes Brauers began his acting career aged 8 and the Dutch performer has been busy ever since, with turns in the Oscar-nominated Quo vadis, Aida? (2020), and Do Not Hesitate (2021), the Dutch entry for the Academy Awards. More recent stand-outs include starring turns in Jim Taihuttu’s Hardcore Never Dies (2023) and Sander Burger’s Youri (2026).
Since his film debut in All Hands on Deck (2020), which earned him a César nomination for Most Promising Actor, Salif Cissé has been a French talent to watch, showing his ability and range in everything from feature comedy Filmlovers! (2024) and Guess Who Is Calling (2025), on hit Netflix series Lupin (2023), and in this year’s Un Certain Regard breakout Meteors (2025) in Cannes.
Born in Cape Verde and raised in Lisbon, Cleo Diára took the best performance honor at Un Certain Regard in Cannes this year for her starring turn in Pedro Pinho’s I Only Rest in the Storm (2025). Other noteworthy credits include Portuguese satire Diamantino (2018), and this upcoming Prime Video series Lisbon Noir.
The Austrian-born Englander has had a trans-Atlantic life and career, with an education spanning New York to Berlin, London to Paris, and an ecclectic mix of European and U.S. projects, from appearing alongside Nicole Kidman in Hulu series Nine Perfect Strangers (2025) and Eddie Redmayne in Sky/Peacock’s The Day of the Jackal; to supporting turns in Marc Fitoussi’s French thriller Appearances (2020) and in Das Café ohne Namen, the upcoming feature from Austrian director Adrian Goiginger.
Danielle Galligan made her television debut with a small role in Game of Thrones, but will be more familiar to international audiences for her turn as Lady Olivia Hedges in Stephen Knight’s The House of Guinness (2025) on Netflix. On the big screen she appeared opposite former European Shooting Star Éanna Hardwicke in Lakelands (2022), and starred in Brian Durnin’s Spilt Milk (2024).
Tecla Insolia is one of Italy’s fastest-rising young talents, whose caught attention for her small-screen turn in Valeria Golino’s The Art of Joy (2024), and stand-out feature performances in Francesco Costabile’s Familia (2024), and Sara Petraglia’s L’Albero (2024). Credits from this year include in Elisa Amoruso’s Amata (2025) in Venice, and in Damiano Michielett’s period music drama Primavera (2025), which premiered at TIFF.
Sofia Tjelta Sydness caught the attention of an audience outside Norway with her performance as a troubled young woman in TV series Delete Me (2021), a role that led to her Netflix debut in mini-series Midsummer Night (2024). She’s won praise for her range, including playing a MMA combatant in Irasj Asanti’s Fighter (2026). A global film audience will be introduced to the young Norwegian talent in Ruben Östlund’s hotly-anticipated new feature The Entertainment System is Down, where Sydness will appear as the daughter of Daniel Brühl and Kirsten Dunst.
The Berlin-born Enno Trebs made his feature film debut as one of the disturbing children in Michael Haneke’s Palme d’Or–winning drama The White Ribbon (2009). But most art-house audiences will recognize him for his more recent collaborations with German director Christian Petzold, including supporting turns in Undine (2020), Afire (2023), and Miroirs No. 3 (2025). He will next be seen in the lead role in Nicolas Ehret’s Echo of Tomorrow’s War (2026).
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