Eldin serves on the three-person International Short Film Jury for the 76th Berlinale, evaluating 21 nominated films.
The Berlin International Film Festival has announced the selection of Syrian filmmaker Ameer Fakher Eldin as a member of the Short Film Competition Jury for its upcoming 76th edition, recognising his distinctive and internationally acclaimed cinematic voice.
The jury will decide the Golden Bear for Best Short Film, the Silver Bear Jury Prize, and the Berlin Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards. The awards will be presented at the Berlinale Palast on February 21, 2026.
The appointment marks a return to the Berlinale for Fakher Eldin, whose second feature film, Yunan, previously had its world premiere at the festival. The film stood out as the only Arab title in the international competition, further cementing his presence on the global festival circuit.
Written, directed and edited by Fakher Eldin, Yunan stars German cinema icon Hanna Schygulla alongside acclaimed Lebanese actor Georges Khabbaz. Since its premiere, the film has garnered strong critical praise and a number of international accolades, including Best Actor and Best Actress awards at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, Best Film from The Arab Critics Awards for European Films, and two Yusr Awards for Best Director and Best Actor at its Arab premiere during the Red Sea International Film Festival.
Born to Syrian parents from the occupied Golan Heights and currently based in Germany, Fakher Eldin is known for a poetic filmmaking style that explores themes of exile, identity, displacement and the idea of home. His work often reflects personal and collective experiences shaped by geography and belonging.
Yunan represents the second instalment in a planned feature film trilogy by Fakher Eldin. The trilogy began with his debut feature, The Stranger, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, was filmed in the occupied Golan Heights, and was later named among the Top 100 Arab Films by Cinemayaat (AFMI). Fakher Eldin is currently developing the third and final chapter of the trilogy.
