The European Film Academy has appointed its first-ever cohort of chapter principals across eight filmmaking disciplines as it expands its commitment to supporting the arts and crafts professions of European filmmaking.
The move follows the introduction in 2025 of chapters dedicated to casting directors, cinematographers, composers, costume designers, editors, make-up and hair artists, production designers, and sound designers.
Appointed by the Board of the European Film Academy, the chapter principals will act as ambassadors and figureheads for their respective disciplines.
They comprise casting director Nina Haun, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, composer Zbigniew Preisner, costume designer Pascaline Chavanne, editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis, makeup artist Waldemar Pokromski (for the hair and makeup chapter), production designer Antxón Gómez Santanderz and sound designer Tarn Willers.
Their mission will be to strengthen connections among members, increase the visibility of their craft, and support the continued growth and cohesion of the European film community. The role of chapter principal is honorary and voluntary, recognising outstanding artistic achievement and international standing within the international film industry.
“The appointment of these first chapter principals is a natural and important next step following the introduction of member chapters last year. Each of them represents excellence in their field of work, and the list of films they have contributed all stand for the immense richness of European cinema,” said Matthijs Wouter Knol, CEO and Academy Director.
“The European Film Academy wishes to give greater visibility and recognition to the many disciplines that shape European films every year. With the support of the chapter principals, we aim to strengthen our members’ sense of community and create new opportunities for dialogue and collaboration across Europe.”
Hailing from Germany, casting director Haun recent credits include Paweł Pawlikowski Cannes 2026 Palme d’Or contender Fatherland as well as Ildikó Enyedi’s Silent Friend, Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness and Pablo Larraín’s Spencer.
Dutch cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, Netherlands is best known for his long collaboration with Christopher Nolan on films including Interstellar, Dunkirk, Tenet, and Oppenheimer, for which he won the Academy Award, Bafta Award, and ASC Award for Best Cinematography.
Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner is best known for his collaboration with director Krzysztof Kieślowski and writer Krzysztof Piesiewicz, and scores for No End, Dekalog, The Double Life of Véronique, and the Three Colours trilogy.
Belgian Costume Designer Pascaline Chavanne has worked with a host of European directors including Christophe Honoré, Roman Polanski, Leos Carax, but is best known for her long working relationship with Ozon, most recently on The Stranger.
Greek editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis has edited than one hundred feature films, which include nearly all the works of Yorgos Lanthimos. His work on The Favourite earned him Oscar and Bafta nominations as well as the European Film Award for European Editor. Most recently, he edited Olivia Wilde’s feature film The Invite.
Polish make-up artist Waldemar Pokromski has worked on more than a hundred film productions, including Oscar-winning films Schindler’s List, The Pianist, The Counterfeiters and The Zone of Interest.
A long-time collaborator of Pedro Almodóvar, Spanish production designer Antxón Gómez Santander’s most recent credit includes Cannes 2026 Palme d’Or contender Bitter Christmas. He was nominated for European Production Design in 2011 for The Skin I Live In and won the European Film Award for Best Production Design in 2019 for Pain and Glory, both Almodóvar collaborations.
UK sound designer Tarn Willers has been recording film sound across Europe for more than 20 years. In 2023, he served as production sound mixer on Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone of Interest, for which he won the Academy Award, Bafta and European Film Award for Best Sound Design together with Johnnie Burn. In 2025, Tarn returned to the UK to collaborate on Charli XCX project The moment directed by Aidan Zamiri and on Rowan Athale’s Giant before he reunited with Pawlikowski for Fatherland in Poland.
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