Breaking the Frame: Women Reimagining Power behind the Camera
Presented by: Mastercard
This panel brings together female filmmakers and film professionals who are redefining what leadership looks like in traditionally male-dominated roles—from cinematography to directing to production management. With a focus on the European and Balkan film industries, the discussion explores the systemic barriers women continue to face, the quiet revolutions happening on sets across the region, and the power of visibility, mentorship, and policy in building a more inclusive film landscape. By spotlighting the voices of both emerging and established professionals, this conversation aims to inspire the next generation and underline the urgency of creating space for women in every corner of the production process—not just in front of the camera but also behind it, where power, authorship, and innovation truly converge.
SPEAKERS
GUDNY HUMMELVOLL
Producer, Hummelfilm | NO
MILENA BEČANOVIĆ
Director of photography | CG
MODERATED BY
TIME
Wednesday, August 20th, 2025
15:00 – 16:00 (CET)
LOCATION
Festival Garden
ASJA KRSMANOVIĆ
Head of CineLink, Sarajevo Film Festival | BA
NORIKA SEFA
Director/Writer | XK
Gudny Hummelvoll
Gudny Hummelvoll has over thirty years of production experience ranging from feature-length films and television to documentary and short films. Her productions include BUDDY, Norway’s biggest box-office hit of 2001; MIRUSH (2006); LIMBO (2010); and PHOENIX (2018). Hummelvoll produced the three seasons of the series OCCUPIED (2015–2020) and co-produced the feature films THE GERMAN DOCTOR, which was selected for Un Certain Regard at the Festival de Cannes in 2013, and HELD FOR RANSOM (2019), CAPTAIN SABRETOOTH (2013), and NOTHING TO LAUGH ABOUT (2021), and the series HEADHUNTERS (2022). He recently produced the Netflix series BILLIONAIRE ISLAND for Rubicon TV. Hummelvoll is a board member of the European Producers Club.
Milena Bečanović
Milena Bečanović is a Montenegrin cinematographer born in 1995 in Kazan, Russia. She studied cinematography in Moscow at VGIK, and during her studies, she worked as a 1st AC and camera operator on large productions. Her graduation film THE RAILROAD (2021) won several international awards, including one for cinematography. After her studies, she moved to Montenegro and Serbia, where she worked as a camera operator on the TV series THE FALL (2023) and UNDERNEATH (2020). As director of photography, she shot the short sci-fi film SATKANI (2024), 2 pilot episodes of the TV program MASCULINE-FEMININE (2025), several music videos, and the short film LA TEMPÊTE/STORM in Paris, which is currently in post-production.
Norika Sefa
Norika Sefa is a filmmaker from Kosovo, best known for her acclaimed 2021 debut feature, Looking for Venera. The film received widespread recognition and numerous awards, establishing her as a bold new voice in contemporary cinema. A writer and director, Norika also produces and edits her own work. Her earlier projects include Desde Arriba, a short documentary filmed in the Peruvian jungle under the mentorship of Werner Herzog. Her most recent film, Like a Sick Yellow (2024), an avant-garde short, expands on her signature style—using experimental documentary to explore new emotional and aesthetic terrain. Norika has presented her work and spoken at various cultural and arts institutions, often discussing her distinct cinematic style and her experience within Kosovo’s emerging film scene. In addition to her creative practice, she is actively involved in teaching. She is a member of the European Film Academy.
Asja Krsmanović
Asja Krsmanović is a scriptwriter and dramaturg with over a decade of experience in festival programming. Since 2011, she has worked for the Sarajevo Film Festival, first as coordinator and then manager of the Competition Program. In 2017, she became the programmer for the Student Film Competition. Since 2022, she has coordinated the Network of Festivals in the Adriatic Region. From 2019-2023, she led a film literacy program at the Obala Art Center. In January 2025, she was appointed Head of CineLink.