During the Young Critics Workshop, organised in collaboration with photogénie, at the 51st edition of Film Fest Gent, five aspiring film critics (aged 18-26) write reviews on our festival films. The participants are guided by Savina Petkova and Michaël Van Remoortere.

Participants

  • Marina Zigneli

    I'm a film critic currently in my third year of PhD studies, researching the work of Maria Plyta, the first female Greek director. Earlier this year, I was part of the European Workshop for Film Criticism and, since 2022, I’ve been a film selector for the Women Over 50 Film Festival. My writings, in both Greek and English, have been featured in various online and print publications.

  • Theo Du

    I grew up in Hong Kong, and am now based in Amsterdam. I have a Master’s in Film Studies from the University of Amsterdam and was involved with the UvA Film Club. While my academic interest in film remains, the world of criticism seems much more suited for my ever-flowing stream of dedications and diatribes. Been cultivating a steady diet of experimental films, B-movies, and films people might otherwise call ‘boring’. To use a vegetal metaphor, my favourite kind of films are like bitter melons: unpleasant and off putting for some, sweet and delectable for me and my friends.

  • Emily Jisoo Bowles

    I’m a British-Korean writer, translator, and film programmer based in London. I’ve worked with Queer East Festival to curate short film programs, and I currently run a community cinema club called Jjambbong film, which is centred around participatory spectatorship and fansubbing lesser-seen Asian films. One day I hope to write truly transcendent film criticism.

  • Ana Đošev

    As a 21-year-old musicology student and cinephile, “interdisciplinary” has been the keyword of my film criticism journey so far. Currently writing for the Serbian movie critic platform Filmoskopija, I do reviews and essays while also gaining hands-on experience at local film festivals. Believing that every creative outlet deserves a thoughtful approach, I don’t shy away from the campy and sometimes banal world of genre cinema, with a particular passion for horror films. My background in musical performance and theory fuels my writing, blending different artistic and cultural influences. For me, [film] criticism is all about bridging gaps between unthinkable opposites.

  • Matheus Felix Melchioretto

    Brazilian (although, as Carlos Drummond de Andrade said, it’s not certain such a thing exists). Graduated in Anthropology (though not an anthropologist). Currently translating the works of Charles Péguy. At some point of his youth decided for cinema.