This year's jury
International jury
Zsuzsanna Bak (Hungary)
Hungarian writer, director and story editor. After graduating in Classical Philology and English Literature, she published three books, one of which was adopted for stage. Her first feature as a film writer, Curtiz (distributed by Netflix Global), won the Grand Prix in Montreal. Shoes and Hooves a short animation (in competition in Annecy) won Mélies d’Argent and was long-listed at the Oscars 2025. She has written over 16 short films, most of them competing in prominent film festivals. Uncle Zsiga debuted in Female Eye in cooperation with TIFF, Mentor won Best Writing in BELIFF. If Once was named as Best Hungarian Short Film in BuSho. Most of her writing highlights sensitive topics like identity issues, bullying, and existing in a politically charged era. Order and Soul, her directorial debut documentary about illegal nuns during the communist regime, won Grand Prix at Religion Today Film Festival and was competing in Astra Film Festival; Evanescence Moments premiered at Biograph Festival, Bologna. Besides teaching film writing and directing in two film universities and running a writing faculty, she is a constant applicant and participant in international labs and forums (Series Mania, WEMW, Midpoint, Full Moon). She is a main jury member and international jury coordinator at BuSho Film Festival, and consultant to Mosalsalat Screenwriter’s Lab (Royal Film Commission, Jordan).
Mathijs Geijskes (Netherlands)
After studying Theater and Film Studies at Utrecht University, he made his debut in 1996 with the television film Dakvorst / Man on the Roof in the NTR (formerly NPS) series Novellen. Since then, Mathijs has made many short films and commercials. Together, these films have won more than 35 awards at international film festivals. In addition to his film, television, and commissioned work, he has also been active as a workshop leader in recent years. He gives workshops on short filmmaking at the Eye Film Museum in Amsterdam, as well as to college and university students in the Netherlands and abroad. From the ‘t Hoogt film house in Utrecht, Mathijs also gives film lessons at secondary and primary schools.
Biljana Jovanovic (Croatia)
Biljana Jovanović is a Croatia-born, Budapest-based art director with extensive international experience. She recently led the ambitious full-scale Boeing 747 build for Ruben Östlund’s The Entertainment System Is Down. Her work on Alien: Romulus and The Alienist earned nominations from the Art Directors Guild (ADG), an organization that honors excellence in production design. She loves bringing stories to life through creative design and is passionate about creating spaces that help tell the story and make the film world feel real.
Simon Szabó (Hungary)
Simon Szabó is a Hungarian actor, director, and writer whose work spans film, television, music, and live events. His short films—like Wall and Man from the Fire—have been recognized at international festivals including Berlinale and the European Film Awards. As an actor, he has appeared in numerous Hungarian and international productions, including Red Sparrow, Budapest Noir, and X Company. Beyond narrative film, his creative range extends to music videos and commercials for global brands and artists. With a diverse career spanning film, television, theatre, music, and event production, he continues to be a significant figure in Hungarian and international cinema.
Student jury
Anna Boglárka Varga (SZFE)
I graduated this year with a bachelor’s degree in film and television directing and will continue my studies in film directing from September. I love the world of short films, as it’s very exciting to see the stories that filmmakers can tell in a limited time frame.
Bozó Bekő (ELTE)
I finished my BA in 2024 at ELTE University in film directing, under György Pálos. After university, I started working as a projectionist at the Cirkó-Gejzír cinema, which allows me to watch a huge amount of films — something I might even enjoy more than making them.
Csanád Baksa-Soós (MOME)
At MOME I graduated first in 2022 with a BA in Media Design, and then in 2025 with a Master’s degree in Animation. I am also the founder and program officer of the Galeri Film Club, an animation community at MOME. I am primarily involved in visual arts, filmmaking and music. I prefer to work with mixing analogue and digital techniques, stop-motion and experimental animation, directing video clips, editing as a creative process, as well as composing.
Dudás Hédi (EKKE)
I’m currently studying screenwriting and editing at Eszterházy Károly Catholic University. Whether it’s writing or editing, dramaturgy always plays a central role in the filmmaking process. I believe that being exposed to as many strong and well-structured examples as possible can greatly support my development.
Lili Murányi (METU)
I am a graduating student at METU, majoring in Film and Television Directing. This year, my short film was awarded second place in the Motion Picture section of the OTDK. I do freelance photography and 3D modelling. The films I mostly look for and love are the ones that can completely change my perspective. My favourite genre is the doc.
Program Director
Levente Galambos
cinematographer, ex and soon-to-be artistic-engineering student with four years of pre-jury experience.
“I welcome sho(r)ts in a glass and on the screen too.”
1st Round Pre-jury
Jan Trülzsch
Cinematography student
I am 23 year old Cinematography student at University of Television and Film Munich.
“For me watching all those gave me the opportunity to get inspiration for my own material and gave me a deeper understanding of what works and what doesnt in short films.”
Martina Chamrad
Writer
I have been working as a writer and concepter in advertising, film and documentary film for over 12 years and am now also studying screenwriting at the renowned University of Television and Film in Munich
“Especially as an author, it was incredibly interesting for me to see the most diverse stories and forms of storytelling realized in films. Truly inspiring.”
Dylan Howard
Screenwriter/Film Content Creator
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, and currently located in Munich Germany, working as a Freelancer. My passion for the art of cinema is deeply rooted in my soul since I was able to open my eyes as a kid. Films are my life. The impact cinema has had on my life is astronomical and nothing in this world beats the feeling of watching something original you’ve never seen before, that changes the way you see yourself and the world around you.
Zoltán Debreczeni
Animation director, motion graphic designer, teacher
I was born in Budapest, 1990. I studied in the Animation Director and Art and Design Teacher master program at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design. Before, took several workshops and training to improve my filmmaking skills. I’m currently working as a freelancer animation film director, compositor, illustrator, motion picture teacher, character, and motion graphic designer.
“Every year, more and more films are about some level of vulnerability, hopelessness and the despair that comes with it. All this highlights the need for cinema to be a people-centred medium for social and economic problems.“
Réka Ratter
Freelance teacher
I am a film-loving, cinema-enthusiast outsider.
“National diversity, poignant social issues, individual dilemmas, gripping life stories, moments, still images… and I could go on… that’s what this year’s films are all about. A real challenge for the jury, an unforgettable experience for the audience. Thanks and congratulations to the creators!“
Lilla Gulyás
Director
I work in directing fields and I am creating creative concepts. Visuality is my most valued importance in filmmaking, so I look for extraordinary orcaptivating visual solutions in the juried films.
“This is my third year as a pre-jury member and I have the impression that every year more and more high-quality works are nominated for this festival, which is a great pleasure for me. I am very critical in general and it was difficult to weigh up among the many good works. Congratulations to all of the nominees!”
Bianka Farkas
Animation student
I am currently studying in the animation BA program at MOME.
“I really enjoyed the pre-selection. I cried, I laughed – it has never been this good. ;)”
Dávid Korom
Cameraman, drone pilot
I have been working as a freelance drone pilot and cameraman for 8 years based in Budapest. I studied Energy engineering at BME, where I dealt with the industrial use of drones. My father is a cinematographer, so image creation has been close to me since childhood.
“As a pre-jury member, it’s always exciting to see films from different countries that bring a variety of styles and stories. While not all of the films were outstanding, in the case of a couple of films I saw incredibly sophisticated or exciting imagery.”
Esma Günesoglu
Aspiring cinematographer
As a cinematography student at HFF Munich, my life circles around cameras and wrangling bro codes.
“After seeing all the submitted works, I’m so excited for the next generations of filmmakers. It’s gonna be bold, unexpected, and absolutely full of heart.”
2nd Round Pre-jury
Beatrix Tordai
Social media manager, photographer
I’m a returning pre-jury member at BuSho Film Festival, first joining in 2024. With a background in cinematography, I still stay close to film as a project manager or assistant on various productions. Currently, I work as a social media manager and photographer.
“This year, I was especially impressed by the strong storytelling in the films, both on personal and social levels.”
Anna Dóra Laky
Director
By my reckoning, this is the third time I’ve pre-juried at Busho and I can now confidently say “bests”:
“One of the best and, in its low-key style, most heartbreaking short films I’ve ever seen is André Hayato’s AMARELA from Brazil. Set decades ago and yet relevant today, it is a masterfully made film of belonging, identity and outcasthood, with a beautiful performance by a young Brazilian girl of Japanese origins. My other favourite is the dance film ‘Waving Distances’ by Kinga Kovács. Dance film is a genre that is very dear to me, and Kinga approaches both dance and film with exceptional sensitivity and skill, a movingly beautiful film.”
Ádám Varga
Account manager
I’ve become a simple cinema-goer, a former film student, a failed English teacher, a hobby snob. Oh, and I also travel.
“Even the “average” films were great, it was hard to decide this year.”
Zoltán Gergely
Director, screenwriter, editor
I still like going to the movies and sitting in the dark feeling the vibe of the audience and the characters on the silver screen.
“Being a pre-jury is only a seemingly easy task. After all, watching short films that you would pay to see at a festival is definitely worth it. But among some lousy films, and a lot of mediocre, completely average films, you have to find the few brilliant ones that make BUSHO worth going to.”
Fanni Pintér
Graphic designer, motion designer
As a designer, my focus is on visual storytelling. I seek out elements that elevate the narrative of the films beyond the ordinary. Creativity has to be at the heart of the process, but it is always anchored by a clear, intentional storyline.
“This is my first time as pre-jury for animations, and the amount of great submissions was astonishing. We chose to highlight works with compelling visual experiences – they speak both to the intellect and the emotions.”