Václav Havel Jury

In the Right to Know section, the film that makes an exceptional contribution to the protection of human rights is selected to receive the Right to Know Competition Award for the Best Film. The jury is composed of distinguished human rights defenders and representatives from the non-governmental sector or institutions.

Maria Tomak

Ukrainian human rights expert, researcher, advocacy expert. Having started from journalism and volunteering for the Euromaidan SOS initiative, Maria moved on to actively participate in documenting human rights violations in eastern Ukraine and Russia’s seizure of Crimea. She was a co-founder of the NGO Media Initiative for Human Rights which is focused on journalism investigations into human rights violations related to the Russian aggression against Ukraine.

In January 2022, Maria shifted from NGO to the governmental sector. Till December 2024, she served as the head of the Crimea Platform Department at the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. In 2025 Maria is back to civil society. Jointly with the team of the Truth Hounds NGO she is focusing on researching the recruitment of the foreign fighters from the Global South by Russia as well as international advocacy activities.

Noah Bullock

Noah Bullock is the Executive Director of Cristosal, a regional organization with 25 years of experience in the defense of human rights and a presence in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. He joined Cristosal in 2005 as a human rights intern, shortly after graduating from the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, with an emphasis in Peace and Conflict Studies. In 2001, he also completed a program at the International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE), a joint initiative of the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland and the United Nations University. From 2006 to 2009, he directed Cristosal’s Community Development Program while pursuing further academic studies. In 2009, he earned a postgraduate degree in Local Development from the José Simeón Cañas Central American University, graduating cum laude. That same year, he initiated the documentary project For a More Humane World, focused on internal displacement, serving as executive producer until its release in April 2010. Since 2010, Noah has served as Cristosal’s Executive Director, a position he continues to hold today.

Tuan Nguyen

Tuan Nguyen is a Vietnamese human rights defender and security advisor with over 10 years of experience supporting civil society actors and at-risk activists. His work focuses on protection, risk assessment, and practical safety strategies for human rights defenders facing political pressure and security threats.

He specializes in transnational repression, with particular attention to risks affecting exiled activists, diaspora communities, and cross-border advocacy networks. He has worked with human rights defenders across the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen security awareness, prevention measures, and incident response planning.

His approach is practical, field-based, and centered on the real protection needs of defenders and vulnerable communities.

Other Juries

International Competition Jury

The International Competition Jury presents two awards in the International Competition section: the International Competition Award for the Best Film and the International Competition Award for the Best Director. The jury consists of distinguished film experts from abroad and the Czech Republic.

Václav Havel Jury

Czech Competition Jury

The jury presents the Czech Competition Award for the Best Film from the past and current year in the Czech Competition section.

Virtual Reality Jury

The jury grants the Virtual Reality Competition Award for the Best Film to the immersive film with the most significant social impact in the Virtual Reality section. The use of contemporary immersive technology and distinctive storytelling to raise awareness of human rights issues is evaluated. The jury comprises artists, theorists, journalists, and experts in the fields of immersive and gaming art, as well as virtual reality.

Regional Jury

The regional jury comprises two representatives nominated by our regional partners. The nominees are selected from One World’s fans and supporters in the relevant town. The jury is then complemented by the holder of the Golden Projectionist title, which is awarded by our platform Get Your Audience. The winning film that receives the Regional Jury Award will be included in the selection of films featured in the Get Your Audience programme in 2026.

Student Jury

Every year, we select several active secondary school students involved in the One World in Schools programme. They then evaluate the best film in the One World for Students section during the festival. The winning film is announced at the closing ceremony and receives the Student Jury Award.

Audience Award for the Best Film

Viewers can vote for their favourite film. The highest-rated film will receive the Audience Award for the Best Film. Voting takes place directly in cinemas on tablets. You can rate the film by marking one to five stars. Five is the highest, and one is the lowest.

Abakus Foundation Audience Award for Exceptional Debate

Audience members choose the post-film debate that has been the most rewarding for them and best complemented the screened film. Voting takes place on tablets or via QR codes at the exit from the cinema hall. The award is supported by the Abakus Foundation.

Children Jury

The Children Jury Award will be presented for the second time in the One World for Children category for a short film that is part of the morning school screenings. It will be chosen by the students themselves, who are involved in the year-round One World in Schools activities.