SOON!-competition 2026

In the SOON! competition, a professional youth jury – the Young Talents – chaired by a Belgian film professional, awards new filmmakers who have made a significant impact with their first or second film at prestigious international festivals, or gems that we have discovered ourselves.

Our Young Talents are five young creators (directors, but also actors) who have recently presented notable work or who are about to release a brand-new project into the world.

Jury

Jennifer Heylen

You may know Jennifer Heylen as a jury member on 'De Slimste Mens ter Wereld' or as an actress in films such as 'Patsers' and 'Julian', and in series like the Cannes-acclaimed 'Oh, Otto' and the highly anticipated second season of 'Roomies'. 2025 was undoubtedly a landmark year for the Brussels-based actress, crowned by the release of the new Streamz series 'The Best Immigrant', in which she plays the lead role. There could be no better candidate to take on the role of chair of the SOON! jury.

Willem De Schryver

After completing his studies at KASK in Ghent, he got famous for his role as Alexander Vandael in the drama series 'Knokke Off'. He has since added a role in 'Assisen: De insulinemoorden' and a leading role in the drama series 'The big fuck-up' to his résumé. In 2026, he will return in the third season of 'Knokke Off'.

Michael Abay

Brussels-based director Michael Abay won the Ensor for Best Short Film in 2024 with 'Klette', his graduation project at RITCS. The short film had previously received the VAF Fiction Wildcard (2022) and was selected for the Leuven International Short Film Festival. In addition, Abay directed the series 'Kameleon' and the new Streamz Original 'The Best Immigrant', which has been available to stream since December.

Nadège Iris Bibo-Tansia

Nadège Iris Bibo-Tansia is a Belgian-Congolese actress and emerging screenwriter. She appeared in the series 'Panna' and 'Uw rider is onderweg', and gained wider recognition with a role in the acclaimed series 'Putain'. In addition to acting, she also co-wrote the script for the latter. She made her film debut with 'Le voyage de Talia', in which she played the lead role.

Felix Heremans

Since his appearance as the youngest ever contestant and being a top favourite on 'De Slimste Mens ter Wereld', Felix Heremans has been a familiar face to the general public. The young actor, now known for his humour and fearless presence, shone in the Brussels-based drama series 'Putain' and had previously already made a strong impression with his acting debut in Fien Troch’s 'Holly'. Since this year, he has been studying drama at KASK in Ghent.