Black Nights Stars, the talent-spotlighting platform of Discovery Campus, the international education programme at Industy@Tallinn & Baltic Event, has revealed the eight emerging actors and actresses selected for its 2025 edition.
Chosen from more than 200 applicants via the casting platform e-TALENTA, the participants will join an intensive program of workshops, panels and networking events, aimed at preparing them for work on the international stage.
Over the past nine years, Black Nights Stars has become a vital bridge between regional talent and the international film community, showcasing the Baltic Sea Region as a dynamic hub for emerging actors.
“Black Nights Stars has served as a springboard for young actors from the region, helping them secure roles in films and TV series and sign with leading talent agents,” said Claudia Landsberger, Head of the Black Nights Stars programme. “Most importantly, many casting directors have discovered actors they went on to cast in films and series after meeting them through this initiative.”
Each year, Black Nights Stars brings together some of the region’s most promising new faces and connects them with key global decision-makers. “The programme not only supports their artistic development but also helps them navigate the international film industry, opening doors to opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach,” Landsberger added.
The eight selected Black Nights Stars 2025 are: Freddie Mosten Jacob (Sweden), Karolina Bruchnicka (Poland), Kasparas Varanavičius (Lithuania), Kristiin Räägel (Estonia), Saku Taittonen (Finland), Samirah Breuer (Germany), Tessa Hoder (Denmark),and Ursel Tilk (Estonia).
The promising young talents from the Baltic Sea region were selected by an international jury of professionals, incuding Casting Directors Luci Lenox from Spain and the UK, Frank Moiselle from the UK and Ireland, Minna Sorvoja from Finland, Magdalena Szwarcbart from Poland, Heli Jürisson, casting director from Estonia, Dragan Greensmith, talent agent from Serbia and Sten Hassing Møller, talent agent from Sweden.
The selected Black Nights Stars will gather in Tallinn from 18 to 21 November in 2025. Over the course of the program, they will meet with casting directors, talent agents, producers, and directors, while participating in a series of workshops, panels, and networking events. The activities will be designed to equip the young actors with new skills, connections, and insights, offering them unprecedented access to opportunities in the international film industry.
As part of the Discovery Campus initiative, the eight chosen actors will also receive the Black Nights Stars Discovery Campus ICDA Award, recognizing their outstanding potential and their selection as Black Nights Stars 2025.
Discovery Campus is the international continuing education programme of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event and the Black Nights Film Festival, designed to help early-career film professionals upgrade their skills, grow their networks, and learn from world-class mentors. Its initiatives—Black Room, Script Pool, Music Meets Film, Black Nights Stars, and Frame Within a Frame—bring together diverse talents from across the creative industries.
Bios of Black Nights Stars 2025:
Freddie Mosten Jacob is an actress based in Sweden. Starting her career, she was awarded an honorable mention at the Sweden Short Film Festival 2015 for her debut role in the short film CATWALK by Ninja Thyberg (Pleasure), with casting by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén (Clara Sola). Throughout the years, Freddie has starred in various short films and drama series such as THE RESTAURANT (Vår Tid Är Nu), VERONIKA, and the worldwide successful Netflix series THE ÅRE MURDERS (Åremorden). She graduated from Prague Film School in 2024, where she studied Acting for Film with American actress Amy Huck as her mentor. The same year, she received the "Best Actress 2024" award at Torino Underground Cinefest for embodying the lead role in the feature SUICIDE TUESDAY, by Joakim Paronen.
Karolina Bruchnicka is an actress from Poland. In 2020, she graduated from the National Film School in Łódź. During her studies, Karolina made an impressive debut in the leading role of COACH’S DAUGHTER, directed by Łukasz Grzegorzek. With this performance, Karolina won the Rising Star Award at the Off Camera International Festival of Independent Cinema in Kraków. Following this success, she played the female lead in two seasons of the Canal+ Original series MOMENT OF SILENCE by Jacek Lusiński, appeared in the series OSIECKA, directed by Robert Gliński, starred in the leading role in the romantic comedy feature film 8 RZECZY, KTÓRYCH NIE WIECIE O FACETACH by Sylwester Jakimow, and took part in the experimental film MONUMENT by Jagoda Szelc. She also appeared in MY WONDERFUL LIFE by Łukasz Grzegorzek (streamed worldwide on Netflix), ALL OUR FEARS by Łukasz Ronduda & Łukasz Gutt— which won the main award at the Gdynia Polish Film Festival in 2021 — and PROROK by Michał Kondrat. Her most recent performances include a supporting role as Anna in the international co-production DELEGATION by Asaf Saban, which premiered at the Berlinale; a leading role in the sci-fi superhero film SUPERSISTERS; and the second season of the Canal+ Original series MOMENT OF SILENCE, which premiered in September 2025. She combines a natural screen presence with theatrical depth, having won the Best Female Performance Award at the International Theatre School Festival in Rabat. One of her most meaningful stage works is the monodrama "Rita", a powerful portrayal of Rita Gombrowicz’s complex relationship with writer Witold Gombrowicz.
Kasparas Varanavičius is an actor, dancer, and singer from Lithuania who graduated in acting from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2022. Kasparas' acting career started in his early teens, when he performed in a few roles in The National Theatre of Kaunas. Even before starting his studies in the academy, Kasparas received a few roles in student films, two of which were awarded the 'Egg of the Silver Crane' for the best student film in Lithuania. During his studies, he played in The State Youth Theatre, as well as in a few roles with the independent theatre troupe 'Teatronas'. Kaspar played in two award-winning short films: TECHNO, MAMA by Saulius Baradinskas and LEFT HANDED PEN by Adas Burkšaitis. Other roles followed, such as in Saulės' Bliuvaitės' full feature TOXIC; the lead role in TV series LANDFILL PEOPLE by Inesa Kurklietytė, and a solo role in The Musical Theatre of Panevėžys. The next upcoming project with Kasparas will be a short film by Saulius Baradinskas’ CONCRETE KIDS.
Kristiin Räägel is an actress from Estonia. She grew up in the deep forests of South-Estonia, and her wild spirit reflects in her film and theatre roles. She graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2020 and joined the ensemble of Tallinn City Theatre, where in 2022 she received the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Nastasja Filippovna and the most occupied actor award. She has played leading roles in short films like THE RAVE by Johannes Magnus Aule which won the best student short award at Ravenheart Film Festival, and FORGOTTEN SUMMER HAZE by Teresa Juksaar, which was selected for PÖFF. In 2022, she received the Kristallkingakese award for her notable theatre roles. Right now, she is in the production of Hedda Gabler at her home theatre, where she is playing the lead role.
Saku Taittonen is a Finnish actor who graduated from the University of the Arts Helsinki, Theatre Academy. Known for his focus and ability to get into character, Saku represents a new generation of Finnish talent. He made his film debut in a lead role in LEVOTON TUHKIMO (My Name is Dingo 2024), directed by Mari Rantasila. The role earned him a Jussi Award for portraying a well-known Finnish rockstar, requiring him to adopt a new dialect, undergo a physical transformation, and capture the presence of a historically recognizable figure. Even before graduating, Saku’s range has been visible in Finnish film and television, from comedy HÖYHENSARJA to thriller HELSINKI SYNDROME, as well as in several short films. Taittonen has already secured his first international role in a major production to be announced soon.
Samirah Breuer is a German-American actress based in Berlin. She discovered her passion for acting early on, performing in school theatre and attending a youth acting school in Cologne. After training at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City, she began building a versatile screen career in Germany, recently expanding her work to the stage. Since 2022, Samirah has taken on roles across a wide range of genres. She joined the cast of the award-winning comedy DIE DISCOUNTER by Bruno Alexander, Emil Belton, and Oskar Belton, which won the German Screen Actors Award for Best Ensemble. She then went on to star in Prime Video’s fantasy series THE GRYPHON by Sebastian Marka. Most recently, she captivates audiences as Olivia in Apple TV+’s medical drama BERLINER, directed by Alex Schaad and Fabian Möhrke, for which she is nominated for the German Screen Actors Award in the category ´Best Duo’. In 2024, she took on the lead role in the coming-of-age thriller series SCHATTENSEITE, directed by Özgür Yildirim and Alison Kuhn, which premiered at this year´s Munich International Film Festival. In addition to her screen work, Samirah recently made her stage debut at the Volksbühne in Weiße Witwe, directed by Kudwin Ayub, while studying psychology at Humboldt University Berlin.
Tessa Hoder is an actress from Denmark. She recently starred in the Oscar-nominated movie THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE, which competed at the Cannes Film Festival 2024. She made her acting debut in 2017 in the Netflix series RITA, portraying the younger version of the beloved main character. She has since had a mix of supporting and smaller parts in 5 Danish TV shows, such as THOSE WHO KILL and SOMMERDAHL. She played the lead role in the 2019 web series ONDT I RØVEN. She took intensive courses outside of Denmark, such as at The William Esper studio in New York, and worked with performance art at the Lunga school in Iceland, developing her craft outside of the traditional acting schools. Seeking out non-traditional projects, she has worked with the award-winning, controversial performance group SIGNA, the interactive theatre format, developing her skills in working in a high-intensity environment, extensive character building, and long-duration improvisation.
**Ursel Tilk **is an Estonian actor who graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2018 and began his career at Paide Theatre. During his studies, he also worked with Jan Fabre’s Troubleyn company in Belgium, touring internationally with the performance Belgian Rules, Belgium Rules. Since 2022, he has been a member of the Estonian Drama Theatre, debuting as Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment by Ene-Liis Semper/Tiit Ojasoo. On screen, Ursel first appeared in MELCHIOR THE APOTHECARY: THE GHOST. His breakthrough came with the leading role in Rainer Sarnet’s THE INVISIBLE FIGHT, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, 2021, earning him Best Actor at the Estonian Film and Television Awards and the Cultural Endowment of Estonia Award. He has since starred in LIFE AND LOVE by Helen Takkin, and THE BLACK HOLE by Moonika Siimets, receiving another Cultural Endowment Award for his portrayal of Jüri. Most recently, he starred alongside British comedian Matt Berry in Ewan Twohy’s BUBBLE & SQUEAK, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2025. Ursel continues to balance stage and screen work. His upcoming role as Hamlet, directed by Rainer Sarnet, will premiere at the Estonian Drama Theatre in February 2026.