We are honored to welcome Jürgen Prochnow, one of the most influential figures in German and international cinema, as a jury member of the RETURN Film Festival. His remarkable career bridges German cinema and international film history and includes some of the most significant and enduring productions of recent decades. Prochnow achieved his international breakthrough as the U-boat commander “Kaleun” in Wolfgang Petersen’s Das Boot (1981). His intense performance brought him worldwide recognition and paved the way for an impressive international career. In the years that followed, he appeared in a wide range of genres and productions, including David Lynch’s Dune, John Carpenter’s In the Mouth of Madness, Air Force One alongside Harrison Ford, and The English Patient. It is precisely his versatility that makes Jürgen Prochnow such an exceptional representative of the art of cinema. Whether in demanding drama, science fiction, thriller, action film, or major international productions, Prochnow brings a distinctive presence and depth to his characters. Throughout his career, he has worked with numerous renowned directors of international cinema and has left a lasting impression on generations of audiences. We are delighted to welcome Jürgen Prochnow as a member of the jury at the RETURN Film Festival.

We are delighted to welcome Saralisa Volm, a versatile and committed figure in the German film and cultural landscape, as a member of the jury of the RETURN Film Festival. As an actress, author, producer and curator, Saralisa Volm has worked for many years at the intersection of film, art and social discourse. Her work is characterized by curiosity, independence and the courage to explore new perspectives and question established ways of thinking. As an actress, she has appeared in numerous film and television productions, while also realizing her own projects as a producer and cultural practitioner. Beyond the screen, she engages intensively with questions of the body, identity, art and social perception. Through her books and cultural projects, she has established herself as an independent voice that continues to enrich the dialogue between film and society. It is precisely this versatility that makes her perspective particularly valuable to the jury of the RETURN Film Festival. Short film thrives on new ideas, unconventional forms of storytelling and a willingness to explore the boundaries of the medium. Often, just a few minutes are enough for a story to create an entire world, express a distinct point of view or leave a lasting impression. The name RETURN reflects our belief in continually returning to what is essential in cinema: powerful stories, authentic voices and the immediate impact of cinematic storytelling. We are very pleased to welcome Saralisa Volm as a jury member of the RETURN Film Festival and look forward to her distinctive perspective on the outstanding short films, creative voices and emerging cinematic talents presented at our festival.

“You often surprised us with self-written plays for which you directed your classmates during performances.” This sentence already appeared in Sascha Vredenburg’s school report in 1996. Looking back, it says a remarkable amount about the path he would later take. Born in 1987, his early fascination with The Lion King and later Titanic first led him toward visual art. At the age of twelve, it seemed more realistic to learn how to draw as well as Jack Dawson than to make a blockbuster himself. But his fascination with moving images never disappeared. At sixteen, Vredenburg made his first short film. The inspiration came from attending a film festival and realizing that a film does not have to fill an entire evening to tell a meaningful story. He bought a camera with his savings and began consistently creating his own films. Many more projects followed, often instead of doing homework. At one point, a teacher asked him the decisive question: Do you want to make films, or do you want to finish school? His answer clearly favored film. From 2010 to 2017, Sascha Vredenburg studied directing at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. He also completed the “Hollywood Workshop” Masterclass at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the “Comedy Series” Masterclass by Network Movie in Berlin. Today, his work spans directing, screenwriting and story development. Since October 2025, his eight-part comedy-drama series Habibi Baba Boom has been available on Disney+. Vredenburg worked on the series as creator and head writer together with Omar El-Saeidi, and as director alongside Süheyla Schwenk. At the same time, he works as a freelance video director for theatre, opera and musical productions, allowing him to repeatedly combine cinematic techniques with the immediate power of live performance. His own journey began with a self-made short film and a passion for bringing stories to life through a camera. This gives Sascha Vredenburg a perspective that closely reflects the spirit of the RETURN Film Festival: a passion for short cinematic forms, the courage to develop independent projects, and the belief that great stories do not necessarily need a long running time. We are very pleased to welcome Sascha Vredenburg as a jury member of the RETURN Film Festival and especially look forward to his perspective on the films of a new generation of filmmakers.