Nikolaj Nikitin

Nikolaj Nikitin is an internationally recognised film curator, media expert and lecturer with more than 30 years of experience across the international film industry. From 2002 to 2019, he served as a Berlinale delegate, scouting films across 35 countries, many of which went on to become festival winners. He has also curated for major international festivals including Zurich, Oostende, Cottbus, Reykjavík, and Wiesbaden. Currently he is the Curator of the Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) in Tallinn, and Artistic Director of the Palić European Film Festival and Skopje International Film Festival.

As the former CEO and majority shareholder of Filmplus gUG, Nikolaj founded and led the editing festival FILMPLUS, now Edimotion, for 16 years. He also headed the SCHOOL OF FILM ADVANCEMENT for 12 years and has extensive experience advising filmmakers, festivals, cultural institutions, ministries, and funding bodies across Europe.

Nikolaj is a passionate educator specialising in film distribution, festival strategy and marketing. As a former EAVE participant, he is teaching at leading film schools and institutions including Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg Media School, DFFB, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, and MetFilm School Berlin, as well as internationally. Based in Berlin, he brings a unique combination of industry expertise, international networks and practical insight into how films find their audiences.