From Local to Global: Actors on the International Market

Katarina Madirazza is a professional actress. She graduated from ADU in Zagreb and the Prague Film School. She is active in theatre, film and television, in Croatia and abroad. She is the founder of the Petit Theatre, where she conducts the workshop Audition as Networking. With its unique concept, the workshop offers actors the opportunity for networking with producers, directors and casting directors through the audition process, introducing them to fresh and undiscovered talents.

After studying Art History and working at renowned theatres, Anja Dihrberg-Siebler transitioned to the film industry. With her own casting company she handled the casting for over 300 productions so far, working with directors from Europe and around the world such as Emily Atef, Robert Schwentke, Terrence Malick, Olivier Assayas, and Marjane Satrapi. With over 30 years of experience, she is regarded as one of the most distinguished Casting Directors in Europe. She is a member of the European Film Academy and AMPAS.

Anila Gajević (Sarajevo, 1979) is the founder and director of Zona, the first casting and talent agency in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the leading agencies of its kind in Southeast Europe. She represents some of the most prominent actors in the region and beyond, with credits on films and series such as Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol, The November Man, Snowpiercer, Skyfall, Game of Thrones, Cold War, The Night Manager, among others. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her work and a member of the Association of Filmmakers in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the European Film Academy.

Nicole Schmied has worked as a Casting Director since 1999, and in 2004 she founded her own agency, Schmied Casting, in Vienna. She works across public television, feature films, and streaming platforms.