County Dublin, Ireland
Independent documentary and fiction film professional, passionate about using cinematic tools to get closer to paradoxical human experiences, while being conscious of one's positionality. A consultant, film festival worker and moderator. Owner of the Talkncam training course for those who are eager to speak on camera with confidence and joy. Loves clear communication and savoury pastry.
At the heart of Industry Days, the CineCoPro Conference is entirely dedicated to co-production. Here film producers from Germany working with fiction, documentary and series meet producers from a wide variety of countries. Every year there is a different focus: sometimes a single country, sometimes an entire region. Together with our fantastic partners, the Conference invites international guests to network with the German production scene. A varied program of panels, masterclasses, presentations and networking opportunities brings people together and initiates new projects.
Documentary Film Lab 2.0 program mentor. The Laboratory's thematic focus is human rights in Ukraine. Participants will work on stories that convey the unique characteristics of different regions, highlight local issues, and tell the stories of people who shape the life of their communities.
- Co-moderation of the members-only Story Room activity: a bi-monthly session where filmmakers can present and discuss challenges during development or post-producton, seek advice before going into the open or listen in to other projects, collecting and sharing resources. - Facilitation of the DAE x Goethe-Institute in Exile delegation at DokLeipzig film festival
A hybrid short film to be released in 2026. Supported by Netherlands Film Fund, City of Rotterdam, Vfonds & AFK.
Mariia Ponomarova is a Ukrainian film director, creative producer and film industry professional based in the Netherlands since 2014. Mariia studied directing at Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema & Television in Ukraine, graduating in 2013. In 2016, she completed the Master of Film artistic research programme at the Netherlands Film Academy. Fiction and documentary films Mariia worked on were screened at such acclaimed festivals as DokLeipzig, IDFA, Sarajevo FF, Sheffield DocFest, Chicago IFF, Krakow FF, Clermont-Ferrand ISFF, Go Short ISFF, Palm Springs SFF and more. Her debut feature documentary Nice Ladies had an international premiere at HotDocs and received a Special Mention at DocudaysUA IHRFF. Mariia is a member of the European Film Academy and a Senior Consultant at the Documentary Association of Europe.