The Berlin International Film Festival is expanding its delegate network through the addition of Los Angeles-based, US industry expert Jacqueline Lyanga. Lyanga will consolidate contacts with the US film industry and filmmakers, assist in scouting films, and prepare the Berlinale’s US West Coast screening tours.

Ryan Werner, who has been active as a US delegate for the festival since 2019, and Jacqueline Lyanga will work closely together.

“We are happy and proud to have Jacqueline Lyanga on our team, and looking forward to working alongside her. I have known her for many years and admire her taste, energy and personality. Along with Ryan Werner, I am sure she will do a terrific job strengthening our ties with the US film industry”, says Berlinale artistic director Carlo Chatrian.

Jacqueline Lyanga / Biography

Jacqueline Lyanga founded Global Cinematheque in 2020, a US based organisation to promote international cinema and talent. Most recently, Jacqueline Lyanga was the Head of DEI for IMDb, where her role included developing inclusive infrastructure and creative content for IMDb and IMDbPro customers globally. Prior to joining IMDb, Jacqueline Lyanga was the Artistic Director of Film Independent in Los Angeles, and for the eight years from 2010 to 2018, the Director of AFI FEST presented by Audi, the American Film Institute’s (AFI) annual international film festival in Los Angeles. At AFI FEST she launched a tech and XR showcase, youth cinema programmes, New Auteur and Masters sections, and a global Guest Artist Director programme. She has been invited to serve on international film festival juries at festivals such as the Edinburgh International Film Festival, the JIO MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, the Locarno Film Festival, the Sundance Film Festival, SFFILM in San Francisco, SXSW (XR) and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Jacqueline Lyanga has been appointed to the rank of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French government for her promotion of French film and culture in the United States. She has also been awarded the Order of the Crown from the Kingdom of Belgium