Former Brazilian international striker Sonny Anderson will head the jury for the Sportel Awards 2026, organizers confirmed. The three-time Ligue 1 champion and three-time French league top scorer brings decades of elite football experience to the selection panel.
The appointment matters because Sportel has served as the premier showcase for sports media production since 1990. Each year, the awards spotlight the most compelling visual storytelling across global sport, from broadcast sequences to published works.
Anderson will lead six jury members drawn from across sport, media, and creative industries. Kilian Bron, an Enduro and Freeride mountain bike rider and filmmaker, represents the French National Olympic and Sports Committee. Siraba Dembélé-Pavlovic joins as a world and European handball champion plus Olympic silver medallist.
Meanwhile, Georges Mohammed-Chérif, president and chief creative officer at Buzzman, adds advertising and brand strategy perspective. Nicolas Nkoulou, the Cameroonian international footballer and Champion for Peace with Peace and Sport, brings athlete advocacy credentials. Lisa Pou, a bronze medallist in the 10km open water event at the 2025 World Championships, represents the Monaco Olympic Committee. Catherine Steenkeste, an award-winning sports photographer and 2024 UJSF honoree, completes the panel.
The Golden Podiums remain the competition’s flagship honours, recognizing directors and producers behind the year’s finest sporting sequences. The Renaud de Laborderie Book Prize celebrates landmark sports publishing. Additional categories showcase the breadth of sports storytelling through imagery.
As a result, the jury will evaluate submissions for strength, originality, and emotional impact. Their task focuses on identifying stories, personalities, and moments capable of moving audiences worldwide.
Winners will be revealed on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 7:00 pm at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco.
