The Berlin International Film Festival has named Nikolaj Nikitin, editor-in-chief and publisher of the film magazine Schnitt as its new foreign delegate for Eastern Europe, covering: Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.

Nikitin will advise the Film Festival in the selection of films and provide support in film-cultural and economic relations with the respective countries.

Nikitin works in various capacities for German festivals, including as a member of the selection committee of "GoEast", the festival for Central and East European cinema. For the last three years, he has also been the organiser of the "Schnitt Preis", which has been awarded in Cologne since 2001 within the framework of "Film+".

Nikitin is an executive member of the Verband der deutschen Filmkritik (Association of German Film Critics) as well as being a member of FIPRESCI.