VLC's Jean-Baptiste Kempf Receives the European SFS Award 2025
15 days ago
- #Award
- #VLC
- #Free Software
- Jean-Baptiste Kempf received the European SFS Award 2025 for his contributions to Free Software and the VLC project.
- VLC, initially a student project, has grown into a globally used media player under Kempf's leadership.
- Kempf revitalized VLC after its original developers graduated, ensuring its continued development and success.
- VLC is celebrated for its versatility, small size, and ability to play almost any media format.
- Kempf founded VideoLAN non-profit and VideoLabs to support VLC's development while maintaining its free software ethos.
- The European SFS Award honors individuals who significantly advance Free Software in Europe.
- Previous awardees include Frank Karlitschek (Nextcloud) and Bram Moolenaar (Vim editor).
- Kempf's work emphasizes freedom, community, and humor, symbolized by VLC's iconic traffic cone logo.
- VLC has reached billions of downloads, remaining free and open without corporate influence.
- Kempf's achievements include being named Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite, a first for a Free Software developer.