BEST FILM
Memory lane | Belgium | 2023 | 20’
Director: Frederic Mosbeux
Writer: Frederic Mosbeux
Producers: François Dubois, Frédéric Mosbeux
Cast: Luc Brumagne, Hélène Theunissen, Stéphanie Goemaere
Synopsis: To prove that he’s still fit to live at home, an old man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease must search the depths of his mind, where memories pile up like jigsaw puzzles, in search of a forgotten past.
BEST DIRECTOR
Memory lane | Belgium | 2023 | 20’
Director: Frederic Mosbeux
Writer: Frederic Mosbeux
Producers: François Dubois, Frédéric Mosbeux
Cast: Luc Brumagne, Hélène Theunissen, Stéphanie Goemaere
Synopsis: To prove that he’s still fit to live at home, an old man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease must search the depths of his mind, where memories pile up like jigsaw puzzles, in search of a forgotten past.
BEST SCREENPLAY
GRASS ON YOUR CLASS | France | 2023 | 25’
Director: Claire Barrault
Writer: Claire Barrault
Producer: Jonathan Hazan
Cast: Zineb Triki, Sharif Andoura, Olivier Broche
Synopsis: At the Victor Hugo High School, French teacher Leila Al Bachir has called a disciplinary hearing for one of her students: Simon Petit. In her quest to find a fair sanction for Simon, she realises her workplace is in serious trouble…
BEST LEADING ACTRESS
Heleno | Spain | 2022 | 18’
Actress: Ana del Arco
Director: Mikel Arraiz
Writer: Mikel Arraiz
Producer: The Other Film Production
Synopsis: Sergio and Elena are a happy couple. One night, Elena starts to talk and act strangely. The next day the couple take it as a joke. Things start to get complicated when Heleno turns up in their lives. This entity will use old sexist patterns and new liberal ideas to destroy Sergio and his relationship with Elena.
BEST LEADING ACTOR
Memory lane | Belgium | 2023 | 20’
Actor: Luc Brumagne
Director: Frederic Mosbeux
Writer: Frederic Mosbeux
Producers: François Dubois, Frédéric Mosbeux
Cast: Luc Brumagne, Hélène Theunissen, Stéphanie Goemaere
Synopsis: To prove that he’s still fit to live at home, an old man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease must search the depths of his mind, where memories pile up like jigsaw puzzles, in search of a forgotten past.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Heleno | Spain | 2022 | 18’
Cinematographer: Jorge Roig
Director: Mikel Arraiz
Writer: Mikel Arraiz
Producer: The Other Film Production
Synopsis: Sergio and Elena are a happy couple. One night, Elena starts to talk and act strangely. The next day the couple take it as a joke. Things start to get complicated when Heleno turns up in their lives. This entity will use old sexist patterns and new liberal ideas to destroy Sergio and his relationship with Elena.
BEST EDITING
Memory lane | Belgium | 2023 | 20’
Editor: Zoe Roland
Director: Frederic Mosbeux
Writer: Frederic Mosbeux
Producers: François Dubois, Frédéric Mosbeux
Cast: Luc Brumagne, Hélène Theunissen, Stéphanie Goemaere
Synopsis: To prove that he’s still fit to live at home, an old man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease must search the depths of his mind, where memories pile up like jigsaw puzzles, in search of a forgotten past.
BEST DRAMA
The Pack | Croatia | 2023 | 23’
Director: Marko Jukić
Writer: Marko Jukić
Producers: Danijel Pek, Dora Prpić
Cast: Paško Vukasović, Katarina Romac, Andrija Tomić, Aneta Grabovac, Zdravko Vukelić, Šimun Šitum, Petra Krolo, Stojan Matavulj
Synopsis: Commander Andrija leads a group of firefighters on a seemingly simple task – overhauling. After a conflict with one of the firefighters, Andrija is squeezed between the fight for the dominant position, solving a love relationship, and common sense.
BEST NARRATIVE
GRASS ON YOUR CLASS | France | 2023 | 25’
Director: Claire Barrault
Writer: Claire Barrault
Producer: Jonathan Hazan
Cast: Zineb Triki, Sharif Andoura, Olivier Broche
Synopsis: At the Victor Hugo High School, French teacher Leila Al Bachir has called a disciplinary hearing for one of her students: Simon Petit. In her quest to find a fair sanction for Simon, she realises her workplace is in serious trouble…
BEST COMEDY
Whippy | United Kingdom | 2024 | 05’
Director: James Rooke
Writer: James Rooke
Producers: Sam Topley, Joe Elliott, Mia Walton
Cast: Emun Elliott, Kal John, Aaliyah Iruoesiri
Synopsis: Rivalry, greed and calippos… A messy turf war has erupted between warring ice cream firms in 1980s Glasgow after one rogue vendor is caught crossing county lines.
BEST FANTASY/SCI-FI
Berdyans’k | Ukraine | 2023 | 16’
Director: Tom Hopkins, Kateryna Paida
Writers: Kateryna Paida, Tom Hopkins, Sophia Lyons, Ted Endo, Jonathan Dungan
Producer: Ciaran Grace
Cast: Julia Vyshnevska, Yana Koroliova
Synopsis: Lera, a young Ukrainian refugee who has recently reached Ireland, who, fearing the worst, uses dark-web séance software (The Orb) to discover that her sister Maryna has died in the conflict back home. Through The Orb she makes contact – and discovers that her sister Maryna is disoriented and stuck in an after-death limbo, based around the beach that they went to as children. The beach is in Berdyans’k – a Sea of Azov resort currently under Russian occupation. Together, the sisters must find a way to come to terms with what has happened and find a way for both of them to move on…
BEST ADVENTURE / ACTION
The Last Nanny | Spain | 25’
Director: Ainur Askarov
Writer: Ivan Avseenko
Synopsis: The daughters of the future mayor are attempted to be kidnapped by professional criminals to blackmail their father. Only the kidnappers did not take into account that these girls are much more dangerous than they seem at first sight. Through humour and comedy we convey the main idea of the film that there is nothing more important than family. Family is always there – it is hope and support.
BEST DANCE/MUSICAL
Historiae vivae | Poland | 2023 | 18’
Director: Iwona Pasińska
Writer: Iwona Pasińska
Producer: Polish Dance Theatre
Cast: Evelyn Blue, Kacper Bożek, Momoko Den, Bartosz Dopytalski, Julia Hałka, Patryk Jarczok, Jerzy Kaźmierczak, Zbigniew Kocięba, Mateusz Krzysiak, Katarzyna Kulmińska, Dominik Kupka, Daniel Michna, Jinwoo Namkung, Katarzyna Rzetelska, Sandra Szatan, Zofia Tomczyk, Emily Wong-Adryańczyk, Dominik Dudek, Michał Beszczyński, Spiner
Synopsis: Drawing from various forms of expression, from line drawing through collage, patchwork, and cartoons, “Historiae vivae” revives the unique atmosphere of silent cinema. It is permeated with the warmth exuded by body language, yet simultaneously surreal due to its black-and-white tonality—these are the “splinters of everyday life” that allow us to embark on a journey through time. This journey takes us back to the origins of cinema, captivating us with the use of historical filmmaking methods, stylish frames, and the characteristic text boards seen in black-and-white films. Live music performed by a pianist adds another layer, reminiscent of the old cinema where live improvisation accompanied the displayed scenes. “Historiae vivae” is also a journey into the second half of the 20th century, evident in the graceful references to fashion, social customs, and popular ballroom dances. The patina of the past, visible in both form and content, causes us to watch these “living stories” from a distance, as if in detachment. Yet, at the same time, we are aware that they could have occurred in the past, present, or future. We watch with attention, a desire to capture the quickly passing moment, with amusement at the comedic situations, and with tenderness for human quirks. The essence of silent cinema lay in the use of gesture and facial expressions as means of expression. “Historiae vivae” draws from this source, narrating ordinary things in a light and playful manner, transforming them into something extraordinary through the magic of the silver screen.
BEST STUDENT
Dog days are over | Poland | 2024 | 23’
Director: Kinga Pudełek
Writer: Maciek Bogdański
Producer: Szkoła Filmowa w Łodzi
Cast: Irmina Liszkowska, Daniel Namiotko
Synopsis: The morning visit from a downstairs neighbour and his atypical request, take the main character on a journey down the memory lane of a lost relationship.
BEST YOUNG DIRECTOR
Siren | Estonia | 2023 | 01’
Director: Katariina Škurinski
Writer: Marian
Producer: Carmen Laurend
Cast: Taavi Teplenkov, Lee Trei, Karolin Jürise
Synopsis: The narrative of “Siren” takes place in a world where fairy tale characters are to blame for everything. Despite the peculiarities of this world, Toomas’ life revolves around his neighbor Eevi’s house. Finally, the day has come when the woman arrives to have dinner with the man. However, not everything goes as planned – to Toomas’ misfortune, a beautiful mermaid appears in front of his car. From there, events unfold that threaten to turn the shy Toomas and his neighbor into fearsome criminals
BEST ANIMATION
Dad in the Echo | China | 2023 | 23’
Director: Jacky Heng SUN
Writer: Jacky Heng SUN
Producer: Jianhua YUAN
Synopsis: Xiao Wang’s is about to go abroad, but father could not understand the use of the smartphone. Very disturbing, he decided to give Lao Wang “special training”.
BEST DOCUMENTARY
LITTLE SAHARA | Spain | 2023 | 30’
Director: Emilio Martí López
Writer: Emilio Martí López
Producer: Emilio Martí López
Synopsis: Those who do not know the Sahara think that in the desert there is only sand. But here there are children, who play and draw and make movies, and who would like not to have to think about war. In the desert there is a European colony, an occupied country, called Western Sahara, and there are thousands of Sahrawi refugees living a hard life in exile. LITTLE SAHARA is an animated documentary that tells their story, that of a solidary and resilient people who try thrive and grow up in the Hamada, where everything struggles to grow.
BEST EXPERIMENTAL
The Edge | Turkey | 2023 | 06’
Director: Recep Akar
Writer: Recep Akar
Producer: Merve Akar
Cast: Ebru Cansız, Çiğdem Erkaya, Can Gökdoğan, Emre Olcay, Uygar Özçelik
Synopsis: Some of us are aware, some of us are not, but we are all teetering back and forth on the edge of the same cliff, trying to keep our balance. Will a wind take us down, will a hand grab us and pull us over the edge, can hope sustain us in these uncertain and turbulent times? “TheEdge” is a short film about the fragile balance of life and existential questions.
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
“I LOVE YOU” BY NAAMA CHETRIT | Israel | 2022 | 04’
Director: Guy Nahum Levy
Writer: Naama Chetrit
Producer: Naama Chetrit
Cast: Naama Chetrit, Asaf Jonas
Synopsis: A music video clip for my song “I LOVE YOU”. The video tells a story about love and an estranged relationship, from the point of view of a woman who is constantly testing her partner’s love for her. The coldness and alienation in the relationship is evident in the domestic dynamics, when the man prefers to deal with his career than his relationship with her. The song tackles issues around naivety and unrealistic expectations in a sweeping offering of “I love you”
BEST MINI SHORT
Green light | France |2024 | 03’
Director: Aurore Moutier
Writer: Aurore Moutier
Cast: Bernard Le Coq, François Négret Négret, Oscar Le Bas
Synopsis: On a country road, a traffic light turns red. Young Lucien is embroiled in a heist with two old-school robbers driving a Dauphine.
BEST NO/LOW BUDGET
Hot Patch! | Netherlands | 2023 | 07’
Director: Sara Ottoline Elzinga
Writer: Sara Ottoline Elzinga
Producer: Daisy Corbin O’Grady
Cast: Anna Fleuri Wolters, Maha Eljak, Winnie Conradi, Abir Hamam, Frank Ogilvie
Synopsis: The punk band Hot Patch is driving to their next show. The car is filled with excitement and giggles until flashes of memories make them realise: ‘’This is not what we want!” Hot Patch is over and done with! A new future is looking brighter than ever. They can be anything they want, if only they could shake off the past.
BEST DEBUT
The Delicacy | Poland | 2024 | 10’
Director: Jacek Nastal
Writer: Jacek Nastal
Producer: Jacek Nastal
Cast: Laura Leish, Pawel Siwiak
Synopsis: “The Delicacy” is a 10-minute immersion into the emotions of a first date. A woman and a man. An unsuccessful encounter. Awkward conversation and even more challenging moments of prolonged silence. Is it worth going through this? What can be done differently? How to find out if the right person is sitting across from you? In ‘The Delicacy’, instead of a quick farewell, the characters take a step that many only dream of…
BEST COMMERCIAL/AD/TVC
Octa – Global trading made clear| United Arab Emirates | 2023 | 01’
Director: Joao Manoel Machado, Henrique Bueno Ribas Ribeiro, Eduardo Pereira Lubiazi
Producers: Mitia Muravev, Maria Zotman, Marchant Bellingan, Diwan de Beer
Synopsis: OCTA, an online trading platform, noticed a significant drop in users.
Preliminary interviews showed that after a hiatus in global fin-tech, people showed demand for security, like licensing with the regulators or opening registered local offices.
However, after a research phase, we’ve uncovered that the whole product category was experiencing a crisis of faith. A crisis that opening a few offices would hardly fix.
We’ve created a fake ‘financian’ language for the characters. The properties of the language resemble something that can be identified as words and sentences, but makes no sense.
We snowballed the insight of confusion in 9 countries to then reveal a solution.
A brand that understands your frustration and gives you comfort. Something user-friendly. A way to see trading becoming clearer.
The campaign was planned to roll out all around the globe, so we’ve adapted it with appropriate casting.
BEST TRAILER
Cosmic Travelers | Macao | 2023 | 04’
Director: Yilin Huang
Producers: Cheng San Lei, Tim Chu Chan
Synopsis: In 2035, Earth becomes mysteriously cut off from the universe. Every spacecraft that goes beyond a certain point disappears, leading to a halt in space exploration and stirring fears and theories among humanity. As the years pass, Earth advances in technology and sustainability, but the curiosity about space fades among the younger generations, replaced by a reliance on robots for exploration due to past failures. Against this backdrop, a group of daring scientists and astronauts, known as the “Cosmic Travelers,” refuse to give up the dream of reconnecting with the cosmos. They embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind the Great Disconnection, challenging the laws that keep humans earthbound and seeking to unravel the mysteries that lie beyond our world. This animated series follows their adventures, exploring the blend of human spirit with futuristic innovation in the quest to explore the unknown.
