"The director of our winning film lives up to the promise he showed in 2019 when his short 'The Christmas Gift' won ShortFests' Best of the Festival Award. We appreciated the way that he incorporates a myriad of storylines, bringing them to a triumphant conclusion set to Ravel's Bolero. We especially admired his use of dark comedy to explore the impact on individual citizens of the Ceausescu dictatorship and its fall."

"We'd also like to give a Special Mention to Lexi Ventor for her stunning portrayal of Bobo in 'Don't Let's Go the Dogs Tonight.' Her presence and emotional intelligence offer a child's eye view of the experience Zimbabwe faced as it entered its period of decolonization."

France

"To I'm Still Here,' for conveying the horror of encroaching dictatorship from the intimate perspective of a mother defending not just her family of five, but her dignity. Evoking the severity of the violence without resorting to melodrama, director Walter Salles captures a critical moment of history in scrupulous and compelling detail."

"To writer-director Maura Delpero, for subverting the conventions of a wartime drama within the framework of an elegant period piece - and letting the story unfold through the eyes of complicated female characters."

"The 2025 Young Cineastes Jury is proud to present the Young Cineastes Award to 'Tatami.' We selected this film because it is a 'non-fiction' fictional story packed with unique visuals, that brings foreign political awareness to its viewers. The film tells a story of resilience where every decision impacts individuals' lives."

"We have unanimously selected 'Sujo' for its elegant, nuanced portrayal of a young boy struggling to escape overwhelming violence and poverty in a small Mexican town. The film is meticulously paced and darkly poetic, offering its protagonist an unusually optimistic and humane ending to his story. Featuring outstanding performances from its young cast and beautiful, ethereal cinematography, 'Sujo' cements filmmaker duo Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez's rising-star status in the contemporary Mexican cinema scene."

"For its compelling immersion into the lives of Palestinian villagers in the West Bank who face the constant threat of expulsion from their homes by the Israel Defense Forces and attacks by Israeli settlers, we award the Best Documentary Award to 'No Other Land.' This film foregrounds the bond between two filmmakers - one Palestinian, the other Israeli - without sentimentalizing the relationship, but emphasizing the different rules that apply to Israelis who live under civil law and Palestinians governed by Israeli military justice."

"We complement festival programmers on an extraordinary selection of documentaries in competition and award a Special Mention to 'Blue Road - The Edna O'Brien Story,' which reveals the creative genius and exceptional life force of the great Irish writer."

"The 2025 Desert Views Jury is proud to present the Desert Views Award to 'Checkpoint Zoo.' This film embodies the spirit of community through a small group of local Ukrainians that captured the hearts of a global audience through social media posts in the early chaotic days of the Russian invasion. Against all odds and great personal sacrifice, an unlikely group of volunteers united their community and inspired hope globally in an effort to rescue animals."