The 29th Sofia International Film Festival presents in March 2025 a total of 171 films from 58 countries. Special selection of the films is available ONLINE from anywhere in Bulgaria till 15 April at neterra.tv+. The festival welcomed over 300 international guests.
The Awards Ceremony took place at Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture on 22 March 2025.
THE INTERNATIONAL JURY FOR FIRST AND SECOND FEATURE FILMS
Patricia Mazuy (France) – Director, Screenwriter, Jury President
Pia Marais (South Africa) – Director, Screenwriter
Veit Helmer (Germany) –Director, Screenwriter and Producer
Jaana Saarinen (Finland) – actress
Andrey M. Paounov (Bulgaria) – Director and Screenwriter
TOOK THE FOLOWING DECISIONS
THE SOFIA CITY OF FILM AWARD for best film in the International Competition for first and second films, in the amount of 7 000 Euro provided by the Sofia Municipality, went to Honeymoon (Ukraine) by director Zhanna Ozirna and producer Dmytro Sukhanov.
The world is bad and violent and ugly, wars and violence everywhere. We the jury have seen films which deepen their thoughts in this chaos. It is marvellous and so good when we see a film which nevertheless the state of the world builds a real faith in cinema, in its metaphysical strength. Using the power of what we don’t see but hear, as a narrative accelerator. It could have been like a style exercise but it is not! Everything is incredibly embodied with love for life and for her two actors. The Grand Prix goes to honeymoon by Zhanna Ozirna a very very talented young lady.
THE SPECIAL JURY AWARD went to Cat’s Cry (Serbia-Canada-Croatia) by director Sanja Zivkovic.
The struggle of a grandfather and his wife for custody his challenged new-born granddaughter, neglected by his daughter, against laws, paragraphs, social welfare workers and judges captivated the audience from the very first scene. Based on true events, written for the screen by the late Goran Paskaljevic, with a remarkable performance by Jasmin Geljo. The Special Jury Award goes to „Cats Cry“, directed by Sanja Zivcovic.
AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR went to Koya Kamura for his film Winter in Sokcho (France-South Korea).
The award for Best Director goes to Koya Kamura for “Winter in Sokcho”, a film that captivated us with its intimate portrayal of identity and human connection. The director’s delicate touch brings to life a story where silence speaks volumes, set against the haunting beauty of Sokcho’s wintry coast. We commend Kamura for his masterful vision and for guiding a film that explores cultural intersections with nuance, restraint, and emotional depth.
SPECIAL MENTION was awarded to the actress Bella Kim for her role in the film Winter in Sokcho (France-South Korea) by director Koya Kamura.
We want to pay tribute to a very talented and unique actress, whose performance in “Winter in Sokcho” touched our hearts deeply. A Special Mention goes to Bella Kim.
The BEST BULGARIAN SHORT FILM AWARD in the amount of 9,500 Euro (1,500 Euro cash prize and 8,000 Euro in postproduction services), provided by Doli Media Studio, went to Nicole (Bulgaria) by director Elena Toncheva.
A well-crafted horror short film with great acting, in which we can experience a peculiar form of Stendhal Syndrome. The Short Film Award goes to Nicole by Elena Toncheva.
BEST BALKAN FILM AWARD awarded by Balkan Jury composed of Roman Bondarchuk (director and Writer, Ukraine), Petia Alexandrova (film critic, Bulgaria) and Oliver Neumann (Producer, Austria), went to Traffic (Romania, Belgium, Netherlands) by director Teodora Ana Mihai.
We loved this movie in which we can follow with suspense and emphathy the story of our protagonists trying to escape the humiliating fate of low-wage jobs. With stylistic precision, great visual awareness and outstanding performances, the director manages to captivate us with her insight into this story. The award goes to Trafic, directed by Teodora Ana Mihai.
The Balkan Jury also awarded a SPECIAL MENTION to the film Triumph (Bulgaria-Greece) by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov.
A film full of absurd irony that entertains but also shows a country in a very fragile state, at the turn of times and ideologies, when citizens need to lean on anything, even if it is extraterrestrial and you need to dig really deep to contact them.
THE BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD, awarded by the International Documentary jury composed of Miha Cernec (producer, Slovenia) and members Valentina Ganeva (director, editor, film critique, USA-Bulgaria) and Boris Despodov (director, producer, Bulgaria), went to the film Dear Beautiful Beloved (Austria) by Juri Rechinsky.
As best documentary film jury award “Dear Beautiful Beloved” by Juri Rechinsky. The film is a powerful and strong atmospheric testimony to everything happened behind the front lines of Ukrainian war- the evacuation of elderly, returning of bodies and escaping. Its observational approach, camera and editing draw us into the physical and moral suffering to such an extent that we experience it alongside those involved, leaving us shaken and speechless. Deeply emotional and heart-wrenching take on humanity and suffering during time of war.
The Documentary Jury also awarded a SPECIAL MENTION to the film Silent Observers (Bulgaria-Germany) by Eliza Petkova.
With its bold cinematic vision and deeply original approach, “Silent Observers” by Eliza Petkova masterfully blends documentary realism with the eerie undertones of folklore. Through the silent yet all-seeing presence of bewitched farm animals, the film unveils a tragicomic tale of superstition and human folly in a remote Bulgarian village. With wry humor and striking atmosphere, “Silent Observers” challenges the boundaries between myth and reality, offering a haunting and unforgettable experience for the audience.
THE AWARD FOR BEST BULGARIAN FEATURE FILM was awarded by a jury of festival programmers – Mihai Chililov (programmer, Transilvania IFF), Dimitris Kerkinos (programmer, Thessaloniki IFF), and Bernd Buder (artistic director of the Festival of East European Film Cottbus) to Windless (Bulgaria-Italy) by director Pavel G. Vesnakov.
The jury members unanimously decided to award a film that reflects in an existentialist manner on the nature of family ties and personal identity while at the same time it comments on the price of modernization and economic development that eliminates the national cultural memory.
THE FIPRESCI AWARD awarded by jury members Tommaso Tocci (Italy), Hamed Soleimanzadeh (Iran) and Katerina Lambrinova (Bulgaria) went to the film Windless (Bulgaria-Italy) by director Pavel G. Vesnakov.
For its captivating cinematography that masterfully conveys the complexity of human isolation and emotional turbulence into a striking cinematic achievement. Through metaphorically crafted visual language, the film explores themes of absence, longing, and the weight of unspoken emotions. Its stillness – and emphasis on what goes unsaid – transforms it into an evocative reflection of internal and external stasis that is well deserving of the FIPRESCI Prize.
THE AWARD OF THE BULGARIAN GUILD OF FILM CRITICS for a film from the Balkan Competition went to Triumph (Bulgaria-Greece) by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov.
For the contagious humour, for the mastered sense of the grotesque, with which the authors tell this absurd story from the recent past, which still sounds relevant today.
THE AUDIENCE AWARD for a film in the International Competition for first and second films and Balkan competition went to Flesh (Bulgaria) by director Dimitar Stoyanovich.
THE YOUNG JURY AWARD of the festival for a film in the International Competition went to Honeymoon (Ukraine) by director Zhanna Ozirna.
THE BEST TEEN FILM AWARD chosen by the audience went to The Story of Frank and Nina (Italy-Switzerland) by director Paola Randi.
Within the framework of the 29th Sofia International Film Festival THE SOFIA AWARD of the Sofia Municipality for contribution to the art of film was presented to:
Iossif Sarchadzhiev, director and actor (Bulgaria)
Rajko Grlic, director (Croatia)
The Special Awards of Sofia International Film Festival were presented to:
Kosta Bikov, director (Bulgaria)
Bohdan Sláma, director (Czech Republic)
Szabolcs Hajdu, director (Hungary)
The Sofia International Film Festival is financially supported
by the Sofia Municipality, the Ministry of Culture, EA Bulgarian National Film Center and Creative Europe MEDIA Programme of the European Union.
The Awards Ceremony took place at Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture on 22 March 2025.
THE INTERNATIONAL JURY FOR FIRST AND SECOND FEATURE FILMS
Patricia Mazuy (France) – Director, Screenwriter, Jury President
Pia Marais (South Africa) – Director, Screenwriter
Veit Helmer (Germany) –Director, Screenwriter and Producer
Jaana Saarinen (Finland) – actress
Andrey M. Paounov (Bulgaria) – Director and Screenwriter
TOOK THE FOLOWING DECISIONS
THE SOFIA CITY OF FILM AWARD for best film in the International Competition for first and second films, in the amount of 7 000 Euro provided by the Sofia Municipality, went to Honeymoon (Ukraine) by director Zhanna Ozirna and producer Dmytro Sukhanov.
The world is bad and violent and ugly, wars and violence everywhere. We the jury have seen films which deepen their thoughts in this chaos. It is marvellous and so good when we see a film which nevertheless the state of the world builds a real faith in cinema, in its metaphysical strength. Using the power of what we don’t see but hear, as a narrative accelerator. It could have been like a style exercise but it is not! Everything is incredibly embodied with love for life and for her two actors. The Grand Prix goes to honeymoon by Zhanna Ozirna a very very talented young lady.
THE SPECIAL JURY AWARD went to Cat’s Cry (Serbia-Canada-Croatia) by director Sanja Zivkovic.
The struggle of a grandfather and his wife for custody his challenged new-born granddaughter, neglected by his daughter, against laws, paragraphs, social welfare workers and judges captivated the audience from the very first scene. Based on true events, written for the screen by the late Goran Paskaljevic, with a remarkable performance by Jasmin Geljo. The Special Jury Award goes to „Cats Cry“, directed by Sanja Zivcovic.
AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR went to Koya Kamura for his film Winter in Sokcho (France-South Korea).
The award for Best Director goes to Koya Kamura for “Winter in Sokcho”, a film that captivated us with its intimate portrayal of identity and human connection. The director’s delicate touch brings to life a story where silence speaks volumes, set against the haunting beauty of Sokcho’s wintry coast. We commend Kamura for his masterful vision and for guiding a film that explores cultural intersections with nuance, restraint, and emotional depth.
SPECIAL MENTION was awarded to the actress Bella Kim for her role in the film Winter in Sokcho (France-South Korea) by director Koya Kamura.
We want to pay tribute to a very talented and unique actress, whose performance in “Winter in Sokcho” touched our hearts deeply. A Special Mention goes to Bella Kim.
The BEST BULGARIAN SHORT FILM AWARD in the amount of 9,500 Euro (1,500 Euro cash prize and 8,000 Euro in postproduction services), provided by Doli Media Studio, went to Nicole (Bulgaria) by director Elena Toncheva.
A well-crafted horror short film with great acting, in which we can experience a peculiar form of Stendhal Syndrome. The Short Film Award goes to Nicole by Elena Toncheva.
BEST BALKAN FILM AWARD awarded by Balkan Jury composed of Roman Bondarchuk (director and Writer, Ukraine), Petia Alexandrova (film critic, Bulgaria) and Oliver Neumann (Producer, Austria), went to Traffic (Romania, Belgium, Netherlands) by director Teodora Ana Mihai.
We loved this movie in which we can follow with suspense and emphathy the story of our protagonists trying to escape the humiliating fate of low-wage jobs. With stylistic precision, great visual awareness and outstanding performances, the director manages to captivate us with her insight into this story. The award goes to Trafic, directed by Teodora Ana Mihai.
The Balkan Jury also awarded a SPECIAL MENTION to the film Triumph (Bulgaria-Greece) by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov.
A film full of absurd irony that entertains but also shows a country in a very fragile state, at the turn of times and ideologies, when citizens need to lean on anything, even if it is extraterrestrial and you need to dig really deep to contact them.
THE BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD, awarded by the International Documentary jury composed of Miha Cernec (producer, Slovenia) and members Valentina Ganeva (director, editor, film critique, USA-Bulgaria) and Boris Despodov (director, producer, Bulgaria), went to the film Dear Beautiful Beloved (Austria) by Juri Rechinsky.
As best documentary film jury award “Dear Beautiful Beloved” by Juri Rechinsky. The film is a powerful and strong atmospheric testimony to everything happened behind the front lines of Ukrainian war- the evacuation of elderly, returning of bodies and escaping. Its observational approach, camera and editing draw us into the physical and moral suffering to such an extent that we experience it alongside those involved, leaving us shaken and speechless. Deeply emotional and heart-wrenching take on humanity and suffering during time of war.
The Documentary Jury also awarded a SPECIAL MENTION to the film Silent Observers (Bulgaria-Germany) by Eliza Petkova.
With its bold cinematic vision and deeply original approach, “Silent Observers” by Eliza Petkova masterfully blends documentary realism with the eerie undertones of folklore. Through the silent yet all-seeing presence of bewitched farm animals, the film unveils a tragicomic tale of superstition and human folly in a remote Bulgarian village. With wry humor and striking atmosphere, “Silent Observers” challenges the boundaries between myth and reality, offering a haunting and unforgettable experience for the audience.
THE AWARD FOR BEST BULGARIAN FEATURE FILM was awarded by a jury of festival programmers – Mihai Chililov (programmer, Transilvania IFF), Dimitris Kerkinos (programmer, Thessaloniki IFF), and Bernd Buder (artistic director of the Festival of East European Film Cottbus) to Windless (Bulgaria-Italy) by director Pavel G. Vesnakov.
The jury members unanimously decided to award a film that reflects in an existentialist manner on the nature of family ties and personal identity while at the same time it comments on the price of modernization and economic development that eliminates the national cultural memory.
THE FIPRESCI AWARD awarded by jury members Tommaso Tocci (Italy), Hamed Soleimanzadeh (Iran) and Katerina Lambrinova (Bulgaria) went to the film Windless (Bulgaria-Italy) by director Pavel G. Vesnakov.
For its captivating cinematography that masterfully conveys the complexity of human isolation and emotional turbulence into a striking cinematic achievement. Through metaphorically crafted visual language, the film explores themes of absence, longing, and the weight of unspoken emotions. Its stillness – and emphasis on what goes unsaid – transforms it into an evocative reflection of internal and external stasis that is well deserving of the FIPRESCI Prize.
THE AWARD OF THE BULGARIAN GUILD OF FILM CRITICS for a film from the Balkan Competition went to Triumph (Bulgaria-Greece) by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov.
For the contagious humour, for the mastered sense of the grotesque, with which the authors tell this absurd story from the recent past, which still sounds relevant today.
THE AUDIENCE AWARD for a film in the International Competition for first and second films and Balkan competition went to Flesh (Bulgaria) by director Dimitar Stoyanovich.
THE YOUNG JURY AWARD of the festival for a film in the International Competition went to Honeymoon (Ukraine) by director Zhanna Ozirna.
THE BEST TEEN FILM AWARD chosen by the audience went to The Story of Frank and Nina (Italy-Switzerland) by director Paola Randi.
Within the framework of the 29th Sofia International Film Festival THE SOFIA AWARD of the Sofia Municipality for contribution to the art of film was presented to:
Iossif Sarchadzhiev, director and actor (Bulgaria)
Rajko Grlic, director (Croatia)
The Special Awards of Sofia International Film Festival were presented to:
Kosta Bikov, director (Bulgaria)
Bohdan Sláma, director (Czech Republic)
Szabolcs Hajdu, director (Hungary)
The Sofia International Film Festival is financially supported
by the Sofia Municipality, the Ministry of Culture, EA Bulgarian National Film Center and Creative Europe MEDIA Programme of the European Union.