The 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival concluded with an awards ceremony on 16 March 2025, celebrating outstanding documentary filmmaking from around the world. With a diverse lineup of films exploring pressing social issues, personal stories, and innovative cinematic approaches, the festival reaffirmed its reputation as a crucial platform for documentary cinema. Below is the list of this year’s award-winning films.
International Competition
- Coexistence, My Ass! – Amber Fares (USA, Israel, Palestine)
- Free Leonard Peltier – Jesse Short Bull, David France (USA)
- Child of Dust (Special Mention) – Weronika Mliczewska (Poland, Vietnam)
Newcomers Competition
- How to Build a Library – Maia Lekow, Christopher King (Kenya)
- They Talk about Worship Here – Byron Kritzas (Greece)
- Pet Farm (Special Mention) – Finn Walther, Martin A. Walther (Norway)
Film Forward Competition
- Endless Cookie – Seth Scriver, Peter Scriver (Canada)
- Meanwhile – Catherine Gund (USA)
- Museum of the Night (Special Mention) – Fermín Eloy Acosta (Argentina)
Immersive: All Around Cinema Award
- Sweet End of the World! – Stefano Conca Bonizzoni (Italy)
Podcast Awards
- Blind Fascination – Michail Agrafiotis, Stella Kantartzi, Eleftheria Avgerinou (Greece)
- Voices of Vindication (Special Mention) – Andreas Vagias (Greece)
Mermaid Award (LGBTQI+ Film)
- GEN_ – Gianluca Matarrese (Italy)
- On Lavender (Special Mention) – Makis Evangelatos, Eirini Chatzi (Greece)
Alpha Bank Accessibility Award
- Viktor – Olivier Sarbil (France, Ukraine)
Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) Award
- Sculpted Souls – Stavros Psillakis (Greece)
Human Rights in Motion Award (Council of Europe)
- Coexistence, My Ass! – Amber Fares (USA, Israel, Palestine)
Human Values Award (Hellenic Parliament)
- Under the Flags, the Sun – Juanjo Pereira (Paraguay)
Amnesty International Award
- Free Leonard Peltier – Jesse Short Bull, David France (USA)
FIPRESCI Awards
- Free Leonard Peltier – Jesse Short Bull, David France (USA)
- Sculpted Souls – Stavros Psillakis (Greece)
Greek Association of Film Critics Award
- Return to Homeland – Chryssa Tzelepi, Akis Kersanidis (Greece)
WIFT GR Award (Women in Film & Television)
- Bull’s Heart – Eva Stefani (Greece)
WWF Greece Award
- Searching for Amani – Nicole Gormley, Debra Aroko (Kenya)
Youth Jury Awards
- Sculpted Souls – Stavros Psillakis (Greece)
- Bull’s Heart (Special Jury Prize) – Eva Stefani (Greece)
Fischer Audience Awards
- The Day Iceland Stood Still – Pamela Hogan (Iceland, USA)
- Lift Lady – Marcin Modzelewski (Poland)
- They Talk About Worship Here – Byron Kritzas (Greece)
- Return to Depot – Dimitris Zahos (Greece)
- Arctic Odyssey – Evangelos Rassias (Greece)
