Official Competition (Best Film Award)

Memoir of a Snail

Directed by Adam Elliot

The Official Competition jury said: “Our jury was incredibly moved by Adam Elliot’s Memoir of a Snail, which is a singular achievement in filmmaking. Emotionally resonant and constantly surprising, Memoir tackles pertinent issues such as bullying, loneliness and grief head-on, creating a crucial and universal dialogue in a way that only animation can. The jury is delighted to recognise an animated film alongside its live-action peers."

Special Mention: On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

First Feature Competition (Sutherland Award)

On Falling

Directed by Laura Carreira

The First Feature Jury said: “We would like to give the Sutherland Prize to Laura Carreira‘s On Falling, a richly-layered portrait of a world governed by corporate profit motive, as seen through the story of an immigrant woman whose alienation we feel deeply, told with masterful cinematic precision and understated, lived in performances. A powerful, mesmerising and bold first feature. Congratulations to Carreira, we look forward to seeing where her cinematic journey goes next."

Special Mention: Olivia & the Clouds

Documentary Competition (Grierson Award)

Mother Vera

Directed by Cécile Embleton & Alys Tomlinson

The Documentary Competition Jury said: “This exquisite film masterfully captures the inner transformation of its central character using evocative visuals that mirror her emotional journey. Each frame is rich with detail, and the directors’ sensitive approach allows the audience to intimately experience Vera’s perspective as her story evolves. The balance of aesthetic beauty and emotional depth makes Mother Vera a powerful meditation on personal growth and resilience, and the delicate treatment of momentous issues such as addiction, lost love and faith is executed with profound potency."

Special Mention: The Shadow Scholars

Short Film Competition

Vibrations from Gaza

Directed by Rehab Nazzal

The Short Film Competition Jury said: “We were astonished by the calibre of films in this competition and struggled to only award one film. Our winner is a film that used sound to send reverberations through our bodies and souls. Through its simplicity of storytelling, Vibrations from Gaza demands our presence, urging us not only to bear witness but to deeply reflect on the impact of growing up deaf in Gaza — a reality that many of us could never fully comprehend.”

Special Mention: Dragfox