IMFF 2025 Awards
Jury Awards
Best Narrative Feature
Jurors:
Chelsea Hernandez, Bryan Poyser,
Celeste Quesada
LITTLE JAFFNA is a film that plunges the viewer and its conflicted protagonist into a tight-knit community of immigrants, sharing a complex story of the preservation of culture, even if it means breaking the law. With kinetic camerawork and stunning performances from its cast, LITTLE JAFFNA is a thrilling, thought-provoking and unforgettable experience.
Narrative Feature:
Special Mention
Jurors:
Chelsea Hernandez, Bryan Poyser,
Celeste Quesada
PURATAWN (THE ANCIENT) is set against the backdrop of stunning interior environments, this film weaves a multi-dimensional story of loss, aging, and acceptance while evoking powerful and lasting emotions. The jury found PURATAWN (THE ANCIENT) especially deserving of recognition for its portrayal of how the passage of time can be profoundly transformative.
Best Documentary
Jurors:
Khaula Malik,
Tim Tsai
Following two government workers in Bhutan as they travel the country conducting "happiness" surveys, AGENT OF HAPPINNESS captured our hearts through its balance of humor and poignancy. Filmmakers Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbó have crafted a tender and visually stunning film that asks us to interrogate our own ideas of happiness and purpose.
Documentary:
Special Mention
Jurors:
Khaula Malik,
Tim Tsai
Drawn by its cinema and the words of late feminist poet Forough Farrokhzad, an Indian filmmaker embarks on a quest to understand Iran through its filmmakers and activists. In a series of candid conversations and moments of human connection, Sreemoyee Singh’s AND, TOWARDS HAPPY ALLEYS earnestly explores the politics of expressing your voice in a repressive society, and reminds us of what is possible when you turn on a camera and aren’t afraid to ask questions, listen, and sing.
Best Short
Jurors:
Miriam Chandy Menacherry,
Jordan Levin,
Brad Limov, Jenny Nulf
VIRUNDHU (THE FEAST) tackles the global issue of environmental devastation at a hyper local, tangible level with adept humor and masterful tension. Using the sensory language of preparing and enjoying a meal unique to a village's cuisine, Director Rishi Chandna deconstructs the politics of access to uncontaminated food. The blunt, intimate dynamic between a fearless mother and a local politician from the village sets the stage for a direct social critique without becoming overly didactic. The labor, care, and history revealed through food fuel reconnection to place, community, and humanity.
Short:
Special Mention
(Narrative)
Jurors:
Miriam Chandy Menacherry,
Jordan Levin,
Brad Limov, Jenny Nulf
CHASHMA is a tender coming of age story of an impressionable young boy as his world comes into discerning focus. Lovingly told through an artful cinematic lens, the director takes on literal difficulty with seeing to weave a subtle commentary on adolescence, class, religious conflict, and family tensions. Featuring strong performances and a thoroughly immersive sense of place, this engaging narrative is clear-sighted and heartfelt, building towards a percipient resolution.
Short:
Special Mention
(Cinematic)
Jurors:
Miriam Chandy Menacherry,
Jordan Levin,
Brad Limov, Jenny Nulf
SUNFLOWERS WERE THE FIRST ONES TO KNOW is a thought provoking film with a dystopian premise. It wears its influences on its sleeve and yet retains a unique voice with painterly frames. Director Chidananda S. Naik's use of low light leaves much to the imagination in creating an immersive experience. The film is so mature in its portrayal, we were astonished to realize this is a student film.
Audience Choice Awards
Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary
