IN THE PALACE AWARD WINNERS

22nd Edition, 2025

  

BEST NATIONAL FILM

  

THE DAY SHE WILL BE BORN
dir. Emil Spahiyski, Bulgaria

THE DAY SHE WILL BE BORN approaches the subject of dementia with sensitivity and originality, weaving together realism and poetic imagery. Through its creative visual storytelling, the film reveals the fragile boundaries between memory and loss. Supported by nuanced performances, it stands as a thoughtful contribution to contemporary Bulgarian cinema.

Boyana Buchvarova, Radostina Neykova, Tsanko Vasilev

   

  

BEST FICTION FILM

  

THE EGGREGORE'S THEORY
dir. Andrea Gatopoulos, Italy

THE EGGREGORE'S THEORY stands out as a masterful blend of compelling narrative, imaginative world-building and philosophical depth. The film explores the collective power of thought and belief in shaping reality, using strong visual metaphors and original means of expression. In doing so, it  constructs a singular aesthetic shaped through AI - not simply as a tool, but as a co-creator of the film ontology. 

  

SPECIAL MENTIONS

  

A TOI LES OREILLES
dir. Alexandre Isabelle, Canada

 

A TOI LES OREILLES is an inventive celebration of family and community through the lens of sound - a noisy, imperfect Harmony that reflects the beauty of connection and belonging. 

  

 

UNDER THE SHADY OAK

dir. Hossein Allahyari, Iran 

Through powerful visuals and haunting atmosphere, the film captures the universal tensions of family and legacy, making the personal profoundly resonant. UNDER THE SHADY OAK evocates sensory immersive experience and uses strong symbolic to tell a parable of endurance, sacrifice and the unspoken bonds between generations. 

Boyana Buchvarova, Mick Hannigan

 

 

BEST ANIMATION FILM

     

SPECIAL MENTIONS

   

LARVAL
dir. Alice Bloomfield, UK 

Special mention for its aesthetically infused world-building.

    

BALCONADA
dir. Iva Tokmakchieva, Bulgaria/France

Special mention for drawing attention to the ordinary things in life.

Mario Radev, Matei Branea, Radost Neykova

   

   

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM

   

JAR OF TIME
dir. Nevena Semova, Bulgaria

The winning film follows our protagonists as they live their lives whilst trying to navigate the clash between tradition and modernity. It leaves us with the hope that, after preferably a long life, we won’t die being ignorant.

  

  

SPECIAL MENTION

   

BLOODLINE
dir. Wojciech Węglarz, Poland

A special mention goes to a film that – in focusing on the animals that live on the Polish / Belarussian border – gives us an all too human insight on the tragic plight of those trying to escape to a better life.

Laurence Boyce, Mark Brennan, Vítězslav Chovanec

   

   

BEST STUDENT FICTION FILM

  

MAJINI
dir. Joshua Neubert, Victor Muhagachi, Germany

A film where every frame is cinematic to give audiences a powerful dramatic story of family and forgiveness in a clean direct approach.

 

   

FIRST SPECIAL MENTION 

  

MY MOTHER IS A COW
dir. Moara Passoni, Brazil

The first goes to a masterfully subdued drama, inviting us along when a young girl is thrown into unfamiliar farm life, surrounded by a jungle looming with death and desire.

 

   

SECOND SPECIAL MENTION

  

THE RIVER
dir. Elise Levy, France 

Ambiguity and an eerie atmosphere come to the foreground with a nod towards folk horror in this tale of female friendship and rivalry.

Nikola Vukcevic, Per Fikse, Philip Ilson

   

   

BEST STUDENT ANIMATION FILM

  

BRAIDED
dir. Chenxi Zhang, USA

This student film combines inovative technique with poetic storytelling that works on multiple levels. Its visuals and animation serve as a perfect vessel for the metaphors that explore both past and present psychological states, and consequentially powerful emotion served only with a few words.

Darko Masnec, Katarzyna Surmacz, Momchil Grozdanov

  

  

BEST STUDENT DOCUMENTARY FILM

 

PLACEKEEPERS
dir. Robert B Hope, Georgia/USA 

A visually stunning film that immerses us in life in the high Caucasian mountains, where a few resilient souls let us witness their thoughts and reveal their remarkable strength of character.

It evokes a profound nostalgia for a world where life follows its own unhurried pace and old ways endure, resisting the relentless rush of modern life. It makes us reflect on where we have come from, and where we might be heading.

For this intimate and deeply human portrait of a vanishing way of life, the award for Best Student Documentary goes to Robert B Hope for PLACEKEEPERS.

  

  

SPECIAL MENTION

  

TORN
dir. Simone Hart, Jón H. Geirfinnsson, Austria 

TORN allows us to enter the intimate world of Ina, who reflects on her past through the eyes and the work of her grandson.

The strength of this film lies in the organic rhythm created between Ina’s voice, the surrounding landscapes, her home, and the sculptures in the museum.

It is deeply moving to see how she sacrificed her own dream of becoming a pianist to support and elevate her husband’s artistic career and to care for her family.

For this tender glimpse into the life of a beautiful soul and the power of art, love, and legacy, we give an Honourable Mention to TORN by Jón H. Geirfinnsson and Simone Hart.

Alessandro Giorgio, Léonor Mercier, Peter Zemek

  

  

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM

   

HUMANA CORPUS
dir. Coraline Zorea, France

Culture Pernik Foundation Award

  

BEST MID-LENGTH

 

KOKA
dir. Aliaksandr Tsymbaliuk, Poland 

The jury awards the Best mid-length film prize to a film that offers a deeply human portrayal of life on the edge of civilization. With precise and sensitive camerawork, it captures both the harshness of daily existence and the tender bond between father and son. Authentic, visually striking, and narratively powerful even in silence — this is KOKA.

Vítězslav Chovanec, Peter Zemek, Liliya Kucheva

  

BEST-FULL LENGTH

  

GRANNY MUST DIE
dir. Yi-Jung Chen, Taiwan

Culture Pernik Foundation Award

  

NEXTDOOR NETWORKING

  

FIRST WINNER

  

Raindrops
Dir. Filip Karaivanov, Blagoslava Kirilova

  

The project’s pitch was detailed and well-structured, supported by a captivating visual presentation. It defended its ambitious vision by demonstrating that the team can deliver it just as impressively as they imagined it.

  

  

SECOND WINNER

  

Jehonë
Dir. Evangelina Gkiokrousi 

  

This project explores three distinct ancient musical traditions from Greece and Albania that are gradually fading in modern times. We believe it is not only interesting to watch, but also important and educational.

  

  

THIRD WINNER

  

72 Hours
Dir. Vilmos Heim

   

The project combines well thought visuals with an engaging story and an important message.

Kaloyan Vasilev, Faisal-Azam Qureshi

  

FILMER FORGE

 

MAIN AWARD

  

Lucia at the Window
Dir. Julian Lona, Agustin Balbi

  

Ambitious project mixing themes and cinematic genres.

Clean and convincing pitch, that gives confidence about the delivery.

  

SECOND AWARD

  

Hot Pizza Delivery
Dir. Danilo Stanimirovic

  

A serious topic, with educational value, and narrated in a funny way.

Furthermore we were impressed by the contemporary visual and technical approach.

  

Soňa Morgenthalová, Alessandro Giorgio, Kaloyan Vasilev

  

  We are impatiently waiting for your submissions for next year's edition - here.