At the close of Cannes Docs 2025, section chief Pierre-Alexis Chevit hosted the Docs-in-Progress Awards Ceremony during which this year’s winners were announced. Over the past days, eight showcases of docs-in-progress from around the world were presented, forming a total of 32 new creative documentary projects aiming to hit the circuit within a few weeks or months.
The winners (plus prize descriptions and citations) are:
- IEFTA Award: €10,000 cash prize and project follow-up by IEFTA. Winner: Asphalt by Hamza Hamideh [Palestine Showcase]. Statement: We selected this project for the director’s sensibility to capture on camera the cinematic moments of everyday life with humour and sorrow. The immediacy and subtlety in the portrayal of the protagonist and his community are a reminder of what it means to live and resist, even in the face of displacement, inhumanity and oppression.
- Al Jazeera Documentary Award: Al Jazeera Documentary to come in as co-producer, with a minimum contribution of $15,000. Winner: Everybody to Kenmure Street by Felipe Bustos Sierra [Scotland Showcase]. Statement: In recognition of its compelling story, deep human empathy, and unwavering pursuit of justice, we are honoured to present this award on a documentary that is a compelling testament to the power of the people’s collective efforts in defense of human dignity. This film brings to the forefront the courage of ordinary individuals and communities that come together in the face of fear, exclusion, and structural injustice to serve and protect immigrants. Through close proximity, authentic voices, and a clear ethical lens, the film goes beyond headlines and statistics to allow us to witness the lived experiences, the resilience, and the shared humanity of those too often rendered invisible. We congratulate the team on their excellent work and their significant contribution to the global debate on justice and belonging.
- Chicken & Egg Vision Award: Includes a $5,000 cash prize, one year of mentorship, and AlumNest membership. Winner Something Familiar by Rachel Close [CIRCLE Showcase]. Statement: We were impressed with this directorial debut, which commands a confident artistic approach in capturing the director’s personal quest with vulnerability and honesty. To witness her determination to interrogate the intangible pull of her past is deeply compelling and moving. Chicken & Egg Vision Special Mention: Sama, by Rabab Khamis [Palestine Showcase]
- Post-Production Award: €5,000 grant in post-production services, thanks to the participation of TransPerfect Media. Winner: The Production of the World by Brett Story [Canada Showcase]
- Rise And Shine Award: For the project with the best international potential, and with no attached sales agent. €3,000 cash prize, awarded to the project’s producer. Winner: The Tiger of the East by Jorge Acevedo Carrasco [Chile Showcase]
- Alphapanda Award: Two sessions of marketing consultancy with Alphapanda team members + the creation of an artwork for the film. Winner: Two Mountains Weighing Down My Chest by Viv Li [Docs by the Sea Showcase]
- Think-Film Impact Award: A strategic impact workshop + an impact pitching coaching session. Winner: My Rebel Heart by Ida Kat Balslev [Palestine Showcase]
- Rulli Putortì & Partners Law Firm Award: Three 2-hour long legal support consultations. Winner: I Heard the Calling: The Return of the Tupinambá Cloak by Myrza Muniz, Robson Dias, Célia Tupinambá [Brazil Showcase]
- DAE Award: Free one-year memberships for the team, with all associated benefits, and a rough cut consultation with one of DAE’s senior advisors. Winner: The Flight of the Stork by Soumaya Hidalgo Djahdou, Berta Vicente Salas [Spain Showcase]
