Eleven industry awards were presented October 21 to the most promising projects participating in the Ji.hlava New Visions Forum 2025. In total, fifty-five projects from Europe, United States and East & Southeast Asia were presented, whether in development, production or post-production. The winners received numerous cash awards, and in-kind awards handed out in cooperation with the partners of Ji.hlava IDFF.
The industry jury was composed of Chris White, executive producer at POV & America ReFramed, head of the documentary competition at Sarajevo FF, film curator Rada Šešić and the film consultant and journalist Tue Steen Müller.
- Ji.hlava New Visions Award 2025 for the Most Promising European Project in co-operation with UPP receives an in-kind grant for visual post-production in the estimated value of 15,000 EUR. Winner: Adam’s Tooth, Director: Mariam Chachia, Nik Voigt. Producer: Tekla Machavariani, Mariam Chachia. Country: Georgia, United Kingdom. Jury statement: So many of us in different countries are experiencing absurd and cruel political systems infringing on individual liberties and our most basic human rights. With a cinematic lens and a wry humorous tone, this film is emblematic of a “creative resistance” to the institutional injustice of the Georgian nightmare. The Jury is honored to present the New Visions Award for most promising European Project, in cooperation with UPP, to Mariam Chachia, Nik Voigt, and Tekla Machavariani of Adam’s Tooth.
- Ji.hlava New Visions Award 2025 for the Most Promising European Project in co-operation with Soundsquarereceives sound mixing and a final sound master in the estimated value of 5,000 EUR. Winner: Superhumans. Director: Inna Shevchenko. Producer: Arash T. Riahi. Country: Austria, Jury statement: With unobtrusive, yet close and intimate camera work, we enter a world that speaks volumes about injustice and violence. At the same time, this film combines the beauty of life and the challenges of remaking yourself. We were deeply moved by the positive attitude of the protagonists, their strength, and firm hope in tomorrow. Despite the seriousness of the topic, the film keeps a flavor of humor and playfulness. The team convinced us that they seriously work on every detail of the film, from their cinema verite camera style, to a very well worked out plan for how to deal with the sound design and dramaturgy of the whole narrative. The award goes to Superhumans by director Inna Shevchenko and producer Arash T. Riahi.
- Ji.hlava New Visions Award 2025 for the Most Promising U.S. project in partnership with AmDocs receives a 7,000 USD cash award. Winner: Newville. Director: Pisie Hochheim, Tony Oswald. Producer: Pisie Hochheim, Tony Oswald. Country: Switzerland, Uganda, United States. Jury statement: Our histories, our memories, our relationships to those we love are so often rooted in the places we grow up. This film sensitively reveals the cracks in the foundations of, both, a physical home and a very large family, when loved ones move in different directions. The Jury is honored to present the New Visions Award for most promising US Project to Pisie Hochheim and Tony Oswald for their lovely film Newville.
OTHER AWARDS
- CANNES DOCS – MARCHÉ DU FILM AWARD Correspondances to inhabit the world by Laura Gabay, Producer: Vania Jaikin. Countries: Uruguay, Switzerland, Spain
- DAE AWARD Laura Zahirah: Just a Regular Muslim by Karoliina Lahti. Producer: Serj Rimma. Countries: Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Finland
- #DOCS CONNECT TASKOVSKI TRAINING AWARD Superhumans by Inna Shevchenko. Producer: Arash T. Riahi. Country: Austria
- SHEFFIELD DOCFEST NETWORKING AWARD The Pylon and Lake by Sylvain Yonnet. Producers: Cécile Lestrade, Elise Hug. Country: France
- LIGHTDOX AWARD Dear You by Aurora Brachman. Producers: Khaula Malik, Lo Heimer. Country: United States
- DOCS BY THE SEA AWARD Drifting by the River Rhythm by Polen Ly. Producer: Daniel Mattes. Country: Cambodia
- MEDITALENTS RESIDENCY AWARD Momtski Kamen – The Girl’s Rock by Maria Sidiropoulou, Chloe Bruhat. Producer: Maria Sidiropoulou. Country: Greece
- JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER AWARD Newville by Pisie Hochheim, Tony Oswald. Producers: Pisie Hochheim, Tony Oswald. Countries: United States, Uganda, Switzerland
The 29th Ji.hlava IDFF takes place October 24–November 2, 2025.
