Golden Lynx – FICTION

Lessons Learned, Bálint Szimler
Jury Statement: This film, blending documentary style with literary richness, creates a vivid set of characters. With poetic camerawork, it portrays a radiant reality and ideals where innocence struggles within a decaying system. It reveals deep-rooted issues in the field of education, resonating with those facing authoritarianism. For its disturbing beauty, quiet sorrow, and bold vision, the Golden Lynx goes to Lessons Learned, by Bálint Szimler.

Honorable Mention:Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo), Joel Alfonso Vargas
Jury Statement: A neo-realist coming-of-age story about freedom, aspirations, and desire — but also about the claustrophobia of life choices. The film follows the doomed journey of a survivor fighting day by day — an outcast with everything against him. An empathetic dive into a life that feels both raw and real. An unforgettable exploration of the promise of youth clashing with the responsibilities of adulthood. At its core, this film observes its deeply developed characters with remarkable authenticity and truly human performances.

Golden Lynx – DOCUMENTARY

Songs of Slow Burning Earth, Olha Zhurba
Jury Statement: For the uncompromising courage to deliver a sophisticated, creative, resilient, and humanist gaze across various sectors of a society in wartime crisis, highlighting a sublime sound treatment and a lasting conviction that lingers after the credits roll.

Audience Award – Best Feature Film

Manas, Marianna Brennand

Audience Award – Short Film

Berthe is Dead But It's Ok, Sacha Trilles

Grande Prémio Nacional

Business as Usual, Pedro Vinícius
Jury Statement: For a consistent and creative portrayal of the housing crisis in a city collapsing to the rhythm of the sounds and effects of dehumanization. Highlighting the vision and editing that elevate the film to a level of excellence, the FEST Grand National Prize goes to Business as Usual.

Honorable Mention:
Real Estate Agent Without a Home to Live In, Filipe Amorim
Jury Statement: For the boldness of infiltrating a delirious universe through a creative satire with an irreverent performance.

Honorable Mention:
The Blue Border, Dinis Miguens Costa
Jury Statement: For presenting a tripartite and circular universe of great relevance, with direction that highlights a unique artistic vision and remarkable technical execution.

Silver Lynx – FICTION

Family Sunday, Gerardo Del Razo
Jury Statement: A careful and impressive observation of an ordinary day in a troubled neighborhood, with a remarkable technical approach. It masterfully portrays a segment of society, prompting reflection on present-day realities and conflicts, showing just how fragile human life is.

Honorable Mention: Sammi, Who Can Detach His Body Parts, Rein Maychaelson
Jury Statement: This film takes a macabre premise and transforms it into a deeply emotional journey, exploring social and gender themes. With an inventive blend of genres, it moves between playfulness and unease, mourning and healing. For its outstanding creativity and originality, the honorable mention goes to Sammi, Who Can Detach His Body Parts, by Rein Maychaelson.

Silver Lynx – DOCUMENTARY

Berthe is Dead But It's Ok, Sacha Trilles
Jury Statement: For dignifying, through art and creativity, a larger-than-life character in a breathtaking experience with a magical and undoubtedly death-transcending ending.

Honorable Mention: What If We Run Out of Stones?, Nora Štrbová
Jury Statement: For reminding us that cinema has not all been invented, and that there are many ways to provoke, love, and artistically observe the world around us.

Silver Lynx – ANIMATION

The Crooked Heads, Jakub Krzyszpin

Jury Statement: Through rough textures and dark tones, we're pulled into a world that feels heavy, polluted, and intense, where violence and hardship are part of daily life. The haunting sound design adds to a powerfully disturbing portrait of the main character's inner world and outside fears.

Honorable Mention: Larval, Alice Bloomfield

Jury Statement: A detailed and perfectly crafted animation film, with a strong direction and artistic vision, where every image is an artwork on its own.

Silver Lynx – EXPERIMENTAL

Medical Field Guide or Rules of Engagement With Native E-girls, Andran Abramjan, Jan Hofman

Jury Statement: A technically bold and emotionally powerful work, this film creates an atmosphere that feels like a simulation, through an innovative visual approach, where everyday actions and acts of violence blend together leaving us disoriented, but strangely relieved not to witness horror directly, even though what we can imagine is just as haunting.

Honorable Mention: The Land of Abandonment, Eliška Lubojatzká

Jury Statement: A film with dreamlike narrative and painting-like visual quality, it is a sweet cinematic scalpel cut into the female unconsciousness. We look forward to more.

NEXXT

PUNTER, Eliška Lubojatzká

Jury Statement: With its grainy, raw and intimate aesthetics, we are put right within a young boy’s coming of age situation, creating a strong emotional connection to the protagonist and making us reflect on addictions and their almost unbreakable patterns.

Honorable Mention: The Dam, Giovanni Pierangeli

Jury Statement: Some films are just damn well made in all cinematics aspects. The Dam is an example of an intimate drama that does not fall into stereotypes and delivers suspense in the most subtle ways.

Honorable Mention: Karaokiss, Mila Ryngaert

Jury Statement: Some films are fun and funny, which is a rare directorial skill on its own. This film definitely calls for more do-it-yourself musicals.

FESTinha 

Sub6:
Hoofs on Skates, Ignas Meilūnas

Sub10:
Reven, Babey Hugo, Barreau Victor, Bossard Line, Hurard Chloé, Monnier Coralie, Morin Mathilde, Ripoche Lèna, Salaün Tanguy

Sub12:
Les Lucioles, Loïs Angilella, Léa Faynel, Ambre Fournier, Clémentine Gabard, Hannah Gozlan, Claire Represa, Emilie Richard, Mathieu Staropoli, Maïa Xueref

Sub16:
Passarinho, Natalia García Agraz