Awards and Recognition at Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival
Natalia Koniarz's documentary "Silver" has been honored with the main prize in the Opus Bonum section at the Ji.hlava Documentary Film Festival. The film also received the award for the best documentary film in the Visegrad region and recognition for its cinematography by Stanisław Cuske.
"Silver" is produced by the acclaimed filmmaker Paweł Pawlikowski, known for his work on "Ida" and "Cold War." He praised the film as a sensory and poetic experience that brings images from the depths with remarkable clarity. According to him, the film is "brutal, hypnotic and profoundly humane."
The film delves into Bolivia's highest silver mine and the lives of those who live under its harsh conditions. Danger is constant, both underground and beyond, with some turning to prayer to the devil for protection. Koniarz shared her experience of living among the locals, forming friendships, witnessing their suffering, and grappling with her own beliefs and prejudices to gain an insider's perspective.
In the First Lights section, Yudi Zhu won the top prize for "So Close, So Far," while Sammy Baloji's "The Tree of Authenticity" took the Testimonies category. Fredj Moussa was awarded the Fascinations' main prize for "Land of Barbar." Vitaly Mansky was honored with the Czech Joy award for "Time to the Target," a co-production between Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine, depicting his hometown of Lviv disrupted by war.
Another standout film, "Mr. Nobody Against Putin" by David Borenstein and Pavel "Pasha" Talankin, won the audience award. Already noticed at Sundance, the film has been selected by Denmark as its entry for the best international feature film Oscar. It follows Talankin, a small-town teacher resisting and documenting propaganda and militarization after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He has since fled Russia.
During a Q&A session, Talankin expressed excitement about the film's success. He mentioned receiving a call from former students when Denmark decided to submit the film, saying, “Just imagine if the best actor award goes to our teacher!”
Talankin emphasized his deep understanding of the situation in Russia, stating, “Everything that comes out of Putin's mouth when he's on TV is a lie. It's always a lie.”
This year's festival welcomed Tsai Ming-liang, who presented his latest work, "Night Journey." Last year, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at Ji.hlava. Tsai explained his attraction to the quiet atmosphere of the small town and the fog that shrouds its nights. He plans to return to Ji.hlava a year later, collaborating with FAMU students for a new project.
The "Walker" series, which began in 2012, continues with "Walker in Spain" still in post-production. Tsai expressed his belief that the series will continue as long as Lee Kang-sheng and he are both present, with future plans for a "Walker" in Jeonju, Korea, and other cities.
Other notable winners include:
- Opus Bonum: Main Award: Natalia Koniarz, "Silver"; Special Mention: Jean Boiron-Lajous, "Abysses and Wonders"; Special Mention: Hilary Powell, Dan Edelstyn, "Power Station"
- Best Central and Eastern European Documentary: Lisa Polster, "Bürglkopf"
- Best Documentary Film in the Visegrad Region 2025: Natalia Koniarz, "Silver"
- Award for Original Approach: Diego Hernández, "Skyless Roof"
- Best Editing: Xavier Sirven, "Abysses and Wonders"
- Best Cinematography: Stanisław Cuske, "Silver"
- Award for the Best Sound Design: Henry Sims, "The Beauty of the Donkey"
- Student Jury Award: Peter Mettler, "While the Green Grass Grows: A Diary in Seven Parts"
Additional Categories and Winners
- First Lights: Main Award: Yudi Zhu, "So Close, So Far"; Special Mention: Karel Malkoun, "The Cats, the Sea, and Everything Between"; Best Cinematography: Ludmila Cimbůrková, Maja Penčič, "Minimum Love"; Award for Original Approach: Raaed Al Kour, "Taste of Salt"
- Testimonies: Main Award: Sammy Baloji, "The Tree of Authenticity"; Special Mention: Amber Fares, "Coexistence, My Ass!"; Special Mention for Best Film on Politics: Joanna Grudzinska, "Poland versus History"; Special Mention for Best Film on Knowledge: Åse Svenheim Drivenes, "Teenage Life Interrupted"
- Fascinations: Main Award: Fredj Moussa, "Land of Barbar"; I. Special mention: Mario Blaconà, "Transparencies"; II. Special mention: Paula Malinowska, "Branching Light and Flickers of a Dawn"
- Exprmntl.cz: Main Award: Nebe Motýlová, "Tiny Film about Rape"; I. Special mention: Zbyněk Baladrán, "The Totalitarian Society of the Image"
- Audience Award: "Mr. Nobody Against Putin"
- Czech Joy: Main Award: Vitaly Mansky, "Time to the Target"; Special Mention: Martin Trabalík, "What About Petey?"; Best Editing: Michal Böhm, "Unborn Father"; Best Sound Design: Martin Stýblo, "Kapralova"; Best Cinematography: Martin Kollár, "Chronicle"; Award for Original Approach: Jan Strejcovský, "Is It Worth It!?"; Student Jury Award: Martin Trabalík, "What About Petey?"
- Virtual Reality Film: Award for the Best Virtual Reality Film: Caroline Poggi, Jonathan Vinel, "The Exploding Girl"; Special Mention: Sjors Swierstra, Ivanna Khitsinska, "Shelter"; Special Mention: Shiuan Yan, "Trans-Composition"
- Short Joy: Gabriele Neudecker, "wedLOCK tradWIFE"
- Contribution to World Cinema Award: Fundación Grupo Ukamau
- Ji.hlava Industry Winners: Ji.hlava New Visions Award for the Most Promising European Project in Cooperation with UPP: "Adam's Tooth" (United Kingdom, Georgia); Directors: Mariam Chachia, Nik Voigt; Producers: Tekla Machavariani, Mariam Chachia; Ji.hlava New Visions Award for the Most Promising European Project in Cooperation with Soundsquare: "Superhumans" (Austria); Director: Inna Shevchenko; Producers: Arash T. Riahi; Ji.hlava New Visions Award 2025 for the Most Promising U.S. Project in Partnership with AmDocs: "Newville" (United States, Uganda, Switzerland); Directors and producers: Pisie Hochheim, Tony Oswald
- Cannes Docs – Marché Du Film Award: "Correspondances to Inhabit the World" (Uruguay, Switzerland, Spain); Director: Laura Gabay; Producer: Vania Jaikin
- DAE Award: "Laura Zahirah: Just a Regular Muslim" (Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Finland); Director: Karoliina Lahti; Producer: Serj Rimma
- #Docs Connect Taskovski Training Award: "Superhumans"
- Sheffield Docfest Networking Award: "The Pylon and Lake" (France); Director: Sylvain Yonnet; Producers: Cécile Lestrade, Elise Hug
- Lightdox Award: "Dear You" (United States); Director: Aurora Brachman; Producers: Khaula Malik, Lo Heimer
- Docs By the Sea Award: "Drifting by the River Rhythm" (Cambodia); Director: Polen Ly; Producer: Daniel Mattes
- Meditalents Residency Award: "Momtski Kamen – The Girl's Rock" (Greece); Directors: Maria Sidiropoulou, Chloe Bruhat; Producer: Maria Sidiropoulou
- Jacob Burns Film Center Award: "Newville"
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