Generation Awards and Juries

© Aaron Lapeirre

©

Zeevonk (Sea Sparkle)
by Domien Huyghe

Jury Statement:
A determined and enraged young girl who never gave up hope caused us tension as well as sadness. The rough sea and the proper music created a great atmosphere.

Mimi (She – Hero)
by Mira Fornay

Jury Statement:
From its very first shot, this film had the jury under its spell. All manner of issues, characters and complexities meet in the enchanted microcosm of the forest, which sets the stage for its wilful, young protagonist. This film celebrates ingenuity, creativity and openness. Through its tone, pace and humorous spirit, it beautifully walks the tightrope between reality and fantasy. This is the story of a young girl looking for a bird.

Waking Up in Silence
by Mila Zhluktenko, Daniel Asadi Faezi

Jury Statement:
We would like to give the prize to a film that offers a tender glimpse into the daily rhythms of a dislocated childhood. This film’s effortless intimacy bears witness to enduring joy, strength and innocence against a backdrop of profound loss. We were moved by the film’s confident approach. It powerfully evokes a sense of place and history as it offers an important snapshot of the urgent present.

Xiaohui he ta de niu (Xiaohui and His Cows)
by Xinying Lao

Jury Statement:
Breath-taking cinematography, deeply charming characters and deft storytelling all come together in this poignant short. This is a story of love and chosen family. It’s also a story about survival, and honours the emotional hardships of its characters, both boy and cow.

Adolfo
by Sofía Auza

Jury Statement:
Bus stop exterior night.
Detail shot of a packet of cigarettes. The bus has already left, but we are still taken on a trip.
Through an unexpected, yet intense encounter between strangers and their witty humor, we accompany two fundamentally different people through an enchanting night full of colors, thoughts and poetic-philosophical dialogues. The film won us over thanks to its attention to detail, with which it draws inspiring characters who try to come to terms with their past and at the same time look towards the future.
Just one night instead of a thousand - and maybe the cigarettes are enough in the end?

And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine
by Axel Danielson, Maximilien Van Aertryck

Jury Statement:
This film has set itself apart with its unique style and humorous as well as creative storytelling of a technology you are all familiar with. It illuminates not only the development of the medium, but also the advantages and disadvantages it brings. We particularly liked the use of colourful excerpts from a wide variety of sources which, when put together, still form a unit.

Szemem sarka (From the Corner of My Eyes)
by Domonkos Erhardt

Jury Statement:
Do you remember this one moment in your life? Perhaps it was particularly magical, maybe it was rather intense... A film reminded us of such moments and, from the very start, whisked us away on a journey behind the reflection of reality. We find the harmonious style to be inspiring and thought-provoking. In the end, the attention to detail and the touching encounter convinced us. A glimpse into a possible dream world from the corner of your eye.

Hummingbirds
by Silvia Del Carmen Castaños, Estefanía “Beba” Contreras

Jury Statement:
For a touching and subtle glimpse into the intimate moments of memorable characters that grow within their friendship.
Their self-determination and playfulness, as both protagonists and authors, is inspiring.
Their actions, jokes, songs, laughs, and bodies are political and necessary as a way of resistance.

Mutt
by Vuk Lungulov-Klotz

Jury Statement:
For a film with complex, ambivalent characters and relationships in the story of a single day, where the past comes back into the protagonist’s life. With brilliant acting and surprising storytelling.

Incroci
by Francesca de Fusco

Jury Statement:
For a warm and personal coming of age about a feeling that is hard to define. Like a photograph, it captures a moment in the protagonist’s life, which made us feel and remember what curiosity and connection mean at a young age.