Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis – Ben Steele
Ben Steele (United Kingdom), Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis, Television Program. Emmy & BAFTA nominees Ben Steele and Idris Elba deliver a powerful and urgent exploration of the rising knife crime epidemic in the UK. Knife crime steals lives at an alarming rate, and for Idris Elba, it’s heartbreakingly personal. Growing up in East London, he knows how fragile the line between safety and tragedy can be, and this urgency drives him to confront the crisis directly. Viewers witness the raw reality of victims, offenders, and grieving families, and the difficult truths Idris uncovers challenge assumptions about who is affected and why.
From an unprovoked murder by two 12-year-olds in the West Midlands to the stark realities at Feltham Young Offender’s Institute, the program exposes the human cost of violence while showing where intervention can make a difference. Heartbreaking personal accounts, innovative youth programs at The Royal London Hospital, and Idris’s conversations with policymakers, including King Charles and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, give the audience a sense of both the urgency and the possibility for change. The program culminates in a Knife Crime Summit at 10 Downing Street, where those directly impacted help shape solutions that could save lives.
Last Shot – Andy Palmer
Andy Palmer (USA), Last Shot, Film Feature – Last Shot follows 12‑year-old Caden Isaacs from the sudden death of his father, tracing his journey through grief and the fragile bonds that shape his world. At the center is his estranged mother, as their tentative attempts at reconnection reveal the deep emotional currents between them. Lives intersect and collide, marked by tension, quiet struggles, and moments of fragile understanding — some directly touching Caden, others unfolding independently – creating a tender, nuanced portrait of love, loss, and the complex ways human relationships define and shape us.
A talented cast brings these intricate characters and relationships to life, including Emmy-winner Jaime Pressly (Mom, My Name is Earl), Michael Rapaport (True Romance, Cop Land, Men of Honor), Emmy-nominee Laraine Newman (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Coneheads), Johnny Simmons (Perks of Being A Wallflower, Bad Man), Emmy-nominee Baron Davis (Joy Ride), and a talented young Dylan Friedman.
The Shadow Fleet (Flota Cieni) – Ewa Galica
Ewa Galica (Poland), The Shadow Fleet, Documentary Feature (Flota Cieni) – A gripping investigative news story that examines how a network of ageing oil tankers and other vessels – the so-called shadow fleet – is used to circumvent Western sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. These ships operate with opaque ownership, dubious registration, and tactics designed to avoid scrutiny, allowing sanctioned actors to continue exporting oil and other goods.
Galica’s reporting is a masterclass in investigative journalism, blending meticulous research, clarity, and narrative skill. She traces corporate ownership, shipping movements, and economic patterns across borders, revealing how sanctioned networks function while grounding the story in human, environmental, and geopolitical stakes. With the tension and resonance of a political thriller, her work transforms complex material into a compelling narrative that exposes hidden systems, informs the public, and underscores the power of accountability.
The Healing Effects of Self-Deception – Adolf Zika
Adolf Zika (Czechia), The Healing Effects of Self-Deception, Film Feature – A masterful adaptation of Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt’s celebrated play Enigmatic Variations, brought vividly to life on screen. Exceptional direction transforms this dialogue-driven stage piece into a cinematic experience, using precise camera work, choreographed movement, and visual composition to highlight the razor-sharp writing, emotional tension, and unexpected twists.
At its heart, the film is a psychological duel between the misanthropic novelist Abel Znorko and Nicolas Gobert, who appears to be a journalist seeking insight into Znorko’s latest book, Denied Love. What begins as an interview spirals into a tense exploration of life, love, sexuality, and human vulnerability. Gobert’s true identity – and his connection to the woman behind Znorko’s letters – unfolds in shocking, profoundly moving revelations, culminating in a monumental plot twist. The story is brought vividly to life by a very talented cast, starring Martin Stránský (Peklo s princeznou, Lécivé úcinky sebeklamu) and Ondrej Sokol (Krásno, Perfect Days – I ženy mají své dny), with Jitka Čvančarová (The Painted Bird, I Wake Up Yesterday) and Vica Kerekes (Tall Tales, Men in Hope) in key supporting roles.
Amanda Barakat and Sam Chou (Canada), What Could Have Been, Animation. Powerfully reflects on the futures stolen by war. A mother gives birth in a hospital under siege and dares to imagine the life her daughter might know—shaped by love and joy. Through deft direction, the film evokes fragile hope shattered by profound loss, rendered with haunting beauty through its compelling animation and music.
Tim Gray (USA), Miles, Morale and Memories: Bob Hope and World War II, Doc Feature. With touching narration by Oscar-nominee Gary Sinese and deft direction by Emmy-winner Tim Gray it explores Bob Hope’s legendary USO tours, traveling over 80,000 miles facing danger and close calls to bring joy and comfort to troops. Captured through immaculate research and touching intimate interviews. Aired PBS
Wenjing Xing (China), Swan’s Requiem, Film Short. Based on a true story in China, it reflects on a sweet, young woman who took her own life during childbirth amid patriarchal traditions and institutional negligence. It recognizes silenced pain and dignity erased in motherhood, while tracing how her tragic death pushed forward legal and social change. Achingly authentic performances by Xu Lin, Hanlin Liu, Xiaoni Wei
Leya Hale (USA), Medicine Ball, Native Peoples. Emmy-winner Hale weaves the personal journeys of two Native student-athletes with the haunting legacy of Indian boarding schools, revealing how basketball once used for assimilation was transformed into a space of resilience healing pride and identity. The film honors survival legacy and cultural continuity across generations through deeply personal storytelling. Aired PBS.
Mohammad Reza Khaki (Iran), My Reflection is Not in the Mirror, Film Feature. A 12-year-old boy retreats into silence as his family unravels, embodying the fractures and unspoken tensions left by divorce and secrecy. The film is a poignant exploration of isolation, connection, and the emotional currents that shape relationships under strain. Dramatic performances led by Ladan Mostofi, Ali Ansarian, Neda Ghasemi.
Nicola Scamarcia (Italy), Geryon, Film Short. Giacomo Fanelli, a loan shark battling kidney failure, gives money for a young couple to marry and then imposes a morally harrowing demand thrusting them into impossible choices. It unflinchingly examines desperation, exploitation and the fragile humanity of those caught in another’s power. Authentic performances by Michele Bucci, Giulia Fanizza, Vito Pepe, Luciana Rubini.
Tim Gray (USA), Corpsman! Pearl Harbor, Documentary Feature. Narrated by Emmy-winner Jim Nantz and directed by Emmy-winner Gray, it explores the experiences of corpsman Harry Chandler and other veterans of December 7, 1941, highlighting intimate stories and personal impacts. With impeccable research, it captures the courage, emotion and enduring resonance of these firsthand accounts. Aired PBS.
Angelo Donzella (Italy), Broken, Film Short. Two young women navigate lives shattered by harrowing trauma: one wounded by life and desperate to bridge the chasm within herself, the other trying to support her while powerless to halt the escalating pain. It is a brutal tale of misplaced revenge that exposes the cruelty and despair of their world. Convincing performances by Anna Panero, Giulia D’Ancona, Simone Nepote Andrè, Franco Gillardi.
Hamdi Khalil Elhusseini, Samar Taher Lulu (Palestine), Adas Falasteen, Doc Short. Amid the horrors of war in Gaza, a chef creates a large-scale community kitchen, feeding tens of thousands and sustaining hope. Amidst the horrors of the attacks and destruction, his extraordinary effort becomes a lifeline, a testament to resilience, courage, and the enduring power of humanity amid devastation.
Adrien Lhoste (France), Short Circuit, AI Film. A mother speaks to Lili, her five-year-old daughter with epilepsy, imagining the playful world her daughter creates in her mind during seizures. Wildly stylized and inventive, the film renders both heartbreak and wonder through nuanced AI imagery and tender storytelling. A deeply moving portrait of love, imagination, and resilience brought to life through the touching narration of Manon Colin.
Adam Szudrich (Australia), Slow Dating, Narration / Voiceover Talent
Alex W. Roscoe (United Kingdom), Ain’t Misbehavin’, Script / Writer
Amanda Barakat and Sam Chou (Canada), What Could Have Been, Original Score (CJK LAND STUDIO – Charles Korkomaz), Asian Filmmaker (Sam Chou), Women Filmmakers (Amanda Barakat)
Carrie Ann Quinn (USA), Launch at Paradise, Actress: Supporting (Zainab Jah as Elsa)
Chance Foreman (USA), Dance Of The Wild, Cinematography, Documentary Feature, Nature / Environment / Wildlife
Christian Skibinski (Germany), Visitation, Film Short
Christin Baker (USA), The Christmas Writer, Original Score
Damien Lafon (France), Trunyan – The Village of Silent Souls, Documentary Short, Native Peoples / Aboriginal Theme
Fella Cederbaum (USA), Steal Time, Script / Writer
Fella Cederbaum (USA), Hearing Shapes, Script / Writer
Fiona Cochrane (Australia), Whoopee Blues, Documentary Feature, Women Filmmakers, Arts / Cultural / Performance / Plays
Genevieve Knights (New Zealand), Creamed, Script / Writer
Giuseppe A. Modica (Italy), Here Where The Sea Shines, Documentary Short
Jacky Xiao (China), In Pursuit of the Loong, Film Short
Jeff Rector (USA), A Message About Climate Change, AI Film
Juliana Kova (Spain), Gloria, AI Film
Mark Starr and Arlo Carter (United Kingdom), Scarlet, Film Short, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising, Direction
Michelle Bossy (USA), We Regret to Inform You, Women Filmmakers
Nicola Scamarcia (Italy), Geryon, Direction
Oleksii Kopachynskyi (Ukraine), Abyssal Gaze, AI Film, Sound: Overall Impact (Kyrylo Demianov and Vlad Kozyr)
Paul Heinzelmann (USA), Safe Sets: Dying to Work in the Film Industry, Documentary Feature
Peter Tamaribuchi (USA), The Question, Asian Filmmaker
Russ Kirkpatrick (USA), Susan, LGBTQ+ Filmmaker
Saeed Dadgar (Iran), Shadow Like, Film Short
Shigeto Rage Sayama (United Kingdom), The Mosquito Man, Original Score
Shuo Shen (China), The Only Universe for Us, Sound Editing / Sound Mixing
Surapong Wetsuwanmanee (Thailand), Lighting Candle, Animation
Tayebe Babaei (Iran), When The Veils Dance, Script / Writer
Yasheng Tao, Guanzhen Gao and Yi Wei (China), Soaring Hoops, Asian Theme
