WINNERS: June 2025 Virtual DOCUMENTARY Festival

A showcase of the best documentary films in the world today.

AUDIENCE AWARDS:
Best Short Film: Chappilana
Best Direction: Deferred
Best Nature Film: Mimas
Best Animation DOC: On a Mysterious Rock in a Mysterious Forest
Best Micro-Short: On My Great-Grandmother Julia’s Orchard
Best Human Nature FilM: the sky is the limit
Best Society Film: Bang Bang
Best Student Film: Savad Capello

Bang Bang, 14min., China
Directed by Guan Yi
Chongqing, a city built on mountains in Southwestern China, remains a stronghold of porters known as “bang bang” who move goods along streets on the rugged terrain. But the porters are slowly fading from view in the face of modernization. From 400,000 people working as bang bang in the city in 2010, they have shrunk to fewer than 2,000, mostly elderly.

CHAPPILANA, 23min., India
Directed by Komalankutty Methil
Pudiyankom-Kattusseri Vela Festival of Palakkad District has many unique features, one of which is a Chappalana, an elephant made of wood, bamboo and dry grass, with an ancient and fascinating story behind it.

Deferred, 18min., Sri Lanka
Directed by Lanka Bandaranayake
Ambitious and academically successful young Sri Lankan women, who have long dreamed of studying abroad, now find themselves at crossroads due to new UK immigration policies that prevent them from bringing their spouses along. Deeply personal and emotional journey, also, Sociopolitical explanations of academics unfold how they have to navigate the harsh reality of choosing between their educational goals and their familial bonds.

https://www.instagram.com/lankabandaranayake

Sayad Capello, 24min., Iran
Directed by Rostam Nazari
Teenagers from the outskirts of the city have dreams in their heads. Sayad, despite his physical disability and his love of coaching football, is trying to make the dreams of the children to be fulfilled!

https://www.instagram.com/rostam.nazari52

Mimas, 5min. Turkey
Directed by Ervim Inci
Alican Peker, who takes on the task of bringing water to the goats who live alone on an island and have no drinking water sources, also does not remain silent about the problems of other creatures in the area where he lives.

https://www.instagram.com/evriminci/?hl=en

On Village Community and the Digging of Turf in Bobry, 2min., Poland
Directed by Joanna Polak
Film about the olden village tradition of digging for turf.

On a Mysterious Rock in a Mysterious Forest, 2min., Poland
Directed by Joanna Polak
Film about childhood spent in a forest which children saw as Paradise.

On My Great-Grandmother Julia’s Orchard, 2min., Poland
Directed
Directed by Joanna Polak
Film about an orchard where deer came to live, and stayed the year round.

the sky is the limit, 25min., UK
Directed by Mirka Anderson
Despite all social, physical and psychological adversities she is a symbol of success as a prolific artist and emanates positive energy with calm, humour and affection. She is a genuine star !