WINNERS 2025

Jury Award for Creativity
Anaerobic | Fatemeh Shams | Iran | 9 min

Young Talent Award (12–15)
In Another Life | Renee Shi | United States | 3 min

Best Video Essay
Data Centers: The Problems of a Growing Digital World
Ananya Madaan, Audrey Miracle, Violet Wiley | United States | 8 min

Best Youth Short
CHINESE TATTED-WALL | Nianyu Zhong | China | 3 min

Best Animation
QUI EST L’ORDURE ? | Yummy Films | France | 4 min

Eco Message Award
The Sixth Element | Sudipta Sarker | Bangladesh | 5 min

Grand Prix Plane Frame 2025
Not awarded

FINALISTS 2025 (Top 27 Films)

SHARP GOSSIP | Nianyu Zhong | China
Pass | Kianoush Eslami | Iran
A Change of Heart | Tanaya Sethi | India
Staying Hydrated | Sebastian Roncoroni | United States
We Were Here Where We Wear | ALAMAT None | Philippines
All You Need is Less | Adira Blades, Angelica Guillen, Erin Dela Cruz | United States
AMERICA IS | Annabel Aust | United States
The Surprised Watchman | Michael Reichel | Israel
Vanima za Varaždin 2 | Anabela Mlinarić, Vita Dvoržak, Sara Majnarić, Vigo Gulić, Eva Košić, Srećko Lebinec | Croatia
Living Roots | Francisca Seabra | Portugal
The Flavor of the Sea | Luís Mendes | Portugal
Oh My Kampung | Iroet Marteni | Malaysia
A Colorful Dream | Mohammad Gardidahkar | Iran
If I Were to Love the Bay | Reticências Filmes | United States
Progress at a Price | Amanda Bilchick, Derek Dong, Maria Kinnan, Logan Sibiski | United States
The Effect of Housing Development on Wildlife | Sarah Ballenger, Hadley Cabell, Leanna Hodgson | United States
New Land Tomorrow? | Wang Xiangying | China
Inner Voice | Zachary Huang | China
LIQUID | Ilias Khlifat | Morocco
DESCENSO / DECLINE | Ana Victoria Pérez | Spain
In The Company of Bees | Taylor Smith | United Kingdom
Lost History | Ryan Hainline | United States
The Final Stair | Shameer Ali | India
Borrowed Sea | Antoine Mathieu | Canada
Lignum Love | Gabi Bania | United Kingdom
Hope | Stefania Spasova | Bulgaria
Tomorrow | Stefania Spasova | Bulgaria

SPECIAL FESTIVAL AWARDS

Special Recognition Award
Talking Silence | Stephanie Spasova | Bulgaria

Spirit of Morganton Award
Back to Junaluska | Leah & Elias Hummel | United States

FILM ALMANAC 2025 — Series 1

CHINESE TATTED-WALL | Nianyu Zhong | China
Pass | Kianoush Eslami | Iran
We Were Here Where We Wear | ALAMAT None | Philippines
AMERICA IS | Annabel Aust | United States
A Colorful Dream | Mohammad Gardidahkar | Iran
Back to Junaluska | Leah & Elias Hummel | United States

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