The Palm Springs International Film Festival on Sunday revealed the 2025 Jury Prize winners, and they include Walter Sallis’ film. I’m still hereZoe Saldaña and the documentary No other land.
Judging categories include the FIPRESCI Film Award in the Academy Awards International Feature Film Presentation Programme, the Best Documentary Award, the New Voices and New Visions Award, and others.
The festival was held from January 2 to 13 and showed 165 films from more than 71 countries.
See below for a full list of juried winners.
FIPRESCI Award for Best International Feature Film
I’m still here (Brazil) directed by Walter Salles
Jury statement: “to I’m still hereconveying the horror of the encroachment of a dictatorship from the intimate perspective of a mother who defends not only her family of five, but also her dignity. Director Walter Sallis evokes the intensity of violence without resorting to melodrama, depicting a critical moment in history in precise and compelling detail.
FIPRESCI Award for Best International Screenplay:
cinnabar (Italy) Director: Moura Del Piero
Jury statement: “To writer-director Maura DelPierro, for subverting the conventions of wartime drama within an elegant period piece — and letting the story unfold through the eyes of complex female characters.”
FIPRESCI Award for Best Actress in an International Feature Film
Zoe Saldaña – Emilia Perez (France) directed by Jacques Audiard
Jury statement: “To Zoe Saldaña, for the ferocity and complexity of her performance Emilia Perezwhich displays a masterful range of expression, from song and dance to her powerful interpretation of a morally shady character. Although her character plays a supporting role, she drives the narrative with the strength of a hero.
FIPRESCI Award for Best Actor in an International Feature Film
Mo Chara, Mughlai Bab, DJ Profai – Patella (Ireland) directed by Rich Peppiatt
Jury statement: “To Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Provái, for their seamless performances as a group of musicians making their acting debut in Patella. Since they have proven to be equally original and explosive in both capacities, they bring new energy and impetus to the entire concept of cultural identity.
Best Documentary Film Award
No other land (Palestine), directors Yuval Abraham, Basil Adra, Hamdan Bilal, Rachel Szur
Best Documentary Film Special Mention Award
The Blue Road – The Edna O’Brien Story (Ireland/United Kingdom), director Sinead O’Shea
Jury statement: “For its immersion in the lives of Palestinian villagers in the West Bank who face the constant threat of eviction from their homes by the Israel Defense Forces and attacks by Israeli settlers, we award the Best Documentary Prize to No other land. This film highlights the relationship between two directors – one Palestinian and the other Israeli – without sentimentalizing the relationship, but it emphasizes the different rules that apply to Israelis living under civil law and Palestinians governed by Israeli military justice. We complement the festival programmers with an exceptional selection of documentaries in competition and give a special mention to The Blue Road – The Edna O’Brien StoryWhich reveals the creative genius and extraordinary life force of the great Irish writer.
New voices, new visions prize
The new year that never came (Romania) directed by Bogdan Muricanu
New voices, new insights Special mention:
We’re not going to the dogs tonight (South Africa) directed by Embeth Davidtz
Jury statement: “Our winning film director delivers on the promise he showed in 2019 when his short film Christmas gift It won Best of Festival at ShortFests. We appreciated the way he integrated a myriad of storylines, bringing them to the triumphant conclusion of Ravel’s Bolero. We particularly admired his use of black comedy to explore the impact of the Ceausescu dictatorship on individual citizens and its downfall. We’d also like to give a special mention to Lexi Ventor for her stunning portrayal of Bobo No let’s go to the dogs tonight. Her presence and emotional intelligence provide a childlike view of the experience Zimbabwe faced as it entered a period of decolonization.
Ibero-American Prize
Sogo (Mexico), director Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez
Special reference to Ibero-America
Manas (Brazil / Portugal) directed by Mariana Brennand
Jury statement: “We were unanimously selected Sogo For its elegant and nuanced portrayal of a young boy struggling to escape the crushing violence and poverty of a small Mexican town. The film is carefully paced and darkly poetic, offering its hero an unusually optimistic and humane ending to his story. Featuring outstanding performances from its young cast and beautiful, ethereal cinematography, Sogo It reinforces the position of director duo Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez as rising stars in the contemporary Mexican cinema scene.
Desert Views Award Winner
Checkpoint Zoo (USA/Ukraine), director Joshua Ziman
The desert views are a special mention
Desert angel (USA) Director Vincent DeLuca
Jury Statement: “The 2025 Desert Views Jury is proud to present the Desert Views Award to Checkpoint Zoo. This film captures the spirit of community through a small group of local Ukrainians who captured the hearts of a global audience through social media posts in the chaotic first days of the Russian invasion. Against all odds and great personal sacrifice, an unlikely group of volunteers united their community and inspired hope globally in an effort to save animals.
Young Cinema Award Winner
Mat (Georgia/Israel/Iran), directors Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Guy Nattiv
Special mention to young filmmakers
Superboys Malegaon (India/USA), director Reema Kagti
Jury statement: “The 2025 Young Cinema Jury is proud to present the Young Cinema Award to Mat. We chose this film because it is a “non-fiction” story filled with unique images, which brings foreign political awareness to its viewers. The film tells a story of resilience where every decision impacts people’s lives.
Border Bridge Award
The story of Solomon (France) directed by Boris Luzhkin
Border Bridge Special mention
Happy holidays (Palestine/Germany/France/Italy/Qatar) Directed by Iskandar Copti
