17/11/2025
Bruges International Film Festival Wraps Up 5th Edition!
The Bruges International Film Festival would like to thank all their guests for coming out to enjoy a selection of new independent cinema from around the globe at the 5th edition of its festival, which concluded yesterday. This year, the festival was privileged to receive over a thousand entries, of which 28 made it to the final official selection.
The festival extends its heartfelt gratitude to the City of Bruges for its support, as well as to the teams at Biekorf and the Bruges Cultural Center. Their assistance, warm collaboration, and enthusiasm played a crucial role in making this edition such a success. We truly valued their participation and the vibrant cultural spirit they brought to the event.
We would also like to express our appreciation to all the special guests who joined us this year, helping to enrich the festival experience through their presence and insight, including: Victor Nauwynck, Charlotte Zweers, Mona D'hertefelt, Nick Ceulemans, Miel Van Hoogenbemt and Caroline Stas.
Bruges IFF is pleased to share with you today the 2025 award winners, as chosen by the jury panel:
Best Narrative Feature Film
The Accident (Italy) by Giuseppe Garau
Best Documentary Feature Film
Yalla, Baba! (Belgium, Lebanon, Netherlands, Qatar) by Angie Obeid
Best Narrative Short Film
The Steak (Canada, Iran) by Kiarash Dadgar
Best Documentary Short Film
Ice Breath (Romania) by Leonard Alecu
Best Animated Short Film
Beef For Climate (Belgium) by Mona D'hertefelt
Best Underground Film
Luz (Mexico) by Alfonso Otero Mireles
Best Experimental Film
Tangle (Belgium) by Carla Hoogewijs, Frank Stevens
Best Belgian Film
The Bull (Belgium) by Victor Nauwynck
Congratulations to all!
Today, a new Call for Entries has been launched on FilmFreeway for the next edition, which will take place in November 2026. Submit your film now https://filmfreeway.com/BrugesInternationalFilmFestival
ABOUT BRUGES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Bruges International Film Festival showcases innovative independent cinema by emerging artists from around the world. The festival provides a platform for films with a unique voice and message, regardless of how low the budget might be. Aiming to inspire, motivate and award new talent. Focusing on the art of filmmaking rather than on the box office, the festival aims to introduce quality, non-mainstream films from global filmmakers as well as local talent. By recognizing the important role independent films have in the history of filmmaking, storytelling, and culture, the Bruges International Film Festival wants to help empower the next generation of artists.
https://www.brugesfilmfestival.com
Official Selection / Winner of The Tarkovski Grant:
Yalla, Baba! (Belgium, Lebanon, Netherlands, Qatar) by Angie Obeid
Made to order (France) by Joss Berlioux
After Dark (Norway) by Iain Forbes
The Bull (Belgium) by Victor Nauwynck
Yves (Belgium) by Charlotte Zweers, Tom Dupont
Violet (Germany) by Laura Engelhardt
We Who Remain (Norway) by Sindre Mangen Haram
The Cascade (Mexico) by Pablo Delgado
The Oldest (United States) by Cathlin McCullough
The Accident (Italy) by Giuseppe Garau
Beef For Climate (Belgium) by Mona D'hertefelt
A Mother Goes To The Beach (Portugal) by Pedro Hasrouny
Stay (Belgium) by Nick Ceulemans
The Steak (Canada, Iran) by Kiarash Dadgar
Florence & Nina (Belgium) by Miel Van Hoogenbemt
Myling (Sweden) by Richard Söderholm
Scenario (Japan) by Kazunori Miura
Marry, F**k, Kill (United States) by Ian Berry
Let it Dance (Australia) by Carolyn Corkindale
Ice Breath (Romania) by Leonard Alecu
Tangle (Belgium) by Carla Hoogewijs, Frank Stevens
Luz (Mexico) by Alfonso Otero Mireles
Dragonfly (China) by Siyang Liu
Iris (Canada) by Gabriela de Andrade
Nook with a View (United Kingdom) by Eduarda Vieira
Knife, Chocolate (Iran) by Hooshmand Varaei
Hairy Dreams (Canada) by Lina Cruz
A-normal Bus (Spain) by Isabel García
