JI.HLAVA IDFF 2025 INDUSTRY AWARDS

Eleven industry awards were presented today to the most promising projects participating in the Ji.hlava New Visions Forum 2025. In total, fifty-five projects from Europe, United States and East & Southeast Asia were presented at the Forum. The projects in development, production and post-production were among those presented. The winners received numerous cash and in-kind awards accorded in cooperation with the partners of Ji.hlava IDFF. See the list of all winners.

The industry jury is composed of Chris White, executive producer at POV & America ReFramed, head of the documentary competition at Sarajevo FF, film curator Rada Šešić and the film consultant and journalist Tue Steen Müller. 

Ji.hlava New Visions Award 2025 for the most promising European project in cooperation with UPP will receive an in-kind grant for visual post-production in the estimated value of 15,000 EUR.

The winner is: Adam’s Tooth

·         Director: Mariam Chachia, Nik Voigt

·         Producer: Tekla Machavariani, Mariam Chachia

·         Country: Georgia, United Kingdom

Jury statement: So many of us in different countries are experiencing absurd and cruel political systems infringing on individual liberties and our most basic human rights. With a cinematic lens and a wry humorous tone, this film is emblematic of a “creative resistance” to the institutional injustice of the Georgian nightmare. The Jury is honored to present the New Visions Award for most promising European Project, in cooperation with UPP, to Mariam Chachia, Nik Voigt, and Tekla Machavariani of Adam’s Tooth.

Ji.hlava New Visions Award 2025 for the most promising European project in cooperation with Soundsquare will receive sound mixing and a final sound master in the estimated value of 5,000 EUR.

The winner is: Superhumans

·         Director: Inna Shevchenko

·         Producer: Arash T. Riahi

·         Country: Austria

Jury statement: With unobtrusive, yet close and intimate camera work, we enter a world that speaks volumes about injustice and violence. At the same time, this film combines the beauty of life and the challenges of remaking yourself. We were deeply moved by the positive attitude of the protagonists, their strength, and firm hope in tomorrow. Despite the seriousness of the topic, the film keeps a flavor of humor and playfulness. The team convinced us that they seriously work on every detail of the film, from their cinema verite camera style, to a very well worked out plan for how to deal with the sound design and dramaturgy of the whole narrative. The award goes to Superhumans by director Inna Shevchenko and producer Arash T. Riahi.

Ji.hlava New Visions Award 2025 for the most promising U.S. project in partnership with AmDocs will receive 7,000 USD cash award. 

The winner is: Newville

·         Director: Pisie Hochheim, Tony Oswald

·         Producer: Pisie Hochheim, Tony Oswald

·         Country: Switzerland, Uganda, United States

Jury statement: Our histories, our memories, our relationships to those we love are so often rooted in the places we grow up. This film sensitively reveals the cracks in the foundations of, both, a physical home and a very large family, when loved ones move in different directions. The Jury is honored to present the New Visions Award for most promising US Project to Pisie Hochheim and Tony Oswald for their lovely film Newville.

With unobtrusive, yet close and intimate camera work, we enter a world that speaks volumes
about injustice and violence. At the same time, this film combines the beauty of life and the
challenges of remaking yourself. We were deeply moved by the positive attitude of the
protagonists, their strength, and firm hope in tomorrow. Despite the seriousness of the topic, the
film keeps a flavor of humor and playfulness. The team convinced us that they seriously work on
every detail of the film, from their cinema verite camera style, to a very well worked out plan for
how to deal with the sound design and dramaturgy of the whole narrative. The award goes to
Superhumans by director Inna Shevchenko and producer Arash T. Riahi.

AND…

  • CANNES DOCS – MARCHÉ DU FILM AWARD
    ○ Correspondances to inhabit the world
    ▪ Director: Laura Gabay
    ▪ Producer: Vania Jaikin
    ▪ Countries: Uruguay, Switzerland, Spain
  • DAE AWARD
    ○ Laura Zahirah: Just a Regular Muslim
    ▪ Director: Karoliina Lahti
    ▪ Producer: Serj Rimma
    ▪ Countries: Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Finland
  • #DOCS CONNECT TASKOVSKI TRAINING AWARD
    ○ Superhumans
    ▪ Director: Inna Shevchenko
    ▪ Producer: Arash T. Riahi
    ▪ Country: Austria
  • SHEFFIELD DOCFEST NETWORKING AWARD
    ○ The Pylon and Lake
    ▪ Director: Sylvain Yonnet
    ▪ Producers: Cécile Lestrade, Elise Hug
    ▪ Country: France
  • LIGHTDOX AWARD
    ○ Dear You
    ▪ Director: Aurora Brachman
    ▪ Producers: Khaula Malik, Lo Heimer
    ▪ Country: United States
  • DOCS BY THE SEA AWARD
    ○ Drifting by the River Rhythm
    ▪ Director: Polen Ly
    ▪ Producer: Daniel Mattes
    ▪ Country: Cambodia
  • MEDITALENTS RESIDENCY AWARD
    ○ Momtski Kamen – The Girl’s Rock
    ▪ Directors: Maria Sidiropoulou, Chloe Bruhat
    ▪ Producer: Maria Sidiropoulou
    ▪ Country: Greece
  • JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER AWARD
    ○ Newville
    ▪ Directors: Pisie Hochheim, Tony Oswald
    ▪ Producers: Pisie Hochheim, Tony Oswald
    ▪ Countries: United States, Uganda, Switzerland
Del din kærlighed
Tue Steen Müller
Tue Steen Müller

Müller, Tue Steen
Documentary Consultant and Critic, DENMARK

Worked with documentary films for more than 20 years at the Danish Film Board, as press officer, festival representative and film consultant/commissioner. Co-founder of Balticum Film and TV Festival, Filmkontakt Nord, Documentary of the EU and EDN (European Documentary Network).
Awards: 2004 the Danish Roos Prize for his contribution to the Danish and European documentary culture. 2006 an award for promoting Portuguese documentaries. 2014 he received the EDN Award “for an outstanding contribution to the development of the European documentary culture”. 2016 The Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania. 2019 a Big Stamp at the 15th edition of ZagrebDox. 2021 receipt of the highest state decoration, Order of the Three Stars, Fourth Class, for the significant contribution to the development and promotion of Latvian documentary cinema outside Latvia. In 2022 he received an honorary award at DocsBarcelona’s 25th edition having served as organizer and programmer since the start of the festival.
From 1996 until 2005 he was the first director of EDN (European Documentary Network). From 2006 a freelance consultant and teacher in workshops like Ex Oriente, DocsBarcelona, Archidoc, Documentary Campus, Storydoc, Baltic Sea Forum, Black Sea DocStories, Caucadoc, CinéDOC Tbilisi, Docudays Kiev, Dealing With the Past Sarajevo FF as well as programme consultant for the festivals Magnificent7 in Belgrade, DOCSBarcelona, Verzio Budapest, Message2Man in St. Petersburg and DOKLeipzig. Teaches at the Zelig Documentary School in Bolzano Italy.

Artikler: 4042