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The thirty second version of the Sheffield DocFest has concluded in England.
On Sunday, director Anastasiya Miroshnichenko’s Welded Together received the competition’s Grand Jury Award for the International Competition through the closing gala at Sheffield’s Crucible Playhouse.
The competition’s jury referred to as the choice “a portrait of resilience and strength — both of the main character and of a community that stands in solidarity. The film highlights the contrast between the generosity of the people and the harsh realities of alcoholism in the Belarussian society. An honest and delicate portrayal of a young woman desperately trying to hold her family ‘welded together.’”
Kicking off on June 18, the competition hosted 51 world premieres from 68 nations of manufacturing. In partnership with Showroom Cinema, the DocNights screening program will proceed year-round.
Here are the winners of the 2025 Sheffield DocFest.
Grand Jury Award for the International Competition
Welded Together – dir. Anastasiya Miroshnichenko (France, Netherlands, Belgium, 2025)
Special Mention: The Gas Station Attendant – dir. Karla Murthy (USA, 2025)
Grand Jury Award for the International First Feature Competition
Comparsa – dir. Vickie Curtis, Doug Anderson (Guatemala, USA, 2025)
Special Mention: Carmela and the Walkers (Carmela y los Caminantes) – dir. Luis Herrera, Esteban Coloma (Ecuador, 2025)
Grand Jury Award for the International Short Film Competition
In a Whisper (Dans un Souffle) – dir. Catarina Gonçalves (Portugal, Hungary, Belgium, 2025)
Special Mention: Oscurana – dir. Violeta Mora (Honduras, Hungary, Portugal, Belgium, 2025)
Tim Hetherington Award
Sudan, Remember Us (Sudan Y’a Ghali) – dir. Hind Meddeb (France, Tunisia, Qatar, 2024)
International Virtual Reality Competition
Speechless Witness of a Wandering Tree
Youth Jury Award
Runa Simi – dir. Augusto Zegarra (Peru, 2025)
Special Mention: The Stand – dir. Christopher Auchter (Canada, 2024)
Shine Global Children’s Resilience Award for Documentary
Comparsa – dir. Vickie Curtis, Doug Anderson (Guatemala, USA, 2025)
The Whickers Pitch, Film & TV Funding Award 2025
1st prize: The Video Guy, Sam Howard and Alexander Dickerson
2nd prize: Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Koval Bhatia
The Podcast Pitch
1st prize: Redemption Man, Chris Mitchell
2nd prize: The Great Gay Penguin Cover Up, Jesse Lou Lawson
First Cut Pitch
Clio Symington
Climate Spring Pitch
Michelle Sanders, Downstream
Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Co-Production Award
Gaza Sunbirds and Power, Elaine