The 24th Zagreb Film Festival Awards

FEATURE FILM
Jury for the feature film competition: Lisa Loven Kongsli, Bojan Vuletić, Rúnar Rúnarsson

Golden Pram for Best Feature Film

Josephine
d. Beth de Araújo
USA

“With extraordinary sensitivity, courage, and cinematic precision, the winning film takes us into the world of a child whose sense of safety is suddenly shattered. Through her eyes, we experience not only the consequences of violence, but also the confusion, fear, and helplessness that follow it. We witness the struggle of parents who desperately want to protect their child, only to discover that love cannot always provide the answers. What makes this film exceptional is its refusal to simplify these emotions or offer easy solutions. Its remarkable performances, powerful direction, and deeply human perspective create an experience that stays with us long after the screening. This is cinema that does not look away. Cinema that challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths while never losing its empathy for the people at the heart of the story. For its artistic courage, emotional honesty, and extraordinary achievement in filmmaking, the jury is proud to present the Best Film Award to Josephine, directed by Beth de Araújo.”

 

Special mention for Outstanding Acting Achievement

Anna Calder-Marshall for Queen at Sea
d. Lance Hammer
UK, USA

“The jury has been really impressed with the amazing performances by the actors of the 12 films that we have been privileged to see in the last week. We were hired to give one award and that is to the best film – and we were gonna do that, but we insisted on celebrating especially one performance that completely stood out. This artist set an explicit example of an actor trusting that she, all in herself, is enough. We would like to honour Anna Calder Marshall with a special jury award for her amazing work.”

 

INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM AND CHECKERS

Jury for the short film and Checkers competition: Jozo Schmuch, Mathieu Janssen, Diomedes Koufteros 

Golden Pram for Best Croatian Film in the Checkers program

Root Touch-up
d. Ana Šiškov
Croatia

For its rough-around-the-edges cinematic style that shows the messy life of parenthood; for its accomplished world-building, its subtle humor and delicate approach to an important political issue, the jury presents the Checkers award to the film Root Touch-up by Ana Šiškov.

 

Golden Pram for Best International Short Film

A Tenderness
d. Sabrine Khoury
The Netherlands, Palestine

“In this film we see a realistic depiction and at same time humorous approach to daily life. With much vulnerability and honesty the filmmaker presents complex family relations with a well-balanced set of charachters giving us the hope thing will get better tomorrow. The award for the best short film in international competition goes to A Tenderness by Sabrine Khoury.”

 

European Short Film Candidate – European Film Awards 2028

Daughters of the Late Colonel
d. Elizabeth Hobbs
UK, Germany

This film is playful and precise in every frame. It only needs a few lines to create a lively world full of humour. The EFA candidacy goes to the Daughters of the Late Colonel.

 

TOGETHER AGAIN
Jury for the Together Again program: Vanja Jambrović, Tin Ostrošić, Sonja Tarokić

Golden Bicycle for Best Film in the Together Again program

Rose
d. Markus Schleinzer
Austria, Germany

“We present the Best Film Award to a rare combination of formal rigour, masterful use of directorial tools, and emotional power. The film explores the vital theme of identity and the price of belonging—what one must invent about oneself in order to be accepted by a community. In doing so, the director refuses to take the easy route: he neither explains his heroine, nor pities her, nor reduces her story to a contemporary slogan. The black-and-white cinematography creates a striking visual identity for the film, while the lead actress carries it without a single superfluous gesture. The jury presents the main award in the Together Again competition to the film Rose by Markus Schleinzer.”

 

PLUS
Young jury: Helena Šarić, Renato Horvat, Mia Maria Majerić, Ivan Dorotić, Corina Kovačić

The PLUS Award for Best Film by the Young Jury

17
d. Kosara Mitić
North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia

“Before we present the award, we would like to highlight the film La Gradiva by Marina Atlan as a title from the PLUS programme that also made a profound impression on us.

From the very beginning, the winning film moved us with its ingenious approach of plunging the viewer straight into the shocking action, emotions, and intense odyssey of the protagonist, authentically portraying the most disturbing aspects of evil among young people. Visually, the film captivates the audience through claustrophobic shots that follow the protagonist’s perspective. The PLUS Young Jury presents the award to 17 by Kosara Mitić.”

 

KINOKINO

Children’s Jury: Frida Anković, Ivona Dragaš Bilogrević, Filip Munjiza Budimir, Marta Mihanović, Ian Persoglio

The KinoKino Award for Best Film, as decided by the children’s jury

Atlas of the Universe
d. Paul Negoescu
Rumunjska, Bugarska

“The film to which we have decided to award the prize is a realistic portrayal of an extraordinary adventure. The touching screenplay even moved us to tears at one point, while the young actor delighted us with his performance in the lead role. And for this reason, we declare the film about an unpredictable journey through the vast universe of a small Romanian village, Atlas of the Universe by Paul Negoescu, the KinoKino winner.”