Feature Fiction Award Winner sponsored by Nunn Dimos Foundation

Vanilla
Mayra Hermosillo

JURY Citation by Pavel Cortés, Marion Pilowsky, Jub Clerc and John Sheedy:

With rare tonal precision, Mayra Hermosillo crafts a narrative that delicately interlaces trauma, identity, and female solidarity with humour, warmth, and pathos. The film finds profound humanity in its flawed, vibrant characters and celebrates difference not as something to be resolved, but embraced. Hermosillo’s direction reveals a filmmaker of remarkable sensitivity and control, blending poetic visuals with emotional truth to create a cinematic world that is at once specific and universally resonant.

Filmmaker statement by Mayra Hermosillo:

From a place surrounded by trees and about to start shooting, we’re receiving the news of this award, and it feels VERY STRONG. Thank you, Adelaide Film Festival, for giving our family a home and sharing it with the audience.
The magic of time — being sixteen and a half hours behind, waking up to find that the future awaits us with beautiful news like this — brings hope, because it reminds us that making films is a space of vulnerability, collectively, and reflection. It goes beyond differences of culture and language; it is about connecting with something that transcends reason. And now that our world is fighting so many wars, I wish that through art we can remember that humanity has no divisions — and if an Australian audience can resonate with a Mexican story, that is proof of it. THANK YOU!

The Jury also gave a special mention to Dutch director Sven Bresser’s Reedland, noting its bold narrative choices and lyrical exploration of masculinity and memory. 

Feature Documentary Award Winner

She
Parsifal Reparato

JURY Citation by Pavel Cortés, Marion Pilowsky, Jub Clerc and John Sheedy:

Through a lens both covert and compassionate, director Parsifal Reparato crafts a documentary of startling intimacy. Despite the physical and emotional distances these women endure, their inner lives—marked by longing, resistance, and resilience—emerge with quiet power. Reparato’s restrained yet expressive visual style allows his subjects’ stories to unfold with dignity, transforming their testimonies into acts of subtle defiance against systemic erasure.

Filmmaker statement by Parsifal Reparato:

When I first started this project, the workers would often tell me, ‘Who would ever care about our stories – the stories of us poor factory girls?’

Today, receiving this recognition carries deep meaning – it’s a huge achievement for all of us. For us as filmmakers and producers, it’s a powerful encouragement to continue investing our time and energy in telling stories about workers’ rights around the world. And for the workers themselves, it’s a reminder that they are not alone – that the world cares, and that their struggles are seen, heard, and shared.

We are truly grateful. As with all my films, She is a personal act of resistance – and in this case, a portion of the prize will be shared, in solidarity, with the workers through a support fund. It’s our way of giving back and standing together with labourers everywhere.

The AFF Competition Jury also gave a special mention to Sanatorium - directed by Ireland’s Gar O’Rourke and set in a sanitorium in Odesa - for its haunting atmosphere and unflinching examination of wartime trauma and human dignity.

Change Award Winner

Trade Secret
Abraham Joffe

Jury Citation by Natasha Gadd, Katrina Lucas, Adelaide Xerri.

It was a challenge for us to select a clear winner for the 2025 Change Award as the films in consideration were all extremely compelling but in quite different ways. Ultimately, it was Trade Secret by Australian director Abraham Joffe that we feel best reflects the Change Award’s focus on lasting, positive impact. This powerful film sheds light on the nuanced complexities of policy, institutional power, and the long-term impacts of decisions that extend far beyond the urgent call to save the polar bears. With shocking revelations about the endangered species preservation industry, this film has the potential to create ripple effects that resonate on a global scale.

Filmmaker statement by ABRAHAM JOFFE:

We’re incredibly grateful that Trade Secret has received the Change Award from the Adelaide Film Festival. Our hope for the film has always been that it sparks urgent conversation and real action to bring greater protection not only for polar bears, but for the many vulnerable and endangered species still suffering from the threat of international commercial trade.

Short Film Award Winner sponsored by Humanee

The Eating of an Orange
May Kindred-Boothby

JURY CITATION by Manda Flett, Isaac Coen Lindsay, Matt Vesely.

This year's short film competition showcased a diverse range of compelling storytelling from around the world. The jury found the process of selecting a winner invigorating but incredibly challenging. We were particularly struck by the high quality animation that was on show, as is reflected in our selections. 

We would like to give a special mention to GOD IS SHY by French filmmaker Jocelyn Charles for its resonant blend of character and unknowable horror. 

The winner of the 2025 Short Award is THE EATING OF AN ORANGE, a stunning exploration of identity, sexuality, conformity and self-expression told with incredible visual flourish by UK filmmaker May Kindred-Boothby. The jury was particularly taken by Kindred-Boothby's bold use of flowing, repeated movement and patterns in this mesmerising, expressionistic work. Congratulations to the entire filmmaking team.

FILMMAKER STATEMENT BY May Kindred-Boothby:

As an artist working largely alone it can sometimes be difficult to maintain faith in your work and your forward motions, having external encouragement of this kind is so unbelievably helpful and appreciated! I am so surprised and grateful for this recognition! The award money will be going straight into allowing me the time to focus on writing my next piece, so it really does make all the difference. I wish I could have been there in person to celebrate with you all but I am with you in spirit on the other side of this crazy globe. Sending best wishes to all - and so much thanks again!