Festival Awards

ASCO: Without Permission is a bold and dynamic fusion of documentary and experimental fictional cinema that celebrates the radical spirit of the Chicano art collective Asco. Through exceptional archival research, interviews, and storytelling, the film intertwines past and present to explore art as resistance, and public space as a site of protest, belonging, and transformation. Its rhythm and tone build an emotional and political momentum, honoring Asco’s use of performance, humor, and guerrilla tactics to confront cultural and political marginalization. A powerful reflection on visibility and legacy, the film reminds us that creativity is inseparable from activism and that every act of self-representation is in itself a radical gesture.

The Girl and the Pot dazzles with its painting-on-glass animation and an Indigenous voice that echoes ancestral memory. Like a cracked vessel releasing new worlds, the film blossoms into a richly symbolic journey of transformation, ecological urgency and feminine strength. Its immersive craft and bold identity make it a deeply deserving winner of the Best Short Animation prize.

Desde Tu Sombra confronts the realities of immigration and labor exploitation with honesty and emotional intensity. It shines light on the lives of those whose work sustains entire economies yet remains unseen, exposing the systems that prey on vulnerability with quiet but devastating precision. Through powerful performances and cinematography that turns vast landscapes into mirrors of isolation, the film immerses us in a world where dignity is constantly negotiated and survival is never guaranteed. The protagonist’s transformation from silence to defiance unfolds as both a personal reckoning and a broader statement on resistance. Raw and deeply human, Desde Tu Sombra refuses to look away, reminding us of the courage it takes to be seen and the cost of remaining in the shadows.

With poetic nuance and visual mastery, Sunset Over America transforms the Bolivian–Chilean border landscape into a moving reflection on migration, endurance, and hope. Through beautifully composed static frames and a patient rhythm, the film mirrors the experience of waiting for nightfall, for safety, for belonging. At its heart is the voice of 13-year-old Bárbara, whose narration conveys emotion and lived experience through the visual landscape, grounding the story in humanity. Her words guide us through moments of apprehension, curiosity, and courage, revealing the strength and vulnerability of a young girl navigating immense uncertainty. A work of sensibility and depth, Sunset Over America balances beauty and hardship with honesty and grace, allowing Bárbara’s voice and the land to speak together in quiet and brutal harmony.

Iris draws us into the world of a long-distance friendship through stunning visuals and captivating narration. As we listen to Iris’s most private thoughts in her letters to Gabriela, we are taken on a journey that feels so natural and so relatable that you can’t help but connect intimately with her. Her deepest reflections unfold alongside striking and ethereal visuals of the natural world, reminding us of the complexities of relationships shaped by distance and change. Its creative underwater scene catches us by surprise, inviting us further into Iris’s inner world. The poetic execution of this film deserves recognition for the delicate dance it creates between sound and image. It feels grounding yet expansive, reminding us that the small moments we often overlook are, in fact, the ones that shape us and bring us back to ourselves. Iris masterfully builds a narrative that is both deeply engaging and profoundly relatable.