Award Winners of Amsterdam Independent Film Festival 2026 Announced

The closing night of the Amsterdam Independent Film Festival 2026, now in its 9th year, took place this past Saturday evening with a packed theatre. As is tradition, the festival took place at Amsterdam’s LAB111 — the cult cinema located in a former anatomical pathology hospital — where it screened an eclectic selection of independent films from local and international filmmakers. 

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Festival Director Kris De Meester looks back: “Looking back at the Amsterdam Independent Film Festival 2026, I can confidently say that this edition was an immense success. Not only did we welcome an incredible turnout at our screenings, but the enthusiasm and engagement from the audience, as well as the filmmakers in attendance, truly exceeded our expectations. One of the absolute highlights was the documentary Afraid of the Fear, which resonated deeply with the audience. Having some of the documentary's subjects present to share their personal experiences and reflect on their participation made the screening even more powerful. It's precisely these moments of genuine connection and meaningful dialogue between filmmakers, their subjects, and audiences that make the festival so special. This edition was a wonderful reminder of the power of independent cinema to bring people together and spark conversations that stay with us long after the credits roll.”

The Amsterdam Independent Film Festival is excited to share with you today the 2026 award winners. The jury panel has chosen the following films as this year's finest:

Best Narrative Feature Film: 

Glorious Summer (Poland) by Helena Ganjalyan, Bartosz Szpak

Best Documentary Feature Film: 

Deux rives (Distant Shores) (France) by Thibault Verneret

Best Narrative Short Film: 

No Contest (France) by Olivier Wright

Best Documentary Short Film: 

To the embers (France) by Morgane Ambre

Best Director: 

Glorious Summer (Poland) by Helena Ganjalyan, Bartosz Szpak

Best Acting: 

Lucas van der Vegt in ‘New City’ (Netherlands) by Sebald van der Waal

Best Underground Film: 

Bodies, Clouds by Tino (littlefishtino) -

Best Experimental Film: 

Bubble Bath (Italy) by Giulia Magno

Best Super Short Film

Super V (France) by Franck Janin

Best Dutch Film: 

New City (Netherlands) by Sebald van der Waal

Audience Choice Award

S (Japan) by Masahiro Ota

The Amsterdam Independent Film Festival would like to thank LAB111 and Velvet Room for their continued support, and all guests for coming out to enjoy another week full of independent cinema. See you all next year!

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ABOUT AMSTERDAM INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

At the Amsterdam Independent Film Festival, we focus on film. The glitz and glamour of show business in the mainstream film festival can sometimes detract from the true purpose of the event — the celebration of creative film-making. The festival will bring independent artistic visions to an audience that demands a more fulfilling experience than the latest Hollywood fare.

Official Selection 2025 / winners of The Tarkovski Grant

Faustyna (Poland) by Natalia Dutkiewicz

Dead tooth (France) by Romane Eilahtan

No Contest (France) by Olivier Wright

Super V (France) by Franck Janin

To the embers (France) by Morgane Ambre

Bubble Bath (Italy) by Giulia Magno

Glorious Summer (Poland) by Helena Ganjalyan, Bartosz Szpak

Bodies, Clouds by Tino (littlefishtino)

Franck (France) by Fabio Caldironi

Afraid of the Fear (Bang voor de Angst) (Netherlands) by Thomas Tobé

Reliefs (Mexico) by Juan Manuel Gonzalez Fernandez

Anna's Freezer (Netherlands) by Jetske Lieber

Dancing Standing Still (Netherlands) by Drea Chuma

The Bull (United Kingdom) by Victor Nauwynck

New City (Netherlands) by Sebald van der Waal

Nightfaces (Austria) by Martin Winter, Stefan Langthaler

S (Japan) by Masahiro Ota

Duos (Mexico) by Frank Rodriguez

French Film (France) by Claude Chamis

Horizon (Italy) by Alessio Panarese

Immram (Switzerland) by Jonathan Moratal, Arthur Deschamps

Stuck (United States) by Josephine Harrison

Liberation (United States) by Jeff Corpening

Deux rives (Distant Shores) (France) by Thibault Verneret

60 Pounds of Home (Germany) by Michael Eibl

Our flag (Greenland) by Johannes Ujo Müller

Forced Renewables (Spain) by Francisco Javier Fernández Bordonada

Anchor Points (Canada) by Victor Quijada, Samuel Greffe

Tides of Tradition (Netherlands) by Nina van Belzen

Portals (United States) by Kathi Hendrick, Benjamin Henretig, Cornelia Hodges

Dowsing (United States) by Tim Feeney

Long night alone (United States) by Adam E. Stone

The Last Day (Italy) by Michael Fantauzzi

Natal Kick, Cosmo Ground (South Korea) by Jaeik Kim