Bruges International Film Festival Wraps Up 5th Edition!

The Bruges International Film Festival would like to thank all their guests for coming out to enjoy a selection of new independent cinema from around the globe at the 5th edition of its festival, which concluded yesterday. This year, the festival was privileged to receive over a thousand entries, of which 28 made it to the final official selection.

The festival extends its heartfelt gratitude to the City of Bruges for its support, as well as to the teams at Biekorf and the Bruges Cultural Center. Their assistance, warm collaboration, and enthusiasm played a crucial role in making this edition such a success. We truly valued their participation and the vibrant cultural spirit they brought to the event.

We would also like to express our appreciation to all the special guests who joined us this year, helping to enrich the festival experience through their presence and insight, including: Victor Nauwynck, Charlotte Zweers, Mona D'hertefelt, Nick Ceulemans, Miel Van Hoogenbemt and Caroline Stas.

Bruges IFF is pleased to share with you today the 2025 award winners, as chosen by the jury panel:

Best Narrative Feature Film

The Accident (Italy) by Giuseppe Garau

Best Documentary Feature Film

Yalla, Baba! (Belgium, Lebanon, Netherlands, Qatar) by Angie Obeid

Best Narrative Short Film

The Steak (Canada, Iran) by Kiarash Dadgar

Best Documentary Short Film

Ice Breath (Romania) by Leonard Alecu

Best Animated Short Film

Beef For Climate (Belgium) by Mona D'hertefelt

Best Underground Film

Luz (Mexico) by Alfonso Otero Mireles

Best Experimental Film

Tangle (Belgium) by Carla Hoogewijs, Frank Stevens

Best Belgian Film

The Bull (Belgium) by Victor Nauwynck

Congratulations to all!

Today, a new Call for Entries has been launched on FilmFreeway for the next edition, which will take place in November 2026. Submit your film now https://filmfreeway.com/BrugesInternationalFilmFestival

ABOUT BRUGES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The  Bruges International Film Festival showcases innovative independent cinema by emerging artists from around the world. The festival provides a platform for films with a unique voice and message, regardless of how low the budget might be. Aiming to inspire, motivate and award new talent. Focusing on the art of filmmaking rather than on the box office, the festival aims to introduce quality, non-mainstream films from global filmmakers as well as local talent. By recognizing the important role independent films have in the history of filmmaking, storytelling, and culture, the Bruges International Film Festival wants to help empower the next generation of artists.

https://www.brugesfilmfestival.com

Official Selection / Winner of The Tarkovski Grant:

Yalla, Baba! (Belgium, Lebanon, Netherlands, Qatar) by Angie Obeid

Made to order (France) by Joss Berlioux

After Dark (Norway) by Iain Forbes

The Bull (Belgium) by Victor Nauwynck

Yves (Belgium) by Charlotte Zweers, Tom Dupont

Violet (Germany) by Laura Engelhardt

We Who Remain (Norway) by Sindre Mangen Haram

The Cascade (Mexico) by Pablo Delgado

The Oldest (United States) by Cathlin McCullough

The Accident (Italy) by Giuseppe Garau

Beef For Climate (Belgium) by Mona D'hertefelt

A Mother Goes To The Beach (Portugal) by Pedro Hasrouny

Stay (Belgium) by Nick Ceulemans

The Steak (Canada, Iran) by Kiarash Dadgar

Florence & Nina (Belgium) by Miel Van Hoogenbemt

Myling (Sweden) by Richard Söderholm

Scenario (Japan) by Kazunori Miura

Marry, Fuck, Kill (United States) by Ian Berry

Let it Dance (Australia) by Carolyn Corkindale

Ice Breath (Romania) by Leonard Alecu

Tangle (Belgium) by Carla Hoogewijs, Frank Stevens

Luz (Mexico) by Alfonso Otero Mireles

Dragonfly (China) by Siyang Liu

Iris (Canada) by Gabriela de Andrade

Nook with a View (United Kingdom) by Eduarda Vieira

Knife, Chocolate (Iran) by Hooshmand Varaei

Hairy Dreams (Canada) by Lina Cruz

A-normal Bus (Spain) by Isabel García