The 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival has revealed this year’s jury award winners. PSIFF was held from January 2 to 13, 2025, and showcased 165 films from over 71 countries, including 68 that premiered. The list includes 35 international feature films submitted for Oscars, as well as Talking Pictures, New Voices New Visions, Modern Masters, Queer Cinema, True Stories, World Cinema Now and more.
Previously announced winners include the Desert Views Award, the Young Cinema Award, and the Bridge the Borders Award. The Audience Awards for Best Feature Film and Best Documentary will be announced on the evening of Sunday, January 12.
FIPRESCI jury members are Canadian film critic Brian D. Johnson, Brazilian film critic Marcelo Janot, and Italian film critic Paola Casella. A special jury reviewed 35 films officially submitted for the Academy Awards’ International Feature Film category that were selected for screening at this year’s festival.
See the full list of winners below.
FIPRESCI Award for Best International Feature Film: “I’m Still Here” (Brazil), directed by Walter Salles
Jury Statement: “For Still Here,” conveying the horror of encroaching dictatorship from the intimate perspective of a mother defending not only her family of five, but her own dignity. Director Walter Sallis evokes the intensity of violence without resorting to melodrama, depicting a critical moment in history in precise and compelling detail.
FIPRESCI Award for Best International Screenplay: “Vermiglio” (Italy), directed by Moura Del Piro
Jury statement: “To writer-director Maura DelPierro, for subverting the conventions of wartime drama within an elegant period piece – and letting the story unfold through the eyes of complex female characters.”
FIPRESCI Award for Best Actress in an International Feature Film: Zoe Saldaña – “Emilia Perez” (France), directed by Jacques Audiard
Jury Statement: “To Zoe Saldaña, for the ferocity and complexity of her performance in Emilia Perez, which displays a masterful range of expression, from song and dance to her powerful interpretation of a morally shady character. Although her character plays a supporting role, she powerfully drives the narrative Hero.
FIPRESCI Award for Best Actor in an International Feature Film: Mo Chara, Mughlai Bab, DJ Profi – “Kneecap” (Ireland), directed by Rich Peppiatt
Jury statement: “To Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Provái, for their seamless performances as a group of musicians making their Kneecap debut.” Since they have proven to be equally original and explosive in both capacities, they bring new energy and impetus to the entire concept of cultural identity.
Best Documentary Feature Special Mention: “The Blue Road – The Edna O’Brien Story” (Ireland/UK), director Sinead O’Shea
Best Documentary Film Award: “No Other Land” (Palestine), by directors Yuval Abraham, Basil Adra, Hamdan Bilal, Rachel Szur.
The Documentary Film Award is given to the director who submits the best non-fiction film from among the films selected for screening at the festival. Films were judged by Dale Cohen (UCLA Documentary Legal Clinic), Matthew Curry (Deadline), and Tyshawn Pugh (New Orleans Film Society).
Jury statement: ‘For its immersion in the lives of Palestinian villagers in the West Bank who face the constant threat of eviction from their homes by the Israel Defense Forces and attacks by Israeli settlers, we award the Best Documentary Feature award to ‘There Is No Other Land.’ This film highlights the relationship between two directors – one Palestinian and the other Israeli – without sentimentalizing the relationship, but it emphasizes the different rules that apply to Israelis living under civil law and Palestinians governed by Israeli military justice. We complete the festival’s programmers with an exceptional group of… Competing documentaries We give a special mention to ‘The Blue Road – The Edna O’Brien Story’, which reveals the creative genius and extraordinary life force of the great Irish writer.
Special Mention to New Voices New Visions: “We Don’t Go to the Dogs Tonight” (South Africa), director Embeth Davidtz
New Voices, New Visions Award: “The New Year That Never Came” (Romania), director Bogdan Muricanu
The New Voices New Visions Award focuses on films that the festival’s programming team felt represent the most outstanding new directors to emerge in the past year. Films were judged by Beth Barrett (Seattle International Film Festival), Jill Robertson (African American Film Critics Association), and Justin Barda (Telescope Film).
Jury Statement: “Our winning filmmaker delivers on the promise he made in 2019 when his short film The Christmas Gift won Best of Film at ShortFests. We appreciated the way he combines a myriad of storylines, bringing them to the triumphant conclusion of Bolero We were particularly impressed by his use of black comedy to explore the impact of the Ceaușescu dictatorship on individual citizens and its downfall Lexi Ventor for her stunning portrayal of Bobo in Don’t Let’s Go the Dogs Tonight Her presence and emotional intelligence provide a childlike view of the experience Zimbabwe faced as it entered its period of decolonization.
Special mention from Ibero-American countries: “Manas” (Brazil/Portugal) by director Mariana Brennand.
Ibero-American Award: “Sogo” (Mexico), directed by Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez
The Ibero-American Prize is awarded to the best film from Latin America, Spain or Portugal selected for screening at the festival. The award aims to highlight the creativity of recent Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American films. The films were judged by Ana Marie de la Fuente (diverse), Chloe Roddick (Morelia International Film Festival), and Danny Hastings (Official Latin Film Festival).
Jury Statement: “We unanimously selected ‘Sujo’ for its elegant and nuanced portrayal of a young boy struggling to escape the crushing violence and poverty of a small Mexican town. Impeccably paced and darkly poetic, the film offers its hero an unusually optimistic and humane ending to his story. ‘Sujo’ stands out “With outstanding performances from its young cast and beautiful, ethereal cinematography, it cements the position of director duo Astrid Rondro and Fernanda Valadez as rising stars in the Mexican cinema scene.” Contemporary.
Desert Views Special Mention: Desert Angel (USA) directed by Vincent DeLuca
Desert Views Award Winner: “Checkpoint Zoo” (USA/Ukraine), director Joshua Ziman.
The Desert Views jury, made up of local residents, was awarded a prize for the film that promotes understanding and acceptance between people in the spirit of good neighbourliness. Films were judged by Jose Macias (Desert Hot Springs), Margaret Quirante (Morongo Valley), Matt Ramirez (Cathedral City), Tanesha Alston (Palm Desert), and Sohelia Crane (Palm Desert).
Jury Statement: “The 2025 Desert Views Jury is proud to present the Desert Views Award to Checkpoint Zoo. This film captures the spirit of community through a small group of local Ukrainians who captured the hearts of a global audience through social media posts in the chaotic early days.” Against the Russian invasion, against all odds and great personal sacrifice, an unlikely group of volunteers united their community and inspired hope globally in an effort to save the animals.
Special mention to young filmmakers: “Superboys of Malegaon” (India/USA), director Reema Kagti
Young Cinema Award Winner: “Tatami” (Georgia/Israel/Iran), directors Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Guy Nattiv
The Youth Film Jury consists of high school students who have a passion for film. Films were judged by Joseph Manjarrez (Palm Springs High School), Layla Valentine (Palm Desert High School), and Stephanie Lopez (Palm Springs High School).
Jury statement: “The 2025 Young Cinema Jury is proud to present the Young Cinema Award to ‘Tatami’. We chose this film because it is a ‘non-fiction’ story filled with unique images, which brings foreign political awareness to its viewers. The film tells a story of resilience Every decision affects the lives of individuals.
“Border Bridge” Special mention: “Happy Holidays” (Palestine/Germany/France/Italy/Qatar) by director Iskandar Qubti.
– Crossing the Border Award: “The Story of Solomon” (France) by director Boris Lujkin
At a time when physical, religious, racial, cultural and economic boundaries divide the people of our planet, efforts to bridge those boundaries must be appreciated. In this spirit, Cinema Without Borders presents the “Bridging Borders” Award, sponsored by 360 MEDIA, to the film most successful in bridging and connecting people in our world more closely. The winner of the 2025 Bridge of Borders Award presented by Cinema Without Borders and sponsored by 360 Media will receive a cash prize of $2,000. Films were judged by Abbas Yari, Alimurat Erkorkmaz, Bijan Tehrani, Granaz Mousavi, Kelly Badger, Marcy Garriott, Michael Frank, Matt Ferro, Susan Morgan Cooper, and Vladek Guzkiewicz.
Palm Springs ShortFest is scheduled to return June 24-30, 2025.