The prestigious Visions du Reel (VdR) industry awards celebrated the finest in documentary filmmaking this past weekend. The top honor, worth €3,242, went to Natyvel Pontalier for her film I Eat With Two Hearts, a collaborative work between France and Belgium. The film had been selected from hundreds of submissions to the VdR-Pitching and VdR-Works in Progress presentations. This was a testament to the jury’s deep commitment to championing bold creative approaches to storytelling.
The VdR awards are the final piece of an ambitious industry program that handed out 16 prizes, worth more than €85,000. The range of film genres that received awards this year is a testament to the jury’s commitment to uplifting singular artistic visions and stories. The jury was composed of celebrated industry titans. The panel included Eleni Chandrinou from Eurimages, the director Gianluca Matarrese and Tamara Tatishvili, head of the Hubert Bals Fund.
Award-Winning Films
Besides I Eat With Two Hearts, many other films took home awards during the ceremony. Anamiga, directed by Daniel Asadi Faezi and Mila Zhluktenko, received a Special Mention. The jury commended the film for its artistic approach, stating it “celebrates an ambitious artistic proposition emerging from a deeply personal invitation to travel into a modern industrial fairytale shaped by lived experiences, physical memories of a city that is political, intimate and imagined at the same time.”
Additionally, Time Hunter from the US, Germany, and Namibia, directed by Natyvel Pontalier, Ashes Settling In Layers Of The Surface, directed by Gabriel Tejedor of Ukraine/France, and NB Artist Field Notes by Andrea Suwito, from Germany. The filmmakers each brought in their own creative vision, storytelling approach and artistic style. Collectively, they helped create a rich tapestry of documentary filmmaking with the festival.
Jury Insights
The jury’s selection process reiterated the value of storytelling that engages on individual and community levels. Their goal was to see transformational films awarded, celebrated, and rewarded that stretch our imaginations and connect us to each other in profound ways.
“We are thrilled to recognize these talented filmmakers who have brought their visions to life,” said Eleni Chandrinou. “The diversity of narratives presented this year highlights the importance of documentary film as a medium for social reflection and artistic expression.”
The awards ceremony was a fitting celebration of individual achievement that highlighted the collaborative spirit that lies at the heart of the documentary community. Overall, most of these filmmakers articulated a sense of gratitude for the recognition and support their projects received through VdR.