06/02/2025 - The Eurimages Innovation and Outreach Awards went to Robin Coops’ One Charming Night and Thomas Woodroffe’s Bloques erráticos, respectively

As per tradition, the IFFR Pro awards have served to celebrate talent and foster bold cinematic visions by recognising outstanding projects presented at the gathering’s CineMart co-production market and Darkroom work-in-progress platform.

The winners were selected from among the 20 film and four immersive projects partaking in the 42nd edition of CineMart (2-5 February – see the report), alongside the ten features and two immersive projects nearing completion that participated in the third edition of Darkroom.

Notably, the HBF Empowerment Award was presented for the first time, with the inaugural prize going to Tear Gas by Uta Beria (Georgia/France/Germany). It comprises a €10,000 grant dedicated to projects emerging from politically challenging contexts. A love story set amid violent demonstrations in Tbilisi, Tear Gas was one of the three Georgian projects showcased in Darkroom, the section dedicated to projects supported by the Hubert Bals Fund, or previously featured in CineMart or connected to a Rotterdam Lab alumnus. The project also scooped the Outward Gaze Award from the PJLF Arts Fund.

Among the accolades, the 4DR Studios Award for Best Immersive Project in CineMart went to Strata by Lilian Hess (Luxembourg), a project praised for its innovative use of projection and LED screens to create a multiplayer environment exploring the multifaceted presence of glitter in our lives. Similarly, The Great Orator by Daniel Ernst secured the 4DR Studios Award for Best Immersive Project in Darkroom, impressing the jury with its strong creative design and meticulous use of technology.

Next, the ArteKino International Award, worth €6,000 and sponsored by ARTE’s foundation for arthouse cinema, was awarded to Inbetween Worlds by Diana Cam Van Nguyen (Czech Republic/Slovakia), which captivated the jury with its deeply personal storytelling exploring identity and heritage.

Meanwhile, Eurimages continued its commitment to innovation with the New Lab Awards: One Charming Night by Robin Coops (Netherlands) received the Innovation Award for its exploration of consent, privacy and intimacy in the digital sphere, whilst Bloques erráticos by Thomas Woodroffe (Chile/France/Argentina) secured the Outreach Award for its multi-layered interrogation of memory, ownership and historical ghosts.

Moreover, the Filmmore Work-in-progress Post-production Award of €5,000 was presented to Wild Dogs Don’t Bite by Rati Oneli (Georgia/Luxembourg), a project that the jury described as mesmerising and emotionally gripping, highlighting the impact of nuanced post-production. In addition, The March of the Sunflowers by Erik Ricco (Brazil) earned the Filmmore Post-production Award, with the jury acknowledging the film’s resilient and optimistic tone, reinforcing animation’s narrative strength beyond children’s audiences.

Finally, Japan’s VIPO Award, worth €3,000, was granted to Four Seasons in Java by Kamila Andini (Indonesia/Singapore), recognised for its compelling exploration of social injustice, human rights, and the tension between nature and technology.

Commenting on this year’s edition of the co-production market, head of IFFR Pro Marten Rabarts said: “We’re delighted and proud to see the recognition the juries have given to the award-winning projects, which will only add to the momentum from CineMart and the Darkroom presence which all projects have experienced. Together with our delegates here for this vibrant edition in Rotterdam, they’ve opened conversations, found partners and moved their projects ever closer to realisation.”

Here is the full list of winners at the 42nd IFFR CineMart:

4DR Studios Award for Best Immersive Project in CineMart
Strata – Lilian Hess (Luxembourg)
Producer: a_BAHN

4DR Studios Award for Best Immersive Project in Darkroom
The Great Orator – Daniel Ernst (Netherlands)
Producer: K.O Productions

ArteKino International Award
Inbetween Worlds – Diana Cam Van Nguyen (Czech Republic/Slovakia)
Producers: 13ka, nutprodukcia

Eurimages New Lab: Innovation Award
One Charming Night – Robin Coops (Netherlands)
Producers: Studio Biarritz, Coops & Co

Eurimages New Lab: Outreach Award
Bloques erráticos – Thomas Woodroffe (Chile/France/Argentina)
Producers: Fiebre SpA, La Belle Affaire Productions, Un Puma

Filmmore Work-in-progress Post-production Award
Wild Dogs Don’t Bite – Rati Oneli (Georgia/Luxembourg)
Producers: Office of Film Architecture, Independent Film Project, Les Films Fauves

Filmmore Post-production Award
The March of the Sunflowers – Erik Ricco (Brazil)
Producers: Cup Filmes, Coala Filmes, Tubz Studio

HBF Empowerment Award
Tear Gas – Uta Beria (Georgia/France/Germany)
Producers: 1991 Productions, Tripode Productions, 70 Steps

Outward Gaze Award
Tear Gas – Uta Beria

VIPO Award
Four Seasons in Java – Kamila Andini (Indonesia/Singapore)
Producers: Forka Films, Giraffe Pictures