17/03/2025 - The doc The Brink of Dreams by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir and the crime-drama Santosh by Sandhya Suri have received the Grand Prizes at the Geneva-based human rights gathering

The Brink of Dreams by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir (left) and Santosh by Sandhya Suri

The 23rd Geneva International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) has concluded its 7-16 March run, drawing in over 31,000 attendees and hosting experts to dissect current affairs, move beyond shock and inspire collective action. Showcasing global films that highlight human rights, the festival reaffirmed its status as a key event for audiences and professionals alike, fostering dialogue on pressing geopolitical and social challenges.

At the closing ceremony, Laila Alonso Huarte and Laura Longobardi, the festival’s co-editorial directors, mentioned: “We’re proud to see that the winning films are not only powerful and innovative in cinematic terms, but also warrant international support given the filmmakers’ commitment to and courage in confronting the many social, political and economic challenges in their countries.”

In the International Documentary Competition, the jury – comprising photographer Luvia Lazo, filmmaker and artist Mohamed Jabaly, and activist Nathan Law – awarded the Geneva Grand Prix, valued at CHF 10,000 (€10,300) and sponsored by the city of Geneva, to The Brink of Dreams [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nada Riyadh, Ayman El Amir
film profile] by Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir. Highlighting their decision, the jury stated, “This poignant film follows the aspirations of five young Egyptian women seeking freedom – a freedom threatened by traditions and restrictions imposed in their village. Rich in cinematic creativity, it tackles sensitive issues such as forced marriage and sexual harassment, exposing how women’s rights remain precarious in the region.”

The FIFDH Gilda Vieira de Mello Prize, valued at CHF 5,000 (€5,150) and dedicated to her son, Sergio Vieira de Mello, was presented by the Barbara Hendricks Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation to Khartoum [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ibrahim “Snoopy” Ahmad, Tim…
film profile], helmed by a collective of Sudanese and British filmmakers (Anas Saeed, Rawia Alhag, Ibrahim Snoopy Ahmad, Timeea Mohamed Ahmed and Phil Cox). According to the jury, “The team’s determination to complete this project – despite limited resources and scant international visibility – is remarkable. Through creative, well-crafted artistic choices and a sincere narrative, especially in the children’s viewpoint, deeply affected by the ongoing conflicts in Sudan, the film helps us better grasp the impact of war on human lives.”

In the Fiction Competition, the jury composed of artist and filmmaker Baloji, filmmaker-photographer Azra Deniz Okyay, producer Elisa Fernanda Pirir and Thierry Oppikofer, a representative of the Hélène and Victor Barbour Foundation, bestowed the Fiction Grand Prize, valued at CHF 10,000, upon Santosh [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sandhya Suri
film profile] by Sandhya Suri. As stated by the jury, the movie “explores India’s complex social realities: injustice, collective violence – deliberate or not – and gender and class inequalities. The heroine’s journey, both personal and social, is depicted with exceptional nuance, turning vulnerability into moral strength and evoking deep empathy in viewers, all while avoiding any hint of victimisation.” The jury also awarded Special Mentions to Cosmos by Germinal Roaux, defining it as “an authentic letter of hope and love to humanity, elevated by mesmerising cinematography”, and to Sugar Island [+see also:
film review
interview: Johanné Gómez Terrero
film profile] by Johanné Gómez Terrero, dubbing it “a heart-rending manifesto for justice with dazzling direction”.

Finally, FIFDH introduced the Vision for Human Rights Award, a new prize created in partnership with key NGO collaborators and endowed with CHF 5,000. The winner was selected from among the titles in the Focus Competition by a jury comprising Fabrice Boulé (Caritas Switzerland), Laurence Hoenig (Médecins Sans Frontières), Michael Ineichen (Amnesty International Switzerland), Olivier Peter (OMCT) and Marion Petrocchi (Helvetas). The inaugural award went to the documentary There Is Another Way by Stephen Apkon, which, according to the jury, “adopts a profoundly humane perspective, generating a strong emotional impact. It gives voice to victims and witnesses of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict without succumbing to hatred or calls for vengeance.”

Here is the full list of award winners at the 23rd FIFDH:

International Documentary Competition

Geneva Grand Prix
The Brink of Dreams [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nada Riyadh, Ayman El Amir
film profile] - Nada Riyadh, Ayman El Amir (Egypt/France/Denmark/Qatar/Saudi Arabia)

FIFDH Gilda Vieira de Mello Prize
Khartoum [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ibrahim “Snoopy” Ahmad, Tim…
film profile] - Anas Saeed, Rawia Alhag, Ibrahim Snoopy Ahmad, Timeea Mohamed Ahmed, Phil Cox (Sudan/UK/Germany/Qatar)

Youth Jury Prize – Documentary
Writing Hawa [+see also:
film review
interview: Najiba Noori, Rasul Noori
film profile] - Najiba Noori, Rasul Noori (France/Netherlands/Qatar/Afghanistan)

Fiction Competition

Fiction Grand Award
Santosh [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sandhya Suri
film profile] - Sandhya Suri (UK/Germany/France/India)
Special Mentions
Cosmos - Germinal Roaux (Switzerland/France/Mexico)
Sugar Island [+see also:
film review
interview: Johanné Gómez Terrero
film profile] - Johanné Gómez Terrero (Dominican Republic/Spain)

Youth Jury Prize – Fiction
In the Land of Brothers [+see also:
film review
interview: Raha Amirfazli, Alireza Gha…
film profile] - Raha Amirfazli, Alireza Ghasemi (Iran/France/Netherlands)

Focus Competition

Vision for Human Rights Award
There Is Another Way - Stephen Apkon (USA/Palestine/Israel)

Special Jury - In Hospitals/Convergences Award
Flying Hands [+see also:
interview: Paula Iglesias, Marta Gómez
film profile] - Paula Iglesias, Marta Gómez (Spain)

Special Jury – In Correctional Facilities/La Brenaz Jury Award
Life Is Beautiful [+see also:
film review
film profile] - Mohamed Jabaly (Norway/Palestine)

Champ-Dollon Jury Award
Riverboom - Claude Baechtold (Switzerland)