17/11/2025 - Top winners at the Irish gathering included Janicke Askevold's Solomamma, Brendan Canty's Gealtra, and Charlotte Devillers and Arnaud Dufeys' We Believe You

l-r: Solomamma by Janicke Askevold, Gealtra by Brendan Canty, and We Believe You by Charlotte Devillers and Arnaud Dufeys

Marking its 70th anniversary, the Cork International Film Festival (6-16 November) wrapped its 2025 edition with a packed ceremony at the Everyman Theatre, attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD. The evening shone a spotlight on female-driven storytelling, emerging Irish talent and urgent international works, culminating in the presentation of the prestigious Audentia Award – hosted this year by Cork in partnership with the Council of Europe’s Eurimages fund.

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Said award went to Norwegian director Janicke Askevold for Solomamma [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Janicke Askevold
film profile]. In their statement, the jurors praised the film as “an aesthetically rich portrayal of a woman determined to live life on her own terms”, emphasising its message that “the meaning of a family lies in love and respect, which matter more than blood ties”. Enrico Vannucci, deputy executive director of Eurimages, added that Solomamma “masterfully shows the importance of ensuring gender equality in our everyday lives”.

Next, Brendan Canty took home the Best New Irish Feature Award (supported by the Irish Examiner) for Gealtra. The jury highlighted this “authentic, real-life story about a sanctuary in a small, vibrant community”, praising its celebration of creativity, language and solidarity. An Honourable Mention was reserved for Celtic Utopia [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Dennis Harvey and Lars Lovén.

Meanwhile, the Spirit of the Festival Award for Best Film went to We Believe You [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Arnaud Dufeys and Charlotte…
film profile] by Charlotte Devillers and Arnaud Dufeys. The jury described it as “a sparse, intense and claustrophobic” drama that “places us at the centre of a horrific family conflict and doesn’t let us look away”, commending its handling of the judicial system with “brutal detail”. The flick also resonated strongly with younger viewers, securing the Lookout Award – as decided upon by a youth jury from University College Cork, MTU and Cork College of FET. They called it “real and raw… A true testament to the power of film.”

The Spirit of the Festival Award for Best Screenplay was given to The Girl in the Snow [+see also:
film review
interview: Louise Hémon
film profile] by Louise Hémon, penned with Maxence Stamatiadis and Anaïs Tellenne. The jury praised its ambition and thematic depth, stressing how its ideas “stayed with us long after it finished”.

In the documentary section, Monica Strømdahl won the Gradam Na Féile for Flophouse America [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Monica Strømdahl
film profile], recognised for its “raw, unwavering portrayal of a family struggling on the edge of life”, and for its ability to turn a confined setting into “captivating visuals and a captivating soundscape”. Amber Fares received an Honourable Mention for Coexistence, My Ass! [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile].

Earlier this week, the festival also revealed the winners of its Oscar-qualifying Short Film Awards, as chosen by a jury including Sanne Jehoul (BFI Doc Society, Talking Shorts), Kasia Karwan (Cannes Short Films) and Dearbhla Regan (Wild Atlantic Pictures).

Here is the full list of this year's winners:

Audentia Award
Solomamma [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Janicke Askevold
film profile] – Janicke Askevold (Norway/Latvia/Lithuania/Denmark/Finland)

Best New Irish Feature Award
Gealtra – Brendan Canty (Ireland)
Honourable Mention
Celtic Utopia [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – Dennis Harvey, Lars Lovén (Ireland/Sweden)

Spiorad Na Féile / Spirit of the Festival Award – Best Film
We Believe You [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Arnaud Dufeys and Charlotte…
film profile] – Charlotte Devillers, Arnaud Dufeys (Belgium/France)

Spirit of the Festival Award – Best Screenplay
The Girl in the Snow [+see also:
film review
interview: Louise Hémon
film profile] – Louise Hémon, Maxence Stamatiadis, Anaïs Tellenne (France)

Gradam Na Féile Do Scannáin Faisnéise / Best Documentary Award
Flophouse America [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Monica Strømdahl
film profile] – Monica Strømdahl (Norway)
Honourable Mention
Coexistence, My Ass! [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Amber Fares (USA/France)

Lookout Award
We Believe You – Charlotte Devillers, Arnaud Dufeys
Honourable Mention
How to Be Normal and the Oddness of the Other World [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Florian Pochlatko
film profile] – Florian Pochlatko (Austria)

Short-film awards

Grand Prix Irish Short
Mary Is Missing – Aisling Byrne (Ireland)

Grand Prix International Short
Wonderwall – Róisín Burns (France/UK)
Special Mention
Little Rebels Cinema Club – Khozy Rizal (Indonesia)

Grand Prix Documentary Short
Correct Me If I’m Wrong – Hao Zhou (Germany/USA)

Redbreast UNHIDDEN Short Award
World at Stake – Susanna Flock, Adrian Jonas Halm, Jona Kleinlein (Austria/Germany)

Best Director - Irish Short
No Mean City – Ross McClean (UK)

Best Cork Short
Culchie – Richard Lennon (Ireland)
Special Mention
Head First – Sean Breathnach, Matt Sullivan (Ireland)

Short Film Candidate for the 2026 European Film Awards
Their Eyes – Nicholas Gourault (France)