The 2025 edition of East Doc Platform (EDP), the largest industry platform for Central and Eastern European documentaries, organised by the Institute of Documentary Film, welcomed industry professionals to Prague from 13-19 March. A total of 19 awards were presented by EDP’s partners during the closing ceremony of One World and East Doc Platform.

The East Doc Platform Award jury – comprising Manuela Buono (Slingshot Films), Jess Gormley (Guardian News & Media) and Sara Ferro (MakeDox) – singled out Zofia Sawicka’s feature debut, Inner Landscapes. The jury stated: “The proposal was very affecting and stood out as a love poem rooted in global events, but elevated through its human connections. The filmmaker has cleverly curated a thought-provoking space of constant transitions, taking us on a journey to the very essence of humanity.” The project also received the DocsBarcelona Award, as it “beautifully portrays the complexity of human lives with a tender, sensitive approach, incorporating metaphorical elements and different perspectives that resonate with our shared humanity”.

The jury also handed a Special Mention to Always Far Away by Roman Ďuriš, a film that, “through long-term observation, portrays an extraordinary coming-of-age story”. The project also received the Millennium Docs Against Gravity Award, as it “explores themes of the future, family and coming of age in difficult, unconventional circumstances. We recognise how challenging it is to create a film about growing up in a marginalised community – one that avoids clichés and authentically captures the nuances of this experience.”

The Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award was presented at EDP for the first time, accompanied by financial support of €50,000. The jury – made up of Michael Kaschner (ZDF), Barbara Bouillon (ARTE) and Alessia Sonaglioni (Council of Europe) – selected NEAR LIGHT - Second Lives of Murderers by Niccolò Salvato as the winner, calling it an “exceptional project that gives a voice to individuals struggling to reintegrate into society. The creator's multi-layered approach to their personal stories helps humanise these individuals. It proposes a moving alternative narrative to the dominant fictional version of murderers, using a clear dramatic structure.” The project also received the Docs Ireland Award, as it “has the potential to create a deeply human portrait of the ways in which people can be successfully reintegrated into society after committing awful crimes”.

The Czech Television Award was presented to Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole by Tetiana Khodakivska, a project about Ukrainian children returning from Russian re-education camps. The award includes a licence valued at 150,000 CZK (€6,000) and an agreement for the programme’s future broadcast on Czech Television. The project also received the Sunny Side of the Doc Prize. Meanwhile, HBO, appointed as the “General Partner” of the Institute of Documentary Film, annually selects a winner for its €2,000 award, which this year went to Parallel Space by Martin Piga, which explores the human pursuit of freedom in the modern world.

Here is the full list of award winners at the 2025 East Doc Platform:

East Doc Platform Award
Inner Landscapes - Zofia Sawicka (Poland)
Producers: Zofia Kujawska, Maciej Kubicki (Telemark)
Special Mention
Always Far Away - Roman Ďuriš (Czech Republic/Slovakia)
Producers: Michal Sikora (Lonely Production), Richard Šimeček (Svjetski films)

Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award
NEAR LIGHT - Second Lives of Murderers - Niccolò Salvato (Romania/Italy/Czech Republic)
Producer: Mara Cracaleanu (Melancholia Pictures)

Czech Television Award
Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole - Tetiana Khodakivska (Ukraine/Czech Republic/Germany/France)
Producer: Elena Saulich (Pronto Film)

HBO Award
Parallel Space - Martin Piga (Slovakia)
Producer: Tereza Tokárová (CinePunkt)

Al Jazeera Balkans DFF Award
Operation Champion - Mariam Nikolaishvil (Georgia)
Producer: Irina Gelashvili (Radium Films)

The Golden Funnel Award

Docuseries
Sport to the People - Đuro Gavran (Croatia)
Producer: Miljenka Čogelja (Pipser)

Feature Docs
Retrospective - Gabrielė Urbonaitė (Lithuania)
Producers: Uljana Kim, Migla Butkute (Studio Uljana Kim)

Cut thru the Noise Award
Virtual Girlfriends - Barbora Chalupová (Czech Republic/Slovenia/Bulgaria)
Producer: Pavla Klimešová (Helium Film)

Ex Oriente Fine Cut Award
Be Realistic, Demand the Impossible - Vanja Juranić (Croatia)
Producers: Vanja Jambrović, Tibor Keser (Restart)

Silver Eye Award
A Song Without Home - Rati Tsiteladze (Georgia)
Producer: Olga Slusareva (ArtWay Film)
Special Mention
What About Petey? - Martin Trabalík (Czech Republic/Slovakia)
Producer: Jan Bodnár (GNOMON Production)
Co-producer: Silvia Panáková (Dayhey)

Millennium Docs Against Gravity Award
Always Far Away - Roman Ďuriš

Baltic Sea Docs Award
Operation Champion - Mariam Nikolaishvil

DocsBarcelona Award
Inner Landscapes - Zofia Sawicka

DOK Leipzig DOK Co-Pro Market Award
Recovery - Roman Bondarchuk, Vadym Ilkov (Ukraine/France)
Producer: Darya Bassel (Moon Man)

DAE Pitch Talent Encouragement Prize
Sounds of Revolution - Nikoloz Bezhanishvili (Georgia)
Producer: Nikoloz Bezhanishvili (NIKADOCFILM)

Pitch the Doc Prize
Frozen Ocean - Viktória Dénes (Hungary/France/Norway)
Producer: Julianna Ugrin (Éclipse Film)

Docs Ireland Prize
NEAR LIGHT - Second Lives of Murderers - Niccolò Salvato

Sheffield DocFest Networking Award (ex aequo)
Stitches of Freedom - Alex Shiriaieff, Ivo Briedis (Latvia/Sweden)
Producer: Uldis Cekulis (VFS Films)

Frozen Ocean - Viktória Dénes

MIA Market Award
Frozen Ocean - Viktória Dénes

Sunny Side of the Doc Prize
Blue Sweater with a Yellow Hole - Tetiana Khodakivska