The 32nd Athens International Film Festival announced its award winners on 10 October, with the ceremony taking place at the Olympia Theatre. The festival, which ran from 30 September-11 October, presented its Golden Athenas in the International Competition, the International Documentary Competition and the Greek Short Stories section, honouring films from Greece and abroad.

The Golden Athena for Best Film in the International Competition went to Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep by Rakan Mayasi. The jury, comprising editor Yorgos Mavropsaridis, film critic Neil Young and director Srdan Golubović, praised the film’s assured cinematic language, striking visual compositions and performances, which combine to tell a surprising, empathetic and occasionally humorous story. The jury also highlighted the movie’s ability to connect personal histories with the wider world.

The City of Athens Award for Best Director was presented to Marine Atlan for La Gradiva. The jury commended the film’s contemplative exploration of identity and historical continuity, noting how its carefully constructed visual approach accommodates a warmth and immediacy reminiscent of documentary filmmaking.

The Best Screenplay Award went to Ben’Imana by Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo, who also directed the film. The jury praised its sensitive and impartial treatment of a painful subject, highlighting the screenplay’s ability to move between public and private spaces while exploring the possibility of healing and reconciliation after profound collective trauma. A Special Mention was awarded to Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building by Bruno Santamaría Razo, in recognition of its unusual and effective structure, complemented by the performances of its ensemble cast. The Audience Award went to the Chilean political drama The Red Hangar by Juan Pablo Sallato, following the reception of a record 3,000 audience votes.

In the International Documentary Competition, the jury, comprising directors Vania Turner, Marianna Economou and Sepideh Farsi, awarded the Golden Athena for Best Documentary to Rehearsals for a Revolution by Pegah Ahangarani. The jury praised the director’s skilful use of archival material to connect her personal story with the history of Iran, transforming an individual testimony into a broader account of resistance under decades of oppression. Special Mentions went to Tin Castle by Alexander Murphy, for its sensitive portrayal of a stigmatised community, and NAZA by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, recognised for its courageous and necessary journalistic investigation into the mechanisms underpinning the ongoing genocide of Palestinians by the state of Israel, as outlined by the jury.

In the Greek Short Stories Competition, the Golden Athena for Best Greek Short Film went to Aftoklitos Fterotos by Vaggelis Panagiotakopoulos and Thanasis Fousekis. The jury praised its originality, authenticity, boldness, performances and cinematography, describing it as a film that stood apart from the rest of the competition. The short also received the Best Screenplay Award, shared by Panagiotakopoulos, Fousekis and Antriana Zaxariadou Korovesi, as well as the Best Male Performance Award for Giorgos Boufidis. The Silver Athena – Special Jury Prize went to Wheel to Live by Vicky Anastasiadou, while the Best Director Award was shared equally between Alexandra Matheou for Free Eliza (Notes on an Anatomical Imperfection) and Marianna Bozantzoglou for Sisters. Special Mentions went to Runner by Ermolaos Fotiou and Holes! The Ballad of Boulder Valley by Petros Kalfamanolis, which also received the Onassis Film Award. The Best Female Performance Award was declined by the recipient, whose identity was not disclosed, at her request. The GSC Award for Best Cinematography went to Arsinoi Pilou for Hot Wax by Krysianna B Papadakis.

Here is the full list of award winners at the 32nd Athens International Film Festival:

International Competition

Golden Athena for Best Film
Yesterday the Eye Didn’t Sleep – Rakan Mayasi (Belgium/Lebanon/Palestine/Qatar/Saudi Arabia)

City of Athens Award for Best Director
Marine Atlan – La Gradiva (France/Italy)

Best Screenplay Award
Marie Clémentine Dusabejambo - Ben’Imana (Rwanda/Gabon/France/Norway/Côte d'Ivoire)
Special Mention
Bruno Santamaría Razo - Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building (Mexico/Brazil/Denmark)

Audience Award
The Red Hangar – Juan Pablo Sallato (Chile/Argentina/Italy)

International Documentary Competition

Golden Athena for Best Documentary
Rehearsals for a Revolution – Pegah Ahangarani (Czech Republic/Spain)
Special Mentions
Tin Castle – Alexander Murphy (France/Ireland)
NAZA – Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor (UK)

Greek Short Stories Competition

Golden Athena for Best Greek Short Film
Aftoklitos Fterotos – Vaggelis Panagiotakopoulos, Thanasis Fousekis (Greece)

Silver Athena – Special Jury Prize
Wheel to Live – Vicky Anastasiadou (Greece)

Best Director Award (ex aequo)
Alexandra Matheou – Free Eliza (Notes on an Anatomical Imperfection) (France/Cyprus/Greece)
Marianna Bozantzoglou – Sisters (Greece)

Best Screenplay Award
Vaggelis Panagiotakopoulos, Thanasis Fousekis, Antriana Zaxariadou Korovesi - Aftoklitos Fterotos

Best Female Performance Award
Declined by the recipient

Best Male Performance Award
Giorgos Boufidis – Aftoklitos Fterotos

Special Mentions
Runner – Ermolaos Fotiou (Greece)
Holes! The Ballad of Boulder Valley – Petros Kalfamanolis (Greece)

Onassis Film Award
Holes! The Ballad of Boulder Valley – Petros Kalfamanolis

GSC Award for Best Cinematography
Arsinoi Pilou – Hot Wax (Greece)