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DOKUSHORTS
Best International Short Documentary
iHuman Award — Special Mention
I BELIEVE THE PORTRAIT SAVED ME
Alban Muja | Kosovo
The narrative moves from initial perplexity to profound emotion as the layers of that peculiar classroom unfold. It reveals the power of art, transforming portraiture into an instinct for survival amid barbarity. The cinematography avoids romanticizing war, using striking framing and color grading to convey its full dramatic weight. Condensing such thematic depth and visual impact into ten minutes is a directorial triumph worthy of this honourable mention.
iHuman Award — Special Mention
ACTUALLY I DIDN’T WANT TO STAY LONG
Andreas Grützner | Germany
Andreas Grützner’s unconventional, essayistic film explores psychiatric patients through the recollections of a young man who worked in a clinic in 1979. What begins as a historical overview of society’s attitudes toward people with mental disabilities becomes a deeply personal journey. Through unsettling archival imagery, footage, and audio fragments, accompanied by voiceover, the filmmaker confronts us with what society prefers to ignore.
iHuman Award — Special Mention
STEP BY STEP TOWARDS HOME
Evrim İnci | Azerbaijan
Through the dangerous work of clearing landmines in Karabakh, the film reveals the enduring consequences of war. A powerful reflection on resilience, the human cost of conflict, and the long road to rebuilding lives.
iHuman Award — Special Mention
TOWARDS THE LIGHT
Elshad Arshadoglu | Azerbaijan
Three generations embark on a poignant journey back to their village, searching among the ruins for lost loved ones, childhood memories, and traces of a vanished past. A moving reflection on memory, loss, and the enduring scars of war.
EYEMystic Award
I WANTED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE
James Pellerito | United States of America
Through a personal and intimate lens, James Pellerito succeeds in documenting, with humanity and sensitivity, his mother’s final days and the everyday care he provides for her. It is an authentic and deeply personal approach that reflects the complex mix of emotions experienced by family caregivers. A precise, intimate, and deeply moving work.
