The winners of the 11th Young Horizons International Film Festival

The 11th edition of the Young Horizons International Film Festival has come to an end. On
Saturday, 5 October, at the award gala at Kinoteka in Warsaw, we announced this year’s winners
of all the festival competitions and of the audience poll. Meet the winning filmmakers and their
films and check out the photo report!

The Young Horizons Main Award and the ZAiKS Award for the Best Polish Film

The jury composed of Kinga Krzemińska, Piotr Guszkowski, and Marek Piestrak (ZAiKS) selected the winners of two monetary awards sponsored by the festival organiser and ZAiKS. The Young Horizons Main Award of PLN 30,000 went to the director and producer of Diplodocus (6–12; dir. Wojtek Wawszczyk; Poland, Czechia, Slovakia 2024) – Wojtek Wawszczyk and Maks Sikora – for “their perseverance in the production process while maintaining consistency in the narrative, character development, and world-building, and for the shared cinematic adventure their film offers to both young and adult audiences”. The ZAiKS Award of PLN 15,000 went to the scriptwriter of this ground-breaking Polish production – Wojtek Wawszczyk. The jury appreciated “the precise blending of narrative layers and the consistent execution of a story about the search for a path to unrestricted self-expression”.

The Audience Award

The Audience Award at the 11th Young Horizons IFF was granted by the viewers participating in the screenings in Warsaw and Wrocław. The audience voted for the best film in the Main Competition section. The winning film selected by the audience was Into the Wonderwoods (dir. Vincent Paronnaud, Alexis Ducord; France, Luxembourg 2024). It was followed by the latest adventures of children’s favourite detectives: JerryMaya’s Detective Agency – The Lost Mascot (dir. Tina Mackic; Sweden 2024). The third place on the podium was taken by Animal Tales of Christmas Magic (dir. Caroline Attia, Ceylan Beyoğlu, Olesya Shchukina, Haruna Kishi, Camille Alméras, Natalia Chernysheva; France, Germany 2024).

Main Competition

The Main Competition Jury – Magdalena Nieć, Radosław Czyż, and Robert Jaszczurowski – awarded Diplodocus for “bringing a comic to life in a creative, bold, and humorous story. It is a tribute to the power of imagination and a lesson in following one’s dreams. The film is living proof that a Polish animation can compete with the world’s best productions”.

The Honourable Mention was granted to the creators of Jippie No More! (dir. Margien Rogaar; The Netherlands 2023) for “the subtle and moving portrayal of the challenges that come with love: both first love and the love that arises from family bonds. It is an intimate story, filled with humour, emotion, and educational value, presented in a gentle and unobtrusive manner”.

The European Children’s Film Association Jury – Monika Górska, Marjo Kovanen, and Pantelis Panteloglou – gave their award to Kensuke’s Kingdom (dir. Neil Boyle, Kirk Hendry; UK, Luxembourg, France 2023). The film enchanted the jury members with its “rhythm, aesthetics, and themes as well as the wide array of characters brought to life on screen, where the protagonist discovers a natural environment so rich that it deserves to remain hidden”.

The Film Experts’ Jury, composed of representatives of the ZEF Team of Film Educators and the Association of Arthouse Cinemas – Kamila Szwarc, Magdalena Cichocka, and Natalia Piotrowska – distinguished Living Large (dir. Kristina Dufková; Czechia, Slovakia, France 2024) for its “lightness, perspective, and the multi-layered approach to topics concerning teenagers, such as parental separation, unrequited love, bullying, self-acceptance, love, friendship, and music: all of that presented in a beautiful and highly artistic animated form”.

The Film Experts’ Jury granted the Honourable Mention to Diplodocus, recognising it as a film that “offers hope to Polish animation, being a sensitive, humorous, and meaningful work not only for children – one that reminds us of childhood dreams and the extraordinary power of following them”.

Discoveries Competition

The jury composed of Kaja Klimek, Beata Kwiatkowska, and Marcin Radomski granted their award to Flow (dir. Gints Zilbalodis; Latvia, France, Belgium 2024), hailing it as the greatest discovery of the festival and celebrating “the charming protagonist at the heart of the narrative, surrounded by a diverse group of characters, and the story about the importance of cooperation, friendship, and living in a community – a true cinematic lesson”. The jury praised the film for “the world it portrays, both extraordinary and familiar, symbolic yet accessible to all: a remarkable creation that evokes real-life struggles while captivating the audience with its narrative and energy. It also sheds light on the fascinating nature of cats: they may walk their own paths but collaborate with other creatures too”.

The Honourable Mention went to Julie Keeps Quiet (dir. Leonardo Van Dijl; Belgium, Sweden 2024). The jury elaborated on their decision: “This is a very mature story, both in content and form. The poetic style and the camera work are impressive. The main protagonist is growing up before our eyes as she faces a tragic conflict and tries to step out of her (dis)comfort zone. She learns that silence is linked to a safe space, while words can hurt and cause pain, which is why they remain unspoken. However, the film allows multiple interpretations, showing that silence can be a powerful metaphor”.

This year’s festival was also the second edition of the Youth Jury Award as part of the Discoveries Competition. The jury composed of Hanna Fojtar, Julia Kurowska, and Natalia Pilatowska gave their award to Flow for its “enchanting music, aesthetic that transports the viewer to another dimension, and the important theme of the value and significance of true friendship”.

The Youth Jury awarded their Honourable Mention to Normal (dir. Olivier Babinet; France, Belgium 2023) for “addressing challenging, nuanced, and emotional themes, and its portrayal of a father’s genuine love for his daughter”.

Documentary Competition

The jury composed of Radosław Potrac, Agnieszka Kokowska, and Joanna Flis granted their award to Rocó and Noï (dir. Nadia Shah; The Netherlands 2023), saying: “This is a beautifully crafted and thoughtful film that presents an important story from a child’s perspective. It creates a space for experiencing a wide range of emotions, without passing judgment or leaving the characters in helplessness. With subtlety and empathy, the film highlights the strengths of the protagonists, their agency, and the power of friendship. Through carefully selected shots and a sensitive approach to its themes, the film not only engages the viewer but also encourages reflection on emotions and human relationships. This is a work that deserves special recognition in children’s cinema, opening the hearts of young audiences to a world full of understanding and acceptance”.