Winners of the 12th TAURON Young Horizons International Film Festival announced!

The cinema edition of the 12th TAURON Young Horizons International Film Festival has come to an end. During a gala ceremony at the Muranów Cinema in Warsaw, competition winners have received awards and the winners of the audience poll were announced. Find out who triumphed this year!

Check out the photo gallery from the gala!

Young Horizons Main Competition Award and ZAiKS Authors’ Association Award for best Polish production

During this year’s event, the jury consisting of Mikołaj Pokromski, Tina Mackic, and Marek Piestrak (ZAiKS) awarded two financial prizes funded by the festival organiser and ZAiKS. The Young Horizons Main Competition Award for best Polish production (PLN 30,000) went to the director and producer of the film Pixie. The New Beginning (7–14; Poland, Czech Republic 2025) – Krzysztof Komander and Dagmara Piasecka. This is a beautiful story about grief and the ability to see magic in everyday life. The film has created a new, mystical world with a surprising twist and reminds us of what is important in life – reads the jury’s verdict.

The ZAiKS Authors’ Association Award (PLN 15,000) went to the screenwriters of The Travelling Dog 2 (6–10; dir. Magdalena Nieć; Poland 2025) – Magdalena Nieć, Katarzyna Gacek, and Mojca Tirš. The jury praised the film for its captivating, suspenseful narrative, which evokes plenty of positive emotions from the first to the final scene.

Audience Award

In this year’s audience poll, festival goers in Warsaw and Wrocław voted Miss Moxy (5–10; dir. Vincent Bal, Wip Vernooij; Netherlands, Belgium 2025) the Best Film of the 12th TAURON Young Horizons International Film Festival.

See how the audience had fun at the movies!

Main Competition

The Jury of the Main Competition, consisting of Wojtek Wawszczyk, Marta Galewska-Kustra, and Tomasz Śliwiński, awarded the prize to the film I Accidentally Wrote a Book (8–12; dir. Nóra Lakos; Hungary, Netherlands 2025), explaining: This film shows us that everyone has a chance to start over. It is a story about taking the next step — in family, friendship, growing up, creating. This can be difficult, but denial and dissociation are not the solution. To take the next step, one must first conclude the previous one. This film teaches us to treasure existing memories, but simultaneously opens up space in our heart for new ones. The film elegantly engages with a serious subject and does so in a safe, humorous, and imaginative way. At the same time, it is visually, narratively, and dramatically stunning. It is heartfelt, empathetic, and will stay in our hearts for a long time. A film for everyone, perfect in every way.

The European Children’s Film Association Jury, consisting of Iris Verhoeven, Kaja Łuczyńska, and Daniel Lundquist, also awarded I Accidentally Wrote a Book. According to the jury, it is a film about intergenerational love that features beautiful, colourful set design and excellent acting. It is a story about embracing creativity in difficult times, growing up, and figuring out whom you really are.

Discoveries Competition

The jury, consisting of Monika Weychert, Łukasz Knap, and Marianna Oklejak, awarded the prize to the film Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (7+; dir. Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han; France 2025) for its multi-layered structure and poignant insight into the inner world of a two-year-old, which appeals to viewers of all ages. For capturing the precise moment when a child develops their sensitivity and imagination and learns to set boundaries. For showing how identity is forged at the intersection of two cultures, and for the wonderful visuals that merge into a coherent whole with the themes of the film.

The same animation – Little Amélie or the Character of Rain – received the Young Horizons Jury Award. Young jurors spoke for the third time in the history of the festival, assessing films from the Discoveries Competition. Zofia Niewiadomska, Ewelina Marasek, Cyprian Grabowski, Hanna Gągolewicz, and Nina Jach awarded the prize to a film that is difficult in its simplicity. For its rich story, presented via beautiful animation.

The Young Horizons Jury also honoured the film Space Cadet (7+; dir. Kid Koala; Canada 2025) for its sensitivity and unique approach to the subject of relationships.

Documentary Competition

The jury, consisting of Agata Sotomska, Marta Niedźwiecka, and Justyna Żukowska-Gołębiewska, awarded the prize to the film Just Jools (9–12; dir. Ezra Verbist; Belgium 2025) – an authentic and moving story focusing on children’s sensitivity and rebuilding their strength despite physical limitations.

The winners received statuettes created by the Warsaw-based Fenek ceramic studio in Warsaw. Congratulations to all the creators of the winning films. A selection of the award-winning titles will also be available during the online festival. We invite you to stream the 12th TAURON Young Horizons International Film Festival on the VOD platform from 9 to 26 October 2025.