At the Luxembourg City Film Festival, which took place from Thursday 6 to Sunday 16 March 2025, the winners of the 15th edition’s awards were announced across ten categories on Saturday 15 March at Kinepolis-Kirchberg.
The Grand Prix by Orange was awarded to The New Year That Never Came (Anul Nou care n-a fost), which also won the International Critic’s Award (FIPRESCI). Directed by Romanian filmmaker Bogdan Mureșanu, the film explores the events of the Romanian Revolution in December 1989. A Special Mention in this category was given to The Village Next to Paradise, directed by Mo Harare from Somalia, a story about a father and son living in a small village in the heart of the Somali desert. The same film was also recognised as the Best Film in the 2030 Award – by Luxembourg Aid & Development.
The The Documentary Prize by BGL BNP Paribas was awarded to The Landscape and the Fury, a film by Swiss director Nicole Vögele about the Bosnia-Croatia borderlands. This marks her third feature-length film.
The The Audience Prize by Orange was awarded to Went Up the Hill, directed by New Zealand filmmaker Samuel Van Grinsven. The film follows a son who travels to his mother’s funeral, where he meets her widow. However, his mother’s spirit returns, taking turns inhabiting each of their bodies.
The Youth Jury Award by Kinepolis was awarded to Home Game, directed by Lidija Zelović from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The film is an autobiographical meditation on political conflict, told through the perspective of Zelović, who has documented her life on camera for decades.
The School Jury Award was awarded to Sieger Sein (Winners), directed by Soleen Yusef, an Iraqi-born filmmaker who has lived in Germany with her family since the age of nine. The film is a coming-of-age story about the importance of teamwork in overcoming life’s challenges, regardless of their scale.
A Special Mention in this category was awarded to Young Hearts, directed by Anthony Schatteman from Belgium. The film is a queer coming-of-age story about first love.
The Kids Jury Award was awarded to Grüße vom Mars (Greetings from Mars), directed by German filmmaker Sarah Winkenstette. The film presents a charming story about a ten-year-old boy living with neurodivergence.
The VR – Best Immersive Experience award was given to Champ de Bataille (Battlefield), directed by Canadian filmmaker François Vautier. The film follows a soldier named Julien, who, amid the turmoil of World War I in 1916, endures the hardships of battle, forsaking youth and happiness.
A Special Mention in this category was awarded to Ito Meikyū, directed by French filmmaker Boris Labbé. The project is inspired by references from the history of Japanese art and literature and unfolds as a grand sensory fresco.
