Cinéma du réel announces its 2025 award-winners !
The unique 47th edition of Paris’ Cinéma du réel comes to a close today, as the festival announces the winners from its selection of 37 world, international and french premieres in its competition section.
In anticipation of the 5 year closure for renovations of the Pompidou Centre, Cinéma du réel’s historic home, this year the festival took place across four cinemas in the Latin quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés : L’Arlequin, the Reflet Médicis, the Saint-André des Arts, the Christine Cinéma Club ; as well as the theatre of the Alliance Française.
The Feature Film Jury Awards
This year’s Cinéma du réel Grand Prix 2025 goes to little boy by James Benning, funded by the Bibliothèque publique d’information (€ 5,000) and the Procirep (€ 3,000).
Jury statement: The Cinéma du réel Grand Prix 2025 goes to a film of playfulness, precision, and deceptive simplicity. This reflection on American identity and the possibility of collectivity is an urgent and timely work by a filmmaker who has been exploring these issues for more than five decades.
little boy by James Benning
The Cinéma du réel International Award 2025 goes to In the Manner of Smoke by Armand Yervant Tufenkian and Monólogo Colectivo by Jessica Sarah Rinland funded by the association Les Amis du Cinéma du réel (5,000€).
Jury statement: Cinéma du réel International Award 2025 is split between two films that share an attention to the craft of image-making and the human desire to control nature. One is an inventive and surprising first feature film that reflects on the frontier of representation itself. The other approaches notions of care and violence, as well as labour and tactility.
In the Manner of Smoke by Armand Yervant Tufenkian
The Cnap Award for French films 2025 goes to Lumière de mes yeux by Sophie Bredier, funded by the Centre national des arts plastiques (5,000€).
Jury statement: The Cnap Award for French films 2025 goes to a work made in the aftermath of revolution that highlights the promises and perils of translation. The filmmaker questions the complexities of her own position and process while remaining devoted to her subject.
Lumière de mes yeux by Sophie Bredier
All the winners :
Sacem Award 2025 : Evidence by Lee Anne Schmitt
Original soundtrack by Jeff ParkerFirst Film Loridan-Ivens Award 2025 : Selegna Sol by Anouk Moyaux
Short Film Award 2025 : Notes of a Crocodile by Daphne Xu
Tënk Short Film Award 2025 : About the Pink Cocoon by Binyu Wang
Ciné + Young Jury Award 2025 : Far from Anger by Joël Akafou
Library Award 2025 : Far from Anger by Joël Akafou
Cultural Intangible Heritage Award 2025 : Monikondee by Lonnie Van Brummelen, Siebren De Haan and Tolin Erwin Alexander
Mention: Stream-Story by Amit Dutta
Inmate Award 2025 : I’m only a body by Eva Morin
Clarens Award for Humanist Documentary Filmmaking 2025 : One, Angarskaia Street by Rostislav Kirpičenko
First Window Audience Award 2025 : I’m only a body by Eva Morin
Mention: Here I Belong by Clara Jeany
Coup de cœur Orlando 2025 : Bahía Honda by Alejandro Alonson
Route One/DOC Award 2024 : Un temps pour chercher, un temps pour perdre by Arina Adju
Préludes Awards 2025 : First Contact by Bob Connolly et Robin Anderson
For more information on each of the awards and winners, you can visit Cinéma du réel’s website, here.
Congratulations to all the award-winning teams !
Photo : Léa Rener
