The jury
Olivia Popp (Germany), Meghachandra Kongbam (India), Kovan Hussein (Iraq)
Awarded films
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All the Mountains Give by
Arash Rakhsha
(Iran, Kurdistan, 2024, 91 min.)
Jury statement for All the Mountains Give:
This impressive feat of filmmaking blurs the lines between fiction and documentary through its compelling storytelling style. Through high-risk, immersive shots, we discover a hidden world through minimalist but powerful mise-en-scène that carves out a cinematic landscape in the mountainous borderlands between Iran and Iraq. The film challenges conventions of narration and harkens back to core identities of Kurdish cinema and continues the legacy of Yılmaz Güney. The director, who also serves as cinematographer and editor, reveals a resounding human story of resilience, desperation, and survival.



