29th Sofia International Film Festival

Bulgaria, March 13 - March 31 2025

Festival homepage

The jury

Hamed Soleimanzadeh (Iran), Tommaso Tocci (Italy), Katerina Lambrinova (Bulgaria)

Awarded films

Windless by Pavel G. Vesnakov
(Bulgaria, Italy, 2024, 93 min)

Reports

Sitting down, standing up: on facing the ugliness by Tommaso Tocci
The Desolating Stillness of Windless by Katerina Lambrinova
Twelve Films, Twelve Approaches: A Critical Look at the 29th Sofia IFF International Competition Selection by Hamed Soleimanzadeh

Jury statement: For its captivating cinematography that masterfully conveys the complexity of human isolation and emotional turbulence into a striking cinematic achievement. Through metaphorically crafted visual language, Windless explores themes of absence, longing, and the weight of unspoken emotions. Its stillness – and emphasis on what goes unsaid – transforms it into an evocative reflection of internal and external stasis that is well deserving of the FIPRESCI Prize.