Winning Films ISFF 2026

The jury announced the winning films of ISFF 2025 as:

feature film

23 SECONDS

Director: Peter Taslim
Country: Indonesia, Thailand
Production Year: 2025

Justification:

The common thread of the feature-length film “23 Seconds” is the preparation of two mixed martial arts fighters from Indonesia and Thailand for the final showdown at the largest regional competition. The stories run in parallel, each of them wants to win for their country, each of them has their own sporting and personal story.
The content thus set reflects all dimensions of engaging in sports: for both athletes, sporting ambitions are intertwined with personal and family circumstances, which inevitably affect the wider social sphere; both different cultures are also skillfully expressed.
Being caught in a tragic tsunami accident from 20 years ago adds a strong framework to the story, the accident is also the cause of a dramatic turning point that leads to an unexpected end of the story.
Such a complex structure is visualized with directr’s mastery: it supports the content elements and dimensions, emphasizes the important psychological and emotional moments of the characters and situations, and creates a rhythm that takes us to the core of the story itself, the sports duels, and to understanding central motivations. The film is strong in the content and visual interweaving. The final twist in the story gives an additional global dimension precisely
because of the real tragedy.

feature short film

THIS IS NOT THE RUNNING JOKE

Director: Xavier Diskeuve
Country: Belgium
Production Year:  2026

Justification:

The film is a first-class comedy about one of the most widespread recreational sports activities today: jogging.
Everything in the film’s story is masterfully conceived, guided and executed, which testifies to the director’s exceptional creative maturity. This is expressed in a clearly structured, solid content concept, precise character development of the characters and in a purified and clear visualization, in short, in a strong director’s concept.
The seemingly simple story contains a multi-layered message and reveals the deeper layers of today’s society and the individuals within it. It works as a heartwarming parody, with great affection for all the characters in the story, but precisely in this way it offers us a reflection on the meaning of (perhaps) excessive preoccupation with ourselves on the one hand, and the search for belonging on the other.

In short, all the elements, combined into a complex structure, come to life as an exciting comedy.

documentary feature film

THE LOST DREAM TEAM

Director: Jure Pavlović

Country: Croatia, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia

Production Year: 2025

Justification:

The shocking story of the Yugoslav national basketball team on its last gold medal win at the 1991 European Championship in Rome carries a strong emotional charge, while at the same time highlights the awareness and awakening of the historical memory of the sad collapse of the
former country. The historical and political dimensions give the story a distinctly regional character, as well as a universal connotation, as it is about the loss of a community, or a certain identity.
The basketball players must focus on sports motivation, as they are in the game for a gold medal, while a parallel story in the “homeland” is taking the ground from under their feet.
Despite the tension, the team is able to overcome personal hardships and play a top-notch match.
Above all the film’s story aims to be a realistic view of the situation. The athletes, placed in an extremely difficult situation, experienced firsthand all the tragedy and senselessness of political games. At that moment, the gold medal meant and still represents the victory of humanity over the inhumanity of wars and political divisions.

documentary short film

NOTHING BUT BLUE

Director: Sebastian Bechtel

Country: Germany

Production Year: 2025

Justification:

This film is the story of a young surfer who is driven by a strong connection to the sea across the world’s oceans. The author of this film was captivated by the athlete’s dedication and passion for sailing, especially by his balance and calmness when facing the biggest and most dangerous waves. In search of the best wave, the best shot and the most honest portrait of the athlete, an author’s masterpiece and a superb aesthetic and artistic experience were created.
Masterful shots of the “blue”, a surfer on the waves, a thoughtful selection of situations and confessions are a reflection of many years of monitoring an adrenaline enthusiast who found his meaning of life in surfing.

Olympic/paralympic spirit

BREAKING

Director: Dan Faber

Country: United Kingdom 

Production Year: 2025

Justification:

The documentary follows the path that chosen breakdance dancers take in preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games. In Paris, this acrobatic dance became part of the Olympic sports for the first time.
Through the inspiring portraits of four dancers, we learn about dance as an expression of the state of mind of a certain generation and social class, as well as its importance in society. The parallel narratives become four unique, suggestive life stories of young girls and women. We get to know different personalities, different cultural and social backgrounds. They are guided by a
strong bond with breakdance, and regardless of the final success, the dancers remain loyal even after the Olympic competition.
The author’s power of these extensive epic narratives lies in the respectful presentation and communication with the portraitees. We witness spontaneous depictions that, with their sincere confessions, represent a reflection and expression of society, the position of sport, and the place it allows for the individual.

SPORT AND SOCIETY

KICKOFF

Director: Roser Corella, Stefano Obino

Country: Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Spain 

Production Year: 2025

Justification:

An exceptional feature-length documentary film was co-produced by several countries, namely in the remote mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan. We can talk about a unique portrayal of cultural and civilizational realities and the social relevance of sport. It is a proof that sport knows no boundaries, that, on the contrary, it transcends them.
This is a story about Muslim women who, in addition to their daily chores in the fields and at home and taking care of their children, choose to play football in their free time. They devote themselves to this with infectious joy. In a predominantly patriarchal society, where football is mostly a male sport, this may seem impossible to us, but when we get to know our film heroines
better, all doubts and prejudices fade away and we become their unconditional supporters.
The film’s creative team presented this original story, which carries a strong discourse of equality, with an authorial approach that only befits a sincere, authentic narrative. We witness anthological scenes and footage of women in their daily routines, trainings, matches and the final celebration of victory. The creators do not interfere with the events, they only record them, because with the trust they have created, they have achieved that girls, wives, mothers, mothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, etc. come to life as if the camera does not exist for them. In this way, the film narrative conjures up an indigenous, precious image of a culture and, in particular, the transformative power of sport.

Film voted by TV viewers (ARENA SPORT TV)

THE BRIDGE

Director: Jimmy Hedger

Country: United Kingdom

Production Year: 2025

Justification:

Sport is socially relevant in many ways. The British film “The Bridge” is dedicated to the enthusiastic supporters of the Chelsea football club. Precious archival footage of past events and current memories of fans speak sincerely and passionately about their long-standing affiliation. They bring to life the lives of all generations of fans in their home London borough and around the world. The story is as old as the club itself, Chelsea; its creation dates back to 1905.
A pleasant intertwining of content supports the sequences of memories of the events that shaped this undying passion. The narratives do not lack periods of violence between fans or stories of racism.
The visualization of such intertwined life and sports stories supports and creates dynamics and adds charm to the film’s expression. The film story thus records the intimate and human sides of destinies that contribute to the understanding of belonging to sport and the importance of community.

I FEEL SLOVENIA AWARD (award from the festival director)

BROTHERHOOD OF THE COURT/THE
BEGINNING

Director: Gašper Pavli, Alen Djordjević

Country: Slovenia

Production Year: 2025

Justification:

We are all, so to speak, witnesses to the extraordinary rise of the Slovenian volleyball team. “Brotherhood on the Court/Beginnings” is the first part of this extraordinary sporting and also life journey of top athletes.
The authors accompanied the athletes throughout the described path. The film story follows the beginning of the formation of the team and all the circumstances that helped shape the direction to the top. Athletes, and in general the entire team, choose a goal that is also the realization of their dreams.
It talks about challenges, hardships, happy moments and disappointments as inevitable elements of every top sports path.
The story of the Slovenian volleyball team has placed our athletes side by side with the best teams on the world level, they achieved qualification for the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, but the story certainly does not end there…