CPH:INDUSTRY 2025 award winners announced

The Eurimages New Lab Awards

For the second year in a row, CPH:FORUM is proud to present the Eurimages Innovation and Outreach Awards, promoting and celebrating innovative and experimental projects at different stages of production by non-conventional filmmakers and visual artists. 

The Eurimages Outreach Award of €30,000 goes to BECOMING LUCIEN, directed by Lucien Pin & Alex Haugmard and produced by Thibault Elie.

On their motivation for choosing BECOMING LUCIEN, the jury said:

“This project offers an exploration of gender identity through an intimate virtual reality experience that transforms personal narrative into a powerful tool for empathy and understanding. By creating a compassionate dialogue between the present self and the childhood past, the project provides an unprecedented window into the transgender experience, challenging societal misconceptions and fostering genuine human connection. Through innovative interactive storytelling, this work not only amplifies trans representation but also creates a vital bridge of understanding, strategically reach out to diverse audiences to combat transphobia and promote critical dialogue about gender identity in an era of increasing social polarization.”

The Outreach Award of €30,000 aims to recognise an independent production company or director for an innovative project at the end of production or in post-production, striving to engage audiences internationally and promote public awareness of experimental projects. 

The jury for the Eurimages Outreach Award consisted of  Emma Scott (Head of Audiences, Screen Ireland), Gugi Gumilang (International Film Programmer at In-Docs / Docs by the Sea) and Marie Schmidt Olesen (Producer at Northern Souls).

The Eurimages Innovation Award of €20,000 goes to A SANCTUARY OF STUFF by Francesca Tremulo & Eszter Várhidi.

On their motivation for choosing A SANCTUARY OF STUFF, the jury said:

“The Eurimages New Lab Award for Innovation goes to a project with a radical openness. A work that refuses the constraints of traditional storytelling and resists defining its audience. Instead, it asks us to reimagine our role as viewers and invites us into a space of collective creation. In a world obsessed with competition, this sanctuary of stuff acts as a disruption, a wake-up call for community, collaboration and creative resistance.”

The award aims at recognising an innovative and experimental project in development with an intention for international cooperation.

The jury for the Eurimages Innovation Award consisted of Elena Kotová (National representative of Eurimages CZ), Rémi Grellety (Producer at Warboys Films) and Violeta Ayala (United Nations Film).

Projects from CPH:FORUM, CPH:ROUGHCUT and CPH:LAB were eligible.

The Sandbox Films Science Pitch Prize

For the very first time, CPH:FORUM is introducing The Sandbox Films Science Pitch Prize, highlighting an outstanding science documentary project for its innovation in the genre, artistic merit, and a commitment to inclusivity. 

The $25,000 cash award along with support from Sandbox Films goes to METROPOLIS, directed by Anupama Srinivasan & Anirban Dutta and produced by Anirban Dutta & Ryan Krivoshey.

On their motivation for choosing METROPOLIS, the jury said:

“The winning film is a beautifully crafted immersive experience that can easily engage audiences all over the world. This documentary reverses the gaze by elevating the work and voices of scientists from unrepresented communities.

Combining humor and human gentleness with scientific rigour, the film  also highlights some of the most pressing issues of our time – immigration, healthcare and climate change. All through a very unique and creative lens. This film will certainly create a buzz. The winner of the Sandbox Films Science Pitch Prize is Metropolis.”

The jury for The Sandbox Films Science Pitch Prize consisted of Irem Couchouron (Programme Director at the SILBERSALZ Festival), Pernille Rose Grønkjær (Director/Producer at Danish Documentary) and Ina Fichman (President/Producer at Intuitive Pictures).

The Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Co-Production Award

It is a pleasure for CPH:FORUM to partner with Al Jazeera Documentary Channel and introduce the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Co-Production Award with a €10,000 prize for a FORUM project highlighting urgent matters of our times and bring depth to the co-production side of the CPH:INDUSTRY. 

The €10,000 prize goes to the UNTITLED EDWARD SAID DOCUMENTARY, directed by Maiken Baird and produced by Paul Dallas, Alex Gibney & Sarah Mowaswes.

On their motivation for choosing UNTITLED EDWARD SAID DOCUMENTARY, the jury said:

 “At a time when Palestinians are being ethnically cleansed before our eyes, and the international community has done little to intervene, it is more important than ever to understand how history has shaped our present reality. In this context, the ideas of the protagonist — a singular figure who carried the Palestinian cause from the local to the global stage—are more vital now than ever. The winner is⁩ UNTITLED EDWARD SAID DOCUMENTARY.”

The jury for the Al Jazeera Documentary Channel Co-Production Award consisted of Jamel Dallali (Manager of Production at Al Jazeera Documentary), Amber Fares (Director) and Rasmus Steen (Head of IMS Documentary Film).

The Rise and Shine and Unifrance/Titra Film Awards

The Rise And Shine Award of €3,000 celebrates the best pitch project with international potential and no sales agent attached

The Rise and Shine Award goes to HOUSE NO.7, directed by Rama Abdi and produced by Hazar Yazji.

 On their motivation for choosing HOUSE NO.7, the jury said:

“In a post-war world where the conflict has faded from the headlines, the project reminds us that its aftermath still shapes lives in profound ways. Through the intimate struggle of three young women seeking freedom within the walls of their fragile sanctuary, it crafts a powerful tale of resilience, sisterhood, and the pursuit of normalcy in a place where even safety can become a prison. The RISE AND SHINE AWARD goes to HOUSE No.7 by Rama Abdi.”

The Unifrance/Titrafilm Doc Award totaling at nearly €5,500 in benefits for the best French production or co-production presented at CPH:FORUM 2025 goes to THE SALT OF THE SOUTH, directed by Rami Jarboui and produced by Ramzi Laâmouri & Julien Coquet.

On their motivation for choosing THE SALT OF THE SOUTH, the jury said:

 “With a distinctive cinematic language, the project weaves an urgent climate story through the intimate journey of a family whose bond with the sea transcends borders, revealing the lasting impact of colonial structures. Rooted in a local struggle with global resonance, it powerfully captures resilience in the face of ecological collapse and forced migration. The Unifrance / Titra Film award goes to THE SALT OF THE SOUTH by Rami Jarboui.”

The jury for the Rise and Shine and Unifrance/Titra Film Awards consisted of Patricia Drati (Producer/Director), Jarmila Outratová (Head of Industry at Ji.hlava IDFF) and Anna Berthollet (Founder & CEO of Lightdox Sales).

Millennium Docs Against Gravity Award

Millennium Docs Against Gravity Award is offering an award to a project selected from those presented at CHANGE. The prize includes industry accreditation to the 23rd MDAG for two team members, as well as accommodation and travel expenses and a place at the main pitching session, the Progress Pitching Session at MDAG Industry, along with preparatory training with tutors.

The Millennium Docs Against Gravity Award goes to MISSING IN ACTION, directed by Marharyta Melnychuk & Kateryna Holovko and produced by Aliona Kachkan.

In addition, three awards dedicated to the CPH:LAB project were handed out at the CPH:LAB Prototype Pop-up Event in Odd Fellow Palace on March 24.

The Onassis ONX Studio Award

The ONASSIS ONX STUDIO AWARD consists of supporting one CPH:LAB project of the ongoing edition (2024/2025) by providing 10 hours of online mentorship over the course of a year by the studio team in NY and Athens and be split between ONX team members to provide a broader range of expertise to the selected team. Moreover, the winning team will have studio access to the ONX studio in NY or the newly established studio in Athens that will open in the fall 2025.

The award goes to THE PLACE BEYOND by Elena Lyubarskaya & David Steiner.

The award was handed out by Anastasia Mavrogiannis (Innovation Officer at the Onassis Foundation).

The Sunny Side of the Doc Award

In partnership with Sunny Side of the Doc, CPH:LAB awarded the prize to A SANCTUARY OF STUFF by Francesca Tremulo & Eszter Várhidi.

The winners will attend the 36th Sunny Side of the Doc to present their work in a case study. This marketplace celebrates digital storytelling and offers a networking platform for documentary innovation. 

The award was handed out by Aurélie Reman (Managing Director of Doc Services).

The Newimages – Forum Des Images Award

For the fourth year in a row, CPH:LAB and the NewImages Festival, Forum des Images, jointly awarded a project. 

This year, the award goes to BECOMING LUCIEN,  directed by Lucien Pin & Alex Haugmard and produced by Thibault Elie.

The selected CPH:LAB project will be invited to participate in the XR Development Market 2025 of the NewImages Festival to meet partners across different industries and artistic disciplines, to further develop their ideas and collaborations, and enhance their visibility. 

The award was handed out by Ellen Kuo (Head of XR Market at NewImages Festival).