KIIFF Team
Sep 10, 2025
Best of Fest: The Dreams Directed by Mariia Baeva
Young ballerina Alicia dreams of performing on stage, in the evenings she watches recordings of productions and dances in front of the TV, presenting herself as a prima in «Swan Lake». In reality, not everything is so easy, she has strict parents, and in school, she is required to do everything. The girl has a favorite antique toy - a tin soldier with whom she can talk and share all her anxieties. One day, after falling asleep, Alicia finds herself in a haunted castle and is met by a boy soldier who resembles her toy from the shelf. He tells her about a monster king who cries and plunges the castle into darkness with his sorrows. Together with a new friend, the girl sets out on a journey to break the spell from the monster and the castle. Only a young ballerina who lives the dream of being on stage can do it.
Best Feature Film Winner: Dreamland Directed by Mohsen Enayati
Dream Land is the story of a boy named Arat who decides to save his city from destruction. Pasha, his funny and cute friend, and Tamara, the smart and clever girl of the story, are his companions on this path.
Best Feature Documentary Winner: HOME: The Story of Zak Moradi Directed by Trevor Whelan
Home, The Story of Zak Moradi’, explores the journey of a refugee, from fleeing war to building a new home and eventually returning to reconnect with his homeland.
This documentary is passionately told by Zak, his brother Mokthar and sister, Halala.
During the long and drawn out war between Iran and Iraq, Zak’s parents were forced to flee and leave everything behind in their homeland of Iran for fear of death. After a decade of surviving in the camps, on the 16th January 1991, Zak Moradi is born into a Kurdish refugee camp in Ramadi, Iraq and on the very next day, the Gulf War begins. It is here, they suffer many more years of hardship under the oppressive Saddam Hussein regime, until Zak and his family are given a chance at a new life in Ireland.
Best Feature Screenplay Winner: The Romanian Incident Written by Simon King
A Cold War KGB agent arrives at a Romanian hotel during a raging blizzard only to become involved in an assassination, a murder, and a collection of international spies.
Best Short Film Winner: The Dreams Directed by Mariia Baeva
Young ballerina Alicia dreams of performing on stage, in the evenings she watches recordings of productions and dances in front of the TV, presenting herself as a prima in «Swan Lake». In reality, not everything is so easy, she has strict parents, and in school, she is required to do everything. The girl has a favorite antique toy - a tin soldier with whom she can talk and share all her anxieties. One day, after falling asleep, Alicia finds herself in a haunted castle and is met by a boy soldier who resembles her toy from the shelf. He tells her about a monster king who cries and plunges the castle into darkness with his sorrows. Together with a new friend, the girl sets out on a journey to break the spell from the monster and the castle. Only a young ballerina who lives the dream of being on stage can do it.
Best Short Documentary Winner: Storyteller Directed by Shahrzad Arshadi
Dengbêj is the story of two young women from the mountains of Kurdistan. Peyman, a brave and kind leader with a soul as beautiful as the great mountains of Kurdistan and Viyan a lionheart and storyteller with a magical voice from heaven.
Best Short Animation Winner: Making Emmie Smile Directed by Abby Vo, John Vo, Ken Yoffe, Ellen Weisberg
In "Making Emmie Smile," family members attempt to make the child happy by offering her different material things, only to succeed in getting the child to smile by offering personal attention. The basic them of "Making Emmie Smile" is the importance of fulfilling your child's emotional needs.
Best Kurdish Film/Filmmaker Winner: Buried Steps Directed by Arastoo Mafakheri
A Kurdish man and woman hide the body of their fighting daughter in a suitcase and want to take her to their homeland and bury her at a wedding. But they are caught by border guards on the Iraqi-Turkish border.
Best Short Script Winner: The Scapegoat Written by Ali Fard
A woman in her 40s, who has confessed to the murder of her brother-in-law, returns to the scene of the crime with the investigation team to reconstruct the murder.
In the courtyard of their home, she reenacts the killing in front of her son.
After the reenactment is complete, and at the request of the investigator, the boy recounts the events differently—offering another version of what happened.
Best Director Winner: Mariia Baeva For The Dreams
Bayeva Maria - writer, director, singer. Born in Nadym, YNAO. She studied in Spain, at the ADOS Academy, specialty «History of Spain», then graduated from the Saint Petersburg State Institute of Cinema and Television in the specialty «Dramaturgy», in-depth studied the history of cinema. In 2019, she published her book, but tries to keep it quiet. She worked at the open-air film studio «LenDok», at the moment she creates projects in collaboration with Alexey Neymyshev (Neymaxxmultimedia, future projects «Ernest», «Ether»). He won several awards at the KIT Festival for his screenplays. She was one of the writers in development and in the public field of the game Theo. Shot documentary film. Polyglot. There is a music group - AVLU.
Best Leading Actress Winner: Maral Baniadam in In the Arms of the Tree
Maral Baniadam is known for The Salesman (2016), Parvin (2024) and In the Arms of the Tree (2023).
Best Leading Actor Winner: S.N. Watts in Face the Music
Shannon Nathaniel Watts (S.N. Watts) is an independent filmmaker based in Southern Sydney, Australia. As the founder of S.N. Watts Productions, Shannon has made a name for himself by blending the horrific, hilarious, dangerous, and absurd in narratives that explore personal truths. Drawing from diverse influences—literature, film and music his work is characterised by a fearless embrace of artistic ultra-violence, surrealism, and a commitment to pushing storytelling boundaries. Shannon's unique style captivates and challenges audiences, offering controversial art that leaves a lasting impact in the realms of film and visual arts.
Best Supporting Actress Winner: Sarah Jane Starr in Face the Music
Sarah Jane Starr is known for Face the Music (2025).
Best Supporting Actor Winner: Horace Gold in Popcorn Shrimp and Dishwater
Horace Gold is a multi-hypenated artist and self identifying bad boy (he cries a lot, don't tell him I told you that). He's a Meisner trained actor, he can be seen in NETFLIX'S 'MONSTER: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story', various national commercials, and also at the Silver Lake Erewhon, eating a salad. Horace is a Berklee College of Music trained jazz vocalist and published songwriter for pop artists. When not taking over the world, Horace spends his time plotting how to take over the world.
Best Cinematographer Winner: Rua Meegan For HOME: The Story of Zak Moradi
Rua Meegan is known for Sing Street (2016), Frank (2014) and Tommy (2020).
Best Editor Winner: Hussain Alahmed For Once Upon A Time
Hussain Al Ahmad , Filmmaker and actor I started acting when i was 13 years old , and i started directing when i was 19 years old , since i was young , i have loved photography , but my actual start was in 2021 in the movie the unknown , which is my first directing movie , i got 28 Awards for the best short film , best director , best editor , more than 40 nominations around the world , all my films are produced by individuals only , there are no production companies ( independent films ).
Best Coustm Designer Winner: Sofia Tyutrina For The Dreams
Sofia Tyutrina is known For The Dreams (2025).
Best Original Score Winner: John Hresc For Face the Music
John Hresc is a sound designer and owner of the Sydney Sound Brewery a sound studio based in Sydney Australia. John's work includes recording, editing, sound designing and sound mixing, and spans, indie art house classics to award winning documentaries and features.. This versatility allows him to bring a dynamic energy to his work giving each project a unique and experienced approach.
Best Sound Designer Winner: Drew Arnett For Popcorn Shrimp and Dishwater
Drew Arnett is known for Emily the Criminal (2022), Absolution (2015) and The Utopia Conspiracy (2011).
Honorable Mention Winner: Washed My Hands of It Directed by Elmira Laki
Elmira Laki, an interdisciplinary artist originally from Iran and now based in Montreal, explores personal and cultural themes through various mediums, including film, video installation, performance, and drawing. Currently pursuing an MFA in Intermedia at Concordia University, Elmira created "Yesterday," the first film in her trilogy "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow," reflecting on her life in Iran, including recent uprisings. Alongside this trilogy, Elmira has embarked on "Today," a long-term project. She also produces standalone works like "Washed my hands of it," contrasting her past in Iran with her present life in Montreal, and "Can You See Me?”, a video created from a performance exploring human observation in public spaces.