International Festival of Films on Art (Le FIFA) 43rd edition Awards
Awards
Unveiling of the
Winners of the
43rd edition
of Le FIFA
The International Festival of Films on Art (Le FIFA) is pleased to announce the winners of its 43rd edition, which runs until March 23 in theatres and from March 21 to 30 online. This year, 14 feature films and 15 shorts were in the International Competition, and 7 feature films and 11 shorts were in the National Competition. They competed for one of eight prizes awarded by the jury: the Grand Prix, the Jury Prize, the Best Essay Award, the Best Portrait Award, the Best Canadian Feature Film Award, the Best Short Film Award, the Best Canadian Short Film Award and the Best Canadian Work Award.
“It is with great pleasure that we announce the winners of the 43rd edition of le FIFA. Our warmest thanks to all the members of the Jury for accepting our invitation to participate in the selection of this year’s winners”, said Jacinthe Brisebois, FIFA Director of Art Film Programming.
BEST SHORT FILM PRIZE
THE STORY OF NE KUKO by Festus Toll
Netherland | 2024 | 25 min | French, Lingala | Subtitles : English
“The award for the Best Short Film goes to The Story of Ne Kuko by Festus Toll for its powerful depiction of restitution and decolonization. The strong narrative with its use of mixed media gripped the jury from start to finish and thus stood out from a number of strong films that were in the running for the competition.”
Available online from march 21 to 30, 2025
SPECIAL MENTION
DOOR OF NO RETURN by Suzanne Smith and Sylvia Solf
USA | 2024 | 15 min | English
“The Jury would also like to give A Special mention to the film, Door of No Return by Suzanne Smith and Sylvia Solf, for the performance that evoked the pain and horrors associated with the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.“
Available online march 21 to 30, 2025
BEST ESSAY PRIZE
SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ÉTAT by Johan Grimonprez
Belgium, France, Netherland | 2024 | 2 h 30 min | French, English, Dutch, Russian, Spanish | Subtitles : French
“Soundtrack to a Coup d’État is a film with a powerful momentum, carried by an editing style as masterful as a jazz composition. A sweeping fresco where music becomes the guiding thread of a story as thoroughly documented as it is defiant. A burning manifesto against racism — absolutely essential, urgent, and necessary.“
Available online march 21 to 30, 2025
BEST PORTRAIT PRIZE
MICHEL GONDRY, DO IT YOURSELF by François Nemeta
France | 2023 | 1 h 23 min | French | Subtitles : English
“Michel Gondry Do It Yourself by François Nemeta is a film that reflects its subject: playful, inventive, and deeply generous. With the innocence of a child at play and the intelligence of an artist eager to share, Michel Gondry opens the doors to his world, where imagination reigns supreme and art is a playground accessible to all. This documentary celebrates an era, a style, and above all, a way of doing things — free, joyful, and resolutely Do It Yourself.”
Available online from March 21 to 30, 2025
JURY PRIZE
THE TIRANA CONSPIRACY by Manfredi Lucibello
Italy | 2024 | 1 h 11 min | Italian | Subtitles : English
“Even though it’s hard not to have trust issues after watching it, we loved being the victim of this rather unusual portrait. The Tirana Conspiracy by Manfredi Lucibello is a documentary that clandestinely delivers a reflection — far less trivial than it seems — on ethics, the importance of provocation as a driving force for creation, all while exposing the sometimes chilling cynicism of contemporary art.”
Available online from March 21 to 30, 2025
GRAND PRIZE
BALOMANIA by Sissel Morell-Dargis
Denmark, Spain | 2024 | 1 h 33 min | Portuguese | Subtitles : English
“There is much to say about this film, which does not merely unveil a clandestine artistic practice but captures its soul, fervor, and urgency. We were absolutely struck by the director’s Sissel Morell-Dargis keen eye and the authenticity of her storytelling, which make Balomania an incandescent film — at once an act of resistance, a tale of emancipation, and a declaration of love.”
Available online from March 21 to 30, 2025
BEST CANADIAN SHORT FILM PRIZE
ElleX / ElleY by Valeria Galluccio
Canada | 2024 | 11 min | No dialogue
“Unlike any other film we have seen, the strong direction results in an original, universal yet deeply personal work — a work that no one else could have made. ElleX / ElleY by Valeria Galluccio masterfully weaves together poetic language, dance, visuals, and animation with remarkable efficiency. The execution, from the precision of the dance to the sound design and visual effects, is exceptional and tells us an intimate story. It’s a breath of mystery and fresh air, culminating in a powerful moment of catharsis at the end, echoing the cycles of life and existence. Valeria’s skill as a director is as compelling as her performance as an actor.”
Available online from March 21 to 30, 2025
BEST CANADIAN FILM PRIZE
L’AVENIR by Emmanuel Schwartz
Canada | 2025 | 1 h 23 min | French | Subtitles : English
“Through its originality of treatment, remarkable editing, and the impressive performances of these young actors, L’Avenir by Emmanuel Schwartz offers multiple layers of interpretation, granting authentic insight into this stage of life. It portrays real adolescents rather than the idea of adolescence that adults project. The strength of the mise en abyme between making a student film and the unpredictability of the narrative further enhances this sense of sincerity and spontaneity.”
Available online from March 21 to 30, 2025
SPECIAL MENTION
SO SURREAL, BEHIND THE MASKS réalisé par Neil Diamond et Joanne Robertson
Canada | 2024 | 1 h 28 min | English
“For the privileged insight into Yup’ik culture, and the remarkable wealth of information it offers, the jury has decided to award a special mention to So Surreal, Behind the Masks by Neil Diamond and Joanne Robertson, that highlights the importance of the subject and the depth of engagement with the characters and decolonial history. It also sheds a new light on the links between surrealism and indigenous cultures.”
Available online march 21 to 30, 2025
Trophies of the 43rd Edition
The International Festival of Films on Art is committed to promoting Quebec’s artistic creation and wishes to highlight the talent of local artists. For the design of the 43rd edition trophies, the choice fell on Josée Desjardins, multidisciplinary artist. By collaborating with the artist, Le FIFA wishes to pay tribute to the richness of Quebec’s crafts.
