Scroll for the full list of winners.

Thank you [to] my small but very brave film crew, Novakovic said, holding back tears.

I dont know what to say.

‘At the Door of the House, Who Will Come Knocking,’ and ‘The Boy and the Suit of Lights’

‘At the Door of the House, Who Will Come Knocking,’ and ‘The Boy and the Suit of Lights’Sheffield DocFest

Im so happy and thrilled and, must admit, confused.

I need a brandy.

Wow!

Randy Barbato (left) and Fenton Bailey, World of Wonder founders

Director Maja Novaković accepts the Grand Jury Prize for International Competition at Sheffield DocFest.Matthew Carey

An emerging director to watch.

The Boy and the Suit of Lightswon the Grand Jury Award for the International First Feature.

I have seen him grow into a young adult in front of the camera.

Sheffield DocFest, the most prestigious all-documentary festival in the U.K., concludes its 31stedition on Monday.

This year, DocFest showcased 48 world premieres, along with numerous international, European, and U.K. premieres.

This Award is Academy Award accredited and honors films that best display strong artistic vision and courageous storytelling.

An emerging director to watch.

Special Mention:Mother Citydir.

Inma de Reyes (Scotland, UK, 2024).

This competition honors the future of non-fiction film and celebrates promising new talent and is supported by Netflix.

It triggersan inner discussion, challenging our ideas about the modern world versus fading traditions and beliefs.

Special Mention:Silent Mendir.

International Short Film Competition

The Grand Jury Award for the International Short Film Competition was awarded toFlowersdir.

Jose Cardoso (South Africa, Ecuador, 2024).

This Academy Award, BAFTA and BIFA accredited award honors the best creative approaches in documentaries under 40 minutes.

The director conveyed a clear and urgent sense of storytelling.

The jury left feeling inspired and thoughtful.

Special Mention:Dancing Palestinedir.

Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal (Palestine, Norway, 2024 ).

This is not the only time that these words are uttered.

Journalistic docs witness what we must not forget, erase or rewrite.

International Virtual Reality Competition

The International Virtual Reality Competition honors the best virtual reality non-fiction work.

The award was presented toPerinatal Dreaming.

Understanding Country,artistsMarianne Wobcke,Volker Keuchelmeister, Lucia Barrera(Australia, 2023).

They curated a selection of six films considered in a mentored deliberation.

The film displays music as a source of resistance and refuge for the Saharawi people.

The film challenges the still very present view of women of colour as oppressed figures.

Special Mention:Life on the Edgedir.

Vikram Singh (India); the development prize of 20,000 went toReplica,dir.

Chouwa Liang (China).

I believe it was the highest ever.

It was a huge privilege to decide on a winner amongst winners.

Alan Whicker would have been intrigued by this process and extremely proud of the outcome.

This film offers a groundbreaking exploration of AI relationships in China through the lives of three women.

The authenticity and depth of the narrative are elevated by the directors personal connection to the subject.

Special Mention:Highness and Excellencydir.

Sajad Imani (Iran).

The production process is highly original and is hugely well thought through.

It has a global take on an issue that needs more attention.

Special Mention:Keening: The Song Before The Strandingby Aoife Glass and Sam Gare (UK/Scotland).

The Jury said the project is aBeautiful and poetic approach to natural history.

It honors the bravery needed to look backward even as we search for new paths.