Silk Road International Film Festival Announces 2025 Award Winners and Concludes its 13th Edition

It is with both joy and a touch of sadness that we mark the closing of the 13th annual Silk Road International Film Festival.  Once again, we were honoured to welcome filmmakers and audiences from across the globe to celebrate cinema Silk Road style in the beating heart of Dublin. 

This year, the festival proudly brought a vibrant blend of Middle Eastern and international storytelling to two iconic venues: the historic Trinity College Dublin and the renowned United Arts Club, a long-standing gathering place for Ireland’s artistic community.

Over the festival’s intimate run, filmmakers and audiences connected through a shared love of cinema, creating a lively creative hub within the city. Screenings sparked conversations, new friendships took root, and late-night discussions over Middle Eastern food from the beloved Silk Road Café became cherished memories. Much like the films showcased, the festival itself became a testament to the richness of life, culture, and artistic expression.

We are delighted to recognise the extraordinary talent presented this year and to announce the 2025 award recipients:

Awards

13th Silk Road International Film Festival “Lifetime Achievement Award”

Claire Denis

A – FEATURE
Best Feature Rosinante

Best Director –  Emine Yildirim – Apollon By Day Athena By Night

Best Actor – Yerlan Tuleutay – Abel (Kazakhstan)
Best Actress – Nida Chowdhry – Anxiety

B – DOCUMENTARY
Best Documentary – Going Long (Italy)

Best Director –  Wendy Lobel – Anxiety Club

C – ANIMATION
Best Animation – Korean Ancestral Rites (Korea)

Best Director – Taiah Hay – Night of the Living Fish

D – SHORT
Best Short Live Action – Nightfaces                                                                                                     

Best Short Documentary –  Leave Only Footprints 

Jury Special Mention – Salt 

Jury Special Mention – Can Lis – Utzon’s Hidden Masterpiece

Jury Special Mention – The Invitation

Jury Special Mention – The Tale of Pomegranate

Jury Special Mention – Meeting the Buddha 

Best Director – Niall Duffy Galar
Best Actor – Michael Harding – Where the Old Man Lives
Best Actress – Park Hye In – Stand at the Winter Sea

E – STUDENT FILM IRELAND
Best Student Film – The Real Cian Stanley

F – STUDENT FILM INTERNATIONAL
Best Student Film International – I Am (Cyprus)