Sheffield DocFest delivers the biggest prize on the doorstep

The Grand Jury Prize for the Sheffield DocFest International Competition was awarded to Who Knocks, marking the directorial debut of Maja Novaković from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

An emotional Novaković accepted the award during a ceremony on Sunday night that also saw awards for “The Boy and the Suit of Lights” and “No Other Land,” the latter of which previously won the top prize for documentary at the Film Festival from Berlin.

“Thank you to my small but very brave team,” said a visibly moved Novaković. “I do not know what to say. I am so happy and excited and, I must admit, confused. I need a brandy.”

The film, At the Door of House, Who Will Come Knocking, focuses on an elderly man named Emin and his equine companion, described as his “only true confidant”. Jurors praised the film for its cinematic excellence, noting how the director slowly unfolds a story of isolation and trauma against a backdrop of beauty and deep historical scars. They called Novaković an up-and-coming director to watch.

In addition to Novaković’s win, “The Boy and the Suit of Lights” took home the Grand Jury Prize for First International Film. Directed by Inma De Reyes, the film follows Borja, a boy from a small Spanish town encouraged by his grandfather to pursue bullfighting. De Reyes described the film as a reflection of Borja’s internal struggle between family expectations and his own personality, capturing his journey to adulthood.

The Tim Hetherington Award, named after the late British photojournalist killed in Libya, went to No Other Land. Directed by the Palestinian-Israeli collective Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Szor, the documentary presents the lives of Palestinian villagers in Masafer Yatta, an area in the occupied West Bank. The film has already won numerous awards, including top prizes at the Berlinale and Millennium Docs Against Gravity in Poland.

“Flowers,” directed by José Cardoso, won the Grand Jury Prize for International Short Film, making it eligible for the Oscar. This year’s Sheffield DocFest, the UK’s most prestigious documentary festival, featured 48 world premieres and numerous international, European and UK premieres.

The full list of winners announced Sunday evening includes:

International competition (Jury’s Grand Prize):
The Grand Jury Prize for the International Competition was awarded to “At the door of the house that will come knocking”, directed by Maja Novaković. The jury, consisting of Heather Haynes, Mohamed Saïd Ouma and Havana Marking, praised the film for its artistic vision and brave storytelling.

Special Mention: Mother City, directed by Miki Redelinghuys and Pearlie Joubert, was recognized for the courage, passion and commitment of the filmmakers.

Primary International Feature Film Competition:
The Grand Jury Prize for the International First Feature Film Competition went to “The Boy and the Suit of Lights”, directed by Inma de Reyes. The jury, which includes Liselot Verbugge, Kristine Barford and Diego Pino Anguita, praised the film for its visually stunning reflection on culture and society.

Special mention: “Silent Men,” directed by Duncan Cowles, was noted for its vulnerable approach to a sensitive subject.

International short film competition:
The Grand Jury Prize for the International Short Film Competition was awarded to “Flori”, directed by José Cardoso. The jury, made up of Andy Mundy-Castle, Lindsay Poulton and Moustapha Sawadogo, praised the film’s strong sense of purpose and style.

Special mention: “Dancing Palestine,” directed by Lamees Almakkawy, was recognized for its fresh perspective on Palestine and its culture.

Tim Hetherington Award:
The Tim Hetherington Award went to No Other Land, directed by Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor and Hamdan Ballal. The jury, including Joan Parsons, Toni Kamau and Mariia Tsypiashchuk, praised the film for its collaboration and strong storytelling.

International Virtual Reality Competition:
The prize for the International Virtual Reality Contest went to “Perinatal Dreaming. Understanding Country”, created by Marianne Wobcke, Volker Keuchelmeister and Lucia Barrera. The jury, consisting of Abby Sun, John O’Shea and Zinha Morgan-Bennett, praised the work for its cultural and ancestral knowledge.

Jury Prize for Youth:
The Youth Jury Prize went to “HAIYU – Rebel Singer Mariem Hassan and the Fight for a Free Western Sahara”, directed by Alex Veitch, Brahim B. Ali, Mohamedsalem Uered and Anna Klara Åhrén. The youth jury appreciated the film’s hopeful message and authentic portrayal.

Special Mention: Life on the Edge, directed by Johnny Langenheim and Sebastian Feehan, was recognized for championing Indigenous stories and mental health awareness.

Winners of the 2024 pitch included Vikram Singh’s ‘Camels of the Sea’, which won the Whickers Pitch, Film & TV Funding Award, and Chouwa Liang’s ‘Replica’, which received the Development Award.

First Prize for Podcast Pitch went to “Rewriting the Narrative” by Christina Hardinge and Second Prize went to “Degenerate” by Matt Durai.

The Channel 4 First Cut Pitch was won by Helen Waddell, securing a commission for her first 60 minute film.

Al Jazeera Documentary Channel’s inaugural co-production award went to ‘Kikuyu Land’ directed by Andrew H. Brown and Bea Wangondu.

Sheffield DocFest continues to be an important platform for documentary filmmakers, celebrating diverse voices and compelling stories from around the world.