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| Welded Together Photo: Courtesy of Sheffield DocFest |
Anastasiya Miroshnichenko’s Welded Together has won the Grand Jury prize at this year's Sheffield DocFest.
The jury described the film, about a woman's attempts to reconnect with her estranged family as: “A portrait of resilience and strength – both of the main character and of a community that stands in solidarity. The film highlights the contrast between the generosity of the people and the harsh realities of alcoholism in the Belarussian society. An honest and delicate portrayal of a young woman desperately trying to hold her family "welded together".”
The film was among 51 that had its world premiere at the 32nd edition of the festival. The jury, which comprised director Andrew Jarecki, producer Rémi Grellety, and Tomoko Okutsu (International Co-Production and Acquisitions Producer, NHK) also gave a special mention to Karla Murthy's The Gas Station Attendant, about her father, which they described "an intimate and sincere portrait of both a family and US society".
The International First Feature Grandy Jury award was given to Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson for Guatemalan film Comparsa about women's attemtps to rally a community against gender-based violence through art and protest.
The jury said: “The film that we chose celebrates the power of resilience of a community, while shedding light on an unknown story of systemic gender-based violence.
"It’s a film that introduces us to amazing characters, smart, sensitive, with an astonishing inner force that is an inspiration to push for change against all odds. The movie will leave us with a much needed and powerful sense of hope.”
The Special Mention went to Carmela And The Walkers, directed by Luis Herrera, which charts an Ecuadoran woman's opening of her home to Venezuelan migrants.
The full list of winners is as follows:
International Competition - Grand Jury Award: Welded Together – dir. Anastasiya Miroshnichenko (France, Netherlands, Belgium, 2025)
Special Mention: The Gas Station Attendant – dir. Karla Murthy (USA, 2025)
International First Feature Competition - Grand Jury Award: Comparsa – dir. Vickie Curtis, Doug Anderson (Guatemala, USA, 2025)
Special Mention: Carmela And The Walkers (Carmela y los Caminantes) – dir. Luis Herrera, Esteban Coloma (Ecuador, 2025)
International Short Film Competition - Grand Jury Award: In A Whisper (Dans un Souffle) – dir. Catarina Gonçalves (Portugal, Hungary, Belgium, 2025)
Special Mention: Oscurana – dir. Violeta Mora (Honduras, Hungary, Portugal, Belgium, 2025)
Tim Hetherington Award - Sudan, Remember Us (Sudan Y’a Ghali) – dir. Hind Meddeb (France, Tunisia, Qatar, 2024)
International Virtual Reality Competition - Speechless Witness Of A Wandering Tree
Youth Jury Award - Runa Simi – dir. Augusto Zegarra (Peru, 2025)
Special Mention: The Stand – dir. Christopher Auchter (Canada, 2024)
Shine Global Children’s Resilience Award for Documentary – Comparsa – dir. Vickie Curtis, Doug Anderson (Guatemala, USA, 2025)
Special Mention: Carmela And The Walkers (Carmela y los Caminantes) dir. Luis Herrera, Esteban Coloma (Ecuador, 2025)
