The closing night of the Amsterdam Independent Film Festival 2025, now in its 8th year, took place this past Saturday evening with a packed theatre. As is tradition, the festival took place at Amsterdam’s LAB111 — the cult cinema located in a former anatomical pathology hospital — where it screened an eclectic selection of independent films from local and international filmmakers. 

 

Festival Director Kris De Meester looks back: "The 8th edition of the Amsterdam Independent Film Festival was nothing short of magical. It’s rare to witness such a full spectrum of emotions within one edition — from the stunned silence following The Steak, to the warm laughter during the heartfelt We Who Remain, and the collective gasp for air as Violet unfolded. That shared emotional journey between audience and filmmaker is, to me, the essence of cinema."

 

The Amsterdam Independent Film Festival is excited to share with you today the 2025 award winners. The jury panel has chosen the following films as this year's finest:

 

Best Narrative Feature Film: 

A Hunt For Hedgehogs (Hungary) by Mihály Schwechtje

 

Best Documentary Feature Film: 

My Partners (Estonia) by Eva Kübar

 

Best Narrative Short Film: 

Scenario (Japan) by Kazunori Miura

 

Best Documentary Short Film: 

Unscarred (Belgium) by Théo Roland

 

Best Director: 

The Cascade (Mexico) by Pablo Delgado

 

Best Acting: 

Laura Bakker in Marleen (Netherlands) by Jop Leuven

 

Best Underground Film: 

The Run Towards (Belarus) by Pavel Ausiyevich

 

Best Experimental Film: 

Goodbye / Nevesoma (United States) by Anastasia Bezhan

 

Best Super Short Film

The Steak (Canada, Iran) by Kiarash Dadgar

 

Best Dutch Film: 

In My Body (Netherlands) by Annelien Nijland

 

The Amsterdam Independent Film Festival would like to thank LAB111 and Velvet Room for their continued support, and all guests for coming out to enjoy another week full of independent cinema. See you all next year!

 

ABOUT AMSTERDAM INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

At the Amsterdam Independent Film Festival, we focus on film. The glitz and glamour of show business in the mainstream film festival can sometimes detract from the true purpose of the event — the celebration of creative film-making. The festival will bring independent artistic visions to an audience that demands a more fulfilling experience than the latest Hollywood fare.