Photo by Darko Velazquez
Closing Gala Ceremony of the 4th Return International Film & Art Festival: The Winners Are Announced!
Weimar, October 26, 2024 – From October 24 to 26, 2024, the Kino mon ami in Weimar once again became a vibrant hub for international film and art enthusiasts. This year’s festival, themed “Humanity – If So, Why?”, showcased a curated selection of feature films, animations, and documentaries that captivated audiences. From over 600 submissions across 80 countries, 27 outstanding works were selected and honored across various categories.
The Award Winners at a Glance:
Best Animation: Let’s Play by Marzieh Rasekh
Best Documentary: LITTLE SAHARA by Emilio Martí López
Best Fiction: I See Them Bloom by Mykyta Gibalenko
Audience Award: Storm & Stress by Wouter Wirth
The awards ceremony celebrating these remarkable works was presented by a prestigious jury: award-winning actress Kristin Suckow, known from over 50 film and television productions and a nominee for the Max Ophüls Prize; the seasoned dramaturge Sabine Burg de Sousa Ferreira, whose work has been showcased at Cannes; and the renowned filmmaker Uli Decker, whose film ANIMA – My Father’s Clothes received critical acclaim.
A special highlight was the festive street party in front of the mon ami venue, where the vibrant festival atmosphere was enhanced by stunning facade lighting.
The festival also featured an impressive three-day exhibition of painter Marzieh Shabani’s artwork on the theme of “Apocalypse” within the Kino mon ami. Five different film segments offered an engaging mix of genres and themes, enriched by lively film discussions with attending directors, producers, and actors.
The festival culminated with a grand gala award ceremony on October 26, 2024, in the historic Schießhaus, where the best films of the festival were celebrated.
Complementing the film program was a diverse series of workshops covering topics such as animation, film production, film marketing, and radio production. One notable workshop, titled “Strengthening Collaboration – Tension as a Creative Compass,” inspired participants to view creative tension as a driving force for innovation.
The 4th Return International Film & Art Festival left a profound message about the power of humanity and the unifying impact of art and film.
Special thanks to the main sponsors and partners – the Thuringian State Chancellery, the City of Weimar, Sparkasse Mittelthüringen – as well as our professional partners Nivre Film Studio, Bigchild Animation Company, and Bauhaus University Weimar. Their generous support made the festival’s high quality possible. We sincerely thank everyone who supported us and look forward to the next edition of the festival!