January 21, 2026

This past weekend, DokuFest hosted the 12th edition of the European Young Audience Award (formerly known as the Young Audience Award). Once again, DokuFest successfully placed Prizren and Kosovo on the international map, joining 33 other European countries and numerous cities in this prestigious event.

Photo: V. B.

As part of the European Film Awards family, the ceremony saw global participation. DokuFest’s Head of DokuLab, Eroll Bilibani, attended the official award ceremony in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday, January 17. Locally, DokuFest gathered 50 young participants, aged 12–14, to screen the three nominated films. This year’s selection focused heavily on poignant social themes.

THE NOMINATED FILMS

Arco: An animated feature directed by Ugo Bienvenu (France). Set in the year 2075, the story follows ten-year-old Iris, who witnesses a mysterious boy in a rainbow suit falling from the sky. The boy, Arco, hails from an idyllic future where time travel is possible. Iris protects him and searches for a way to help him return to his own time.

I Accidentally Wrote a Book: Directed by Nóra Lakos (Hungary, Netherlands). This inspiring tale follows 12-year-old Nina, who discovers the healing power of writing. Through her creative journey, Nina explores her family history, confronts long-suppressed grief regarding her late mother, and finds her own voice. The film utilizes a unique blend of live-action and animation to celebrate the magic of storytelling.

Siblings: Directed by Greta Scarano (Italy). The story follows Irene, who must leave her life in Rome to return to her hometown of Rimini to care for her 40-year-old autistic brother, Omar. However, Omar has a different plan: he wants to prove he can live independently. He convinces Irene to help him navigate an intensive “adulthood course” so he can pursue his dream of becoming a famous singer through a talent show.


THE JURY AND WINNERS

The event’s participants were students from the “Gani Saramati” High School in Prizren. After viewing the films, they acted as the official jury, casting their votes via the Votemo platform. During the global ceremony held that same day, the results were announced: Siblings was crowned the winner of the European Young Audience Award. Arco received the award for Best Animated Film.
 

ADDITIONAL SUCCESS FOR DOKUFEST

DokuFest is also proud to announce that "Fiume o Morte!", directed by Igor Bezinović (Croatia, Slovenia, Italy), has won the Best European Documentary Award. The film was previously screened in Kosovo during the 24th edition of DokuFest in August 2025. Looking ahead, DokuFest remains committed to its collaboration with the European Film Academy, continuing its mission to promote and support local filmmakers on the international stage.