Biografilm 2026: Awards Announced for the 22nd Edition

The 22nd edition of Biografilm has come to a close, and the Festival’s juries and audiences have awarded some of the most outstanding films presented throughout this year’s programme.

The standout title of the edition was Everybody to Kenmure Street by Felipe Bustos Sierra, which received four major awards: the Best Film Award of the International Competition, the Hera “New Talents” Award for Best First or Second Feature in the International Competition, the Young Critics Award, presented by university students from Bologna, and the Audience Award for the International Competition.

The Best Film BPER Award | Biografilm Italia 2026 was presented to Storie per Sandro by Giacomo Boeri, recognised for its ability to use cinema as a powerful act of memory, affection and connection. The Hera “New Talents” Award | Biografilm Italia went to Lo spazio vuoto by Stefano P. Testa and Alberto Ceresoli, honoured for the precision of its cinematic language and the strength of its artistic vision.

Among the special jury awards, the Manifesto Award for the best film in the Contemporary Lives section was presented to Spirit Animal by Yuri Pirondi and Inês von Bonhorst, while the Tutta un’altra storia Pratello Award 2026 went to Meant to Be by Olivér Márk Tóth.

Among this year’s new initiatives, the Biografilm for Education Award, presented by a jury of secondary school teachers from Bologna, was awarded to Little Sinner by Daro Hansen and Thomas Papapetros. The newly established FIADDA – Accessible Perspectives Award | Biografilm Italia 2026, assigned by a jury of young Deaf members of FIADDA Emilia-Romagna, was awarded to Storie per Sandro by Giacomo Boeri.

The Special Arci Ucca Jury awarded its prize to Ampio appartamento in palazzo di pregio by Tiziano Locci and Tito Puglielli, while the distribution prize TOP DOC – The Beauty of Documentary Cinema went to Tough Love by Valerio Bonelli, which also received the Audience Award | Biografilm Italia 2026.

The Guerrilla Choice Award | Biografilm 2026, presented by the Festival’s volunteers, was awarded to Soap Fever by Inka Achté.

As for the audience awards, in addition to the recognition received by Everybody to Kenmure Street and Tough Love, the Audience Award | Biografilm Contemporary Lives was presented to American Doctor by Poh Si Teng, while the Audience Award | Biografilm Art & Music went to Broken English by Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth.

Once again, Biografilm also presented its Celebration of Lives Awards to individuals whose lives and work have left a significant mark on contemporary culture. This year’s honourees were legendary Hollywood casting director Bonnie Timmermann, acclaimed Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, one of the most powerful voices in contemporary cinema, and actress Milena Vukotic, whose extraordinary career has spanned film, theatre and television.

Awards were also presented during the eleventh edition of Bio to B – Industry Days, Biografilm’s professional event dedicated to networking and exchange within the audiovisual sector. The Make It Real Award was presented to Marco Visalberghi, founder and CEO of DocLab, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to documentary production.

The 22nd edition of Biografilm concludes with a rich and diverse list of award-winning films that reflects the variety of stories, perspectives and cinematic languages showcased throughout the Festival, once again confirming cinema as a powerful space for encounter, reflection and participation.