BAKUNAWA FEST 12 AWARD WINNERS
GRAND BAKUNAWA FOR BEST SHORT FILM
MISSING PARTS (Lélek a Mélyben) by Tamás Rolfesz (2025) Hungary 13:48min Sci-Fi, Animation
The Great Divine Monster - The mythical Bakunawa - shines upon the best manifestation of the phantasm in this animation from Hungary by Tamas Rolfesz. Set in a fictional civilization that reminds one of Aztec/Incan empires, the action follows a solitary figure as it escapes his own death during a sacrificial ceremonial. He then goes through a maze of tunnels where a serpent-like coil becomes part of his journey to freedom and transformation. The movement through space is in itself a joy and challenge to behold as we rally this being through a path that is seemingly endless and yet makes sense. Is there ever a light at the end of this proverbial myth or is this the cautionary tale about we who create are also the destroyer?
GRAND JURY PRIZE
PORTRAIT by Daniel Tan Wen Long (2025) Singapore 14min Supernatural, Drama
The Jury puts on their mourning clothes properly seduced as they were by the somber tale of a photographer who has inherited a special photographic studio. Contained in this 14-minute time-space continuum is the ‘Portrait’ by Daniel Tan Wen, where he shoots people’s faces who are on their way to leaving this earth to face eternity. The sad artist has to contend with his wife who insists on visiting him in his studio but the photographer knows he has to stop her otherwise fate will step in and things will never be the same again. Sorrow is the true color of this fading art. For this, the Grand Jury Prize is given this year to the Portrait.
BEST HORROR FILM
The Devil Room (La habitación del macho cabrio) by Duban Pinzón (2025) Colombia
From Colombia comes The Devil Room by Duban Pinzon, a haunting and accomplished work that introduces the face of terror as seen through the eyes of an innocent boy. With striking restraint and emotional clarity, the film dares to look the devil directly in the eye, transforming fear into a profound reflection on childhood, faith, and vulnerability. In doing so, it reveals not only the presence of evil, but also the fragile understanding of life and the inevitability of death, making 'The Devil Room' a deeply unsettling and unforgettable cinematic experience worthy of recognition, hereby judged as Best Horror Film.
CITATION FOR ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
FOMO/Armageddon by Michael Niels Køppen Kunov (2023) Denmark 12min Sci-Fi, Drama
Anchored by a powerful and deeply unified cast, this film portrays a family confronting the end of the world on a day meant for celebration - a beloved’s birthday turned into a moment of collective reckoning. Through finely balanced performances, the ensemble captures intimacy, denial, love, and grief with devastating honesty. Each actor strengthens the other, creating a final, tragic harmony that transforms an apocalyptic premise into a profoundly human experience.
Cast:: Justin Geertsen; Sandra Halle, Stine Schrøder Jensen, Isabella Møller Hansen, Edwin Back, Amanda Emilie Christensen, Lauge Lindegård Weber
CITATION FOR MYTHIC STORYTELLING
River People by Peter Toyat (2025) Malaysia 13min Folk Tale, Drama, Indigenous
​
Special Citation is given to Malaysia’s The River People. Directed by Peter Toyat, the film weaves a richly imagined mythical kingdom with the coming-of-age journey of a young man in search of heroism and identity. Central to its narrative is the profound undercurrent that the greatest fear of people is the loss of their land and, ultimately, their sense of self. Through evocative world-building and cultural resonance, The River People stands as a powerful reflection on heritage, belonging, and the fragile bond between people and the land they call home.
SPECIAL MENTION
Gökotta by Kay Oceans (2025) Spain 14min
Live Action Fantasy, Animation
In Gokotta, we find our way back to childhood - the birthplace of the purest fantasy. Through a tender and imaginative lens, the filmmaker, embodied in the young man, returns to the past, which fortunately becomes his present as well. Directed by Kay Oceans, Gokotta reminds us that fantasy is not an escape from reality, but a return to wonder, memory, and the enduring magic of youth.