ClujShorts Awards 2025
ClujShorts Awards 2025
ClujShorts Trophy
Film: Cava / Dig/ Sapă
Directed by: JANDRO
Country: Spain
Genre: Thriller
Jury motivation:
Awarded for the extremely effective way in which it tells a story that is both comic and tragic, using all the resources of cinematic expressiveness—script, cinematography, editing, direction—and delivering a powerful final twist.
Best Student Film
Film: Die Letzte Wette / The Last Bet
Directed by: Meike Wüstenberg
Country: Austria
Genre: Drama
Jury motivation:
Awarded for the craftsmanship with which this student film is constructed and for the stylistic maturity it demonstrates.
Best Animation
Film: J’ai Avalé Une Chenille / My Teenage Blackout/
Directed by: Basile Khatir
Country: France
Genre: Drama
Jury motivation:
Awarded for the way it combines a deeply moving tragic story with an animation style that may seem simple but fits perfectly with the innocence of the narrative voice.
Jury Award
Film: The Eggregores’ Theory/ Teoria eggregorilor
Directed by: Andrea Gatopoulos
Country: Italy
Genre: Animation
Jury motivation:
Awarded for the strong visual representation of a dystopian universe where words become deadly, for the memorable imagery in various shades of black and white, and for the innovative use of modern technology to critique those very technologies.
Persona Association Award
Film: Heaven Forbid
Directed by: Alexandra Bégin
Country: Canada
Genre: Drama
Persona Association’s Award Motivation
The Organiser’s Award is presented to a film that transcends the conventional boundaries of short storytelling and creates an authentic space for reflection, emotion, and humanity.
Through the eyes of a young girl who, after losing her mother, seeks meaning, faith, and hope
in her relationship with her father and her dog, Joan of Arc,
the film gently navigates themes such as grief, unconditional love, spirituality, and belonging.
The “baptism” ritual of the dog, performed in an empty church, becomes a pure act of faith.
A tender form of resistance against dogma.
A declaration of how suffering can be transformed into light.
For its emotional depth,
for the sincere questions it raises, and for the beauty with which it gives voice to innocence and absolute love, Heaven Forbid receives the Persona Association Award.
Best Direction
Film: L’enfant À La Peau Blanche / The Boy With White Skin
Directed by: Simon Panay
Country: Mali
Genre: Dramă / Drama
Jury motivation:
Awarded for a boldly undertaken approach, for a story full of meaning, and for the challenging shoots that were handled with great directorial creativity.
Best Screenplay
Film: Kidnapping John Malkovitch
Directed by: Koya Kamura
Country: France
Genre: Comedy
Jury motivation:
Awarded for a highly dynamic screenplay, for the wacky story imagined by the film team, filled with humorous lines, and for the way the writing highlighted specific aspects of the actors’ performances.
Best Editing
Film: Les Liens Du Sang / Blood Ties
Directed by: Hakim Atoui
Country: France
Genre: Horror
Jury motivation:
Awarded for the creative use of editing in building both horror and intensely comedic moments, elevating the film’s aesthetic impact.
Best Soundtrack
Film: À Toi Les Oreilles
Directed by: Alexandre Isabelle
Country: Canada
Genre: Dramă / Drama
Jury motivation:
Awarded for an ordinary story in which sound and music not only contribute to the narrative but actually become main characters and a source of salvation for the dysfunctional characters depicted.
Best Cinematography
Film: Ahora Vuelvo / Be Right Back
Directed by: Lucas Paulino & Gabe Ibañez
Country: Spain
Genre: Horror
Jury motivation:
Awarded for a film that, through its cinematography, masterfully uses all the resources of horror: slow shots, sudden transitions, detailed frame composition, and a haunting color palette.
Best Acting
Film: Vida o Teatre / Life Or Theater
Directed by: Guillem Manzanares
Actresses: Laia Manzanares & Miriam Iscla
Country: Spain
Genre: Drama
Jury motivation:
Awarded for the energetic performances of the two actresses, their expressive delivery, physical interaction, and the emotional complexity they bring to the screen.
Press Award (ex aeqvo)
Film: The Last Bet
Country: Austria
Genre: Drama
Jury motivation:
A film full of gentleness, that speaks about death without taking away the beauty of life. I truly appreciated how the end-of-the-world kind of light and the understated set design support and complete the story, alongside the carefully chosen music and the actors’ impeccable performances. Even though death is present in almost every line, humor and playfulness turn life into something bearable — even luminous. And the wisdom of old age reminds us that sometimes, a prize — one last piece of chocolate — is all we can wish for from life.
Film: Blood ties
Country: France
Genre: Horror
Jury motivation:
The creators demonstrate a very good understanding of (dysfunctional) family relationships and of the attempts to substitute them with electronic alternatives. We appreciated the flawless mastery of horror-introducing techniques, the perfect pacing of the story, and the happy ending: everyone dies.
Audience Award
Film: Jocurile Nomade/ Nomad Games
Country: România
Genre: Documentar
ClujShorts 2025 Schedule
ClujShorts 2025 Program
Thursday, April 10th
Friday, April 11th
Saturday, April 12th
Sunday, April 13th
Thursday, April 10th 2025
| 18:00 | Cinema Arta Tickets online |
Short film premiere Nomad Games — Beyond time Director: Alexandra Ghejan The screening is followed by discussions with the film’s director. Hosts: Ioana Cosman and Vasile Cipcigan Event organized in partnership with Nomadis |
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Friday, April 11th 2025
| 16:00 | Cinema Victoria Tickets can be bought at the cinema or online |
Short film screenings: Official selection ClujShorts 2025 (1h30m)
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| 17:00 | Cinema Mărăști Free admission within the limit of available seats. |
Short film screenings: Official selection ClujShorts 2025 (1h15m)
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| 17:30 | Casino Free admission within the limit of available seats. |
Opening of the International Short Film Festival ClujShorts 2025 |
| One Frame, One Story, A Story Installation opening – “Apocalypse after AI” Installation with works created with the help of artificial intelligence. Members of the ClujShorts 2025 team imagine a possible apocalypse caused, due to, generated by artificial intelligence, somewhere, sometime in the future… Exhibitors: Nicoleta Stoica, Camelia Chirteș, Alexandra Ghejan, Dana Ungur, Andra Dîrvariu, Natalia Radu, Rareș H. Stoica. Curator: Radu Sălcudean |
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| Presentation „Artificial Memories” Florin-Adrian Marc The work “Artificial Memories” explores the border between technology and emotion by creating a digital avatar that embodies the memory, personality and experiences of a real person. Using technologies such as MetaHuman, Blender, Unreal Engine and ConvAI, the avatar becomes a mediator between the past and the present, allowing natural interactions with the audience. Visitors can carry out authentic dialogues, thus having the opportunity to discover fragments of the personal history of a lived life, now preserved in a complex digital database. Through this work, the audience is invited to reflect on how artificial intelligence can preserve, reconstruct and reinterpret human memories, transforming them into a living and interactive legacy. The works will remain available for viewing and interaction until the ClujShorts 2025 Closing Gala, Sunday, April 13, 2025. |
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| ClujShorts Talks (1) Gabriel Ovidiu Lucaciu, specialist in computer security and cybernetics Behind the screen What is AI, AI pattern recognition, AI applicability in cinematography, awareness of the dangers posed by AI and the defense mechanisms we have at our disposal. |
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| Press conference in a friendly and familiar setting. ClujShorts 2025 opening cocktail — The joy of reunion |
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| 18:00 | Cinema Victoria Tickets can be bought at the cinema or online |
Short film screenings: Official selection ClujShorts 2025 (1h30m)
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| 18:00 | Cinema Mărăști Free admission within the limit of available seats. |
Short film screenings: Official selection ClujShorts 2025 (18+) (1h30m)
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| 20:00 | Casino Free admission within the limit of available seats. |
ClujShorts film screening with and about AI (1h10m)
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Saturday, April 12th 2025
| 14:00 | Cinema Victoria Tickets can be bought at the cinema or online |
Short film screenings: Official selection ClujShorts 2025 (1h30m)
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| 16:00 | Cinema Victoria Tickets can be bought at the cinema or online |
Short film screenings: Official selection ClujShorts 2025 (1h20m)
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| 17:00 | Cinema Mărăști Free admission within the limit of available seats. |
Short film screenings: Official selection ClujShorts 2025 (1h30m)
|
| 17:30 | Casino Free admission within the limit of available seats. |
ClujShorts Talks (2) Ciprian Turcu, software developer, AI practitioner and enthusiast Living with Artificial Intelligence: How Our Work and World Are Changing A broad view of artificial intelliegence influence beyond IT. Since when has artificial intelligence been around, where is it now, and where is it headed? |
| 18:00 | Cinema Victoria Tickets can be bought at the cinema or online |
Short film screenings: Official selection ClujShorts 2025 (1h15m)
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| 18:30 | Casino Free admission within the limit of available seats. |
ClujShorts Talks (3) dr. eng. Vivi Năstase – researcher in natural language processing and machine learning at Idiap Institute/University of Geneva Large Language Models and Artificial Intelligence What happens inside large language models and what is their connection to artificial intelligence? We will talk about language and why it is so difficult to process when it seems so simple to us, I will tell you secrets about chatGPT (spoiler alert: it learns based on a word game), what is the connection to artificial intelligence, and we will discuss your questions on the topic. |
| 19:00 | Cinema Mărăști Free admission within the limit of available seats. |
Short film screenings: Official selection ClujShorts 2025 (18+) (1h13m)
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| 20:00 | Casino Free admission within the limit of available seats. |
Short film screenings with and about AI: Official selection ClujShorts 2025 (1h30m)
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Sunday, April 13th 2025
| 18:30 | Casino | Closing Gala of the ClujShorts International Short Film Festival 2025 |
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| ClujShorts Talks (4) Prof. dr Rodica Mocan, Faculty of Theater and Film, University Babeș-Bolyai Artificial Intelligence between Cinematic Metafiction and Dystopian Reality Movies are a popular way to escape from a sometimes difficult reality. With the help of artificial intelligence, special effects and stories are becoming more impressive, making it harder to distinguish reality from fiction. This makes us think about how AI influences our perceptions and what this means for society, especially as the boundaries between real and imaginary blur. (rephrased to less formal, by GPT 4.0) |
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| Awards Gala ClujShorts 2025 Moderators: Dragoș Pop and Alexandra Ghejan |
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| Astronomical observations through a telescope: Let’s look up! Ștefan Pop – Coț, vice-president of astROmania, SRPAC, professional astrophotographer/photographer and personal brand administrator Coțmic with Mobile Astronomical Observatory and astrophotography. The exhibition of astro-photographs made by Ștefan Pop-Coț will be open from April 10-27. |
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| Concert Marquis Collective Marquis Collective is an instrumental band, led by Patricia Marchiș, that aims to redefine the boundaries of the fusion style. Each song combines complex jazz harmonies, electrifying rock riffs and funky grooves. Through an original approach, the group defies musical conventions, creating its own sound. Line up: Patricia Marchiș – Saxophone, Marius Roje – Piano, Cristina Lazariuc – Bass, Sebastian Arvai – Drums |
Winners of the ClujShorts 2023 Awards / ClujShorts 2023 Awards
- The best animation/Best Animation
Eeva, by Morten Tšinakov & Lucija Mrzljak, Croatia & Estonia
An animation in which lines, colors, sounds or sometimes silence speak of pain, loss and human relationships, telling the story accurately without any words.
- The best documentary/ Best Documentary
Courage, directed by Star Bazancir & Jasmina Pusök, Sweden
A documentary that elegantly combines real and raw testimonies with animation, telling in great depth the life story of some women, while keeping their identity hidden, and still creating the feeling that you see them, you know them.
- The best image/Best cinematography
Dispatchers, directed by Aitor Padilla, DOP Joan González, Spain, Thriller
„The best picture award” goes to a short film that manages to create an extremely accurate image of the action taking place off-screen, behind a telephone line.
- The best script/Best script
Parlez vous? directed and written by Aitor de Quintana, Spain, Comedy
The best script award goes to a Spanish film with only two characters, in which the dialogue, in French, turns, through an ingenious script, into a monologue, creating a comedy about lobbying and bribery.
- The best student short film/ Best student short
The Devil, directed by Jan Bujnowski, Poland
A well-knitted short film about love, even if it has in the title and as the main character the Devil.
- The best soundtrack/Best sound editing
The Tenant, directed by Lucas Paulino & Ángel Torres, music by Fede Pajaro, horror, Spain
Although the sound and the image of a film are equally important, in the horror short film the sound seems to be more relevant.
The short film „the Tenant” manages to convince us of the reality of the situation using the sound.
- Best montage/Best editing
Tria, directed by Giulia Grandinetti, edited by Niccolo Notariò, Italy, Drama
A film in which the editing connects sequences with different rhythms, creating a very impressive utopian life story, questioning the rules imposed by society, focusing on the sacrifice necessary to build a better life.
- Jury Award/Jury Award
Coup de pompe/ Flat tired, directed by Sylvain Robineau, France, Comedy
A charming comedy about relationships, friendship, trust, support, truth and lies.
- Persona Association/Persona Association
Tula, directed by Bea de Silva, Spain, Comedy
The Persona Association combines artistic activities with those promoting health, so this year we have chosen to give the Persona Association award to a very well created comedy, in which the students have a sex education lesson, held in a unique setting and taught by someone totaly unexpected.
- The best actor/Best actor
Solo, directed by Alberto Gross Molo, actor Pablo Molinero, Spain, Drama
For the way he manages to bring true parental affection into the context of the film, both as a father and as a son, creating a story filled with emotions.
- The best director/Best Director
Ask, directed by Naizabek Sydykov, Drama, Kyrgyzstan
A short film made in a minimalistic color scheme, meant to keep our memory of the recent history awake, reminding us how dangerous it is to loose our freedom, when obedience and fear replace the analytical spirit.
- Audience Award
Tula, directed by Bea de Silva, Spain, Comedy
- Press Award/Press Award
The Bank Loan/The Bank Loan, directed by Álex Escudero, Spain, Comedy
For the creative framing, the clever editing, the bright ending and the idea of giving up faith to believe in money. We also appreciated the humor and the twists and turns and the happy ending, based on the idea that heaven should not be looked for on the other side, because it is here. You just need a lot of money and gullible people, as for the heaven beyond. For all this, the Cluj-Shorts Press Award goes to the film El credito (The Bank Loan), by Alex Escudero.
- ClujShorts Trophy/ClujShorts Trophy 2023
The Bank Loan/The Bank Loan, directed by Álex Escudero, Spain, Comedy
For a film with twists and turns, that takes us through the entire range of emotions experienced in front of the big screen.