IRANA, Sept 28 /ATA/ Film lovers, artists, and filmmakers came together on Saturday evening at the “Millennium” cinema for the awards ceremony of the 23rd Tirana International Film Festival, one of Albania’s most significant cinematic events.

Following days of excitement and approximately 250 film screenings, the festival organizers announced the winners.

The Best Director award at TIFF 2025 went to Ibër Deari from North Macedonia for the film *Everybody Calls Redjo*.

The Best Screenplay award was given to the 104-minute Greek production *Meat*, directed by Dimitris Nakos. The screenplay presents a realistic and compelling world, depicting turbulent human and social circumstances under a continuous dramatic tension. The character of Kristo, an Albanian, is thoughtfully crafted and portrayed with sensitivity. Through him, the screenplay raises questions about social divisions in the society we live in.

One of the unique features of TIFF is that the festival has the right to select a short film eligible for an Oscar. This year, TIFF’s selection was *Wonderwall* by Roisin Burns, which was awarded Best Short Film 2025.

The Best Live Action Short Film award went to *Blue Heart* by Samuel Suffren from Haiti. *Blue Heart* immerses viewers in a deeply emotional journey told from a highly focused perspective.

The Best Animation Short Film award was given to *God is Shy* by French filmmaker Jocelyn Charles. The film presents an original and unconventional story through a fresh and engaging narrative.

The Jury Prize went to *Always* by Deming Chen (USA). The jury praised the film for its profound and delicate sensitivity in portraying the inner world of a child from a poor farming family in China. Six years in the making, the film balances fragility and strength, capturing fleeting moments of loss, resilience, and imagination with rare sincerity.

The Best Documentary award was given to *Yalla Parkour*, a co-production from Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden, directed by Areeb Zuaiter.

The Best Albanian Short Film award went to *Summer Emperors* by Renato Balla, praised “for its playful interplay between cinematic language and music videos, exploring Albanian architecture and landscapes while entertaining the audience.”

Meanwhile, the Audience Choice Award was given to the Albanian film *The Champ* by Ermir Keta.

ATA continued its partnership as the official media partner for the 23rd edition of the Tirana International Film Festival.

/e,e/sm/