‘Sirât’ ‘One Golden Summer’ Win Awards at 61st Chicago International Film Festival

Spain’s Oscar submission, Sirât, directed by Oliver Laxe, has won the Gold Hugo for Best Film at the 61st Chicago International Film Festival.

In the film, a young woman goes missing at a rave and her father and brother brave the arid Moroccan desert landscape searching for her in a world on the brink of collapse.

Tunisia’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania, takes the Silver Jury Prize, with Mascha Schilinski’s Sound of Falling recognized with the Silver Hugo for Best Director and Best Sound.

In the New Directors Competition, Nastia Korkia’s Short Summer wins the Gold Hugo, and Karla Badillo’s Oca takes the Silver Hugo.

in the International Documentary Competition, recognizing the film’s unique mode of storytelling through video calls with Gazan photojournalist and poet Fatma Hassona, Sepideh Farsi’s Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk was awarded the Gold Hugo.

The Chicago Award went to Kevin Shaw’s One Golden Summer. Years after cheating allegations stripped a Chicago Little League Baseball team of their championship title, Shaw shines a vivid spotlight on the complex issues of race, power, and money prevalent in youth sports.

“Film has a singular power to illuminate our struggles, our will to overcome, and our shared humanity. The stories that unfolded on screens at the 61st Chicago International Film Festival embody that power, using the art form to confront the defining challenges of our global moment with determination and courage,” said Mimi Plauché, Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation Artistic Director of the Chicago International Film Festival. “It is especially gratifying to see Festival alumni honored for their achievements, including Oliver Laxe, Radu Jude, and Kaouther Ben Hania.”

The Chicago International Film Festival continues through Sunday, October 26, 2025

The full list of award winners at the 61st Chicago International Film Festival includes:

Chicago International Film Festival 2025 Winners

INTERNATIONAL FEATURE COMPETITION

Gold Hugo – Best Film
SIRÂT (France, Spain)
Dir. Oliver Laxe

Silver Hugo – Jury Prize
THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB (Tunisia, France)
Dir. Kaouther Ben Hania

Silver Hugo – Best Director
SOUND OF FALLING (Germany)
Dir. Mascha Schilinski

Silver Hugo – Best Male Performance
Wagner Moura, THE SECRET AGENT (Brazil, France, The Netherlands, Germany)

Silver Hugo – Best Female Performance
Eszter Tompa, KONTINENTAL ‘25 (Romania)

Silver Hugo – Best Screenplay
Paolo Sorrentino, LA GRAZIA (Italy)

Silver Hugo – Best Cinematography
Gergely Pálos, Director of Photography, SILENT FRIEND (Germany, Hungary, France)

Silver Hugo – Best Sound
SOUND OF FALLING (Germany)

Special Mention
MY FATHER’S SHADOW (U.K., Nigeria)
Dir. Akinola Davies Jr.

NEW DIRECTORS COMPETITION

Gold Hugo
SHORT SUMMER (Germany, France, Serbia)
Dir. Nastia Korkia

Silver Hugo
OCA (Mexico, Argentina)
Dir. Karla Badillo

Special Mention
THE GIRL IN THE SNOW (France)
Dir. Louise Hémon

INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

Gold Hugo
PUT YOUR SOUL ON YOUR HAND AND WALK (France, Palestine)
Dir. Sepideh Farsi

Silver Hugo
THE TALE OF SILYAN (North Macedonia)
Dir. Tamara Kotevska

OUTLOOK COMPETITION

Gold Q-Hugo
BOUCHRA (Italy, Morocco, U.S.)
Dirs. Orian Barki and Meriem Bennani

Silver Q-Hugo
A USEFUL GHOST (Thailand)
Dir. Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke

THE CHICAGO AWARD
ONE GOLDEN SUMMER (U.S.)
Dir. Kevin Shaw

SHORT FILM COMPETITIONS

Live Action Short Film Competition

Gold Hugo
THEM THAT’S NOT (U.S.)
Dir. Mekhai Lee

Silver Hugo
I’M GLAD YOU’RE DEAD NOW (France, Greece, Palestine)
Dir. Tawfeek Barhom

Documentary Short Film Competition

Gold Hugo
LANAWARU (Colombia, Mexico, U.S.)
Dir. Angello Faccini Rueda

Silver Hugo
VISITING HOURS (U.K.)
Dir. Carol Salter

Animated Short Film Competition

Gold Hugo
AUTOKAR (Belgium, France)
Dir. Sylwia Szkiłądź

Silver Hugo
ORDINARY LIFE (France, Japan)
Dir. Yoriko Mizushiri