YIDFF 2025
October 9–16
YIDFF 2025 Programs
- International Competition: 15 outstanding films selected from entries from around the world.
- New Asian Currents: Introducing the works of Asian documentary filmmakers without restrictions on format or length.
- Special Invitation Films
- Perspectives Japan
- Unscripted: The Art of Direct Cinema
- Palestine—Memory of the Land
- Yamagata and Film
- Cinema with Us 2025
- Film Letter to the Future
- View People View Cities—The World of UNESCO Creative Cities
- Yamagata Rough Cut!
- Yamagata Film Criticism Workshop
- YIDFF Classics on Digital: Yamagata Documentary Film Library Collection Digitization Project
- Yamagata Creative Cities International Conference 2025
Celebrating UNESCO World Day for Audiovisual Heritage: Cinematic Heritage in Our Communities - YIDFF Network Special Screening
- YIDFF 2025 Information
- • Jury Comments • International Competition | New Asian Currents | Perspectives Japan | Unscripted: The Art of Direct Cinema | Palestine—Memory of the Land | Yamagata and Film | Cinema with Us | Film Letter | View People View Cities | Rough Cut! | Special Invitation Films | YIDFF Classics on Digital | Cinematic Heritage in Our Communities | YIDFF Network Special Screening • Schedule | Information | Events | Yamagata Film Criticism Workshop | Festival Venues | Access | Tickets • Poster Design | Photos • Sponsors •
Official Catalog
Conversations with Documentary: YIDFF 2025 Interview Collection
YIDFF 2025 Visual Booklet
SPUTNIK—YIDFF Reader 2025
Docu-Yama Live!: Yamagata Film Criticism Workshop
YIDFF 2025 Award Recipients
- Prizes for the International Competition
- Jurors: Richard Copans (Chair), Edwin, Azza El-Hassan, Ishii Gakuryu, Cristina Piccino
The Robert and Frances Flaherty Prize (The Grand Prize):
DIRECT ACTION Dir: Guillaume Cailleau, Ben Russell
The Mayor’s Prize:
With Hasan in Gaza Dir: Kamal Aljafari
Denroku Award (Award of Excellence):
Park Dir: So Yo-Hen
Flex International Award (Award of Excellence):
Malqueridas Dir: Tana Gilbert
Special Jury Prize:
Letters to My Dead Parents Dir: Ignacio Agüero
Special Mention:
L’Homme-Vertige: Tales of a City Dir: Malaury Eloi Paisley
New Asian Currents Awards- Jurors: Iguchi Nami, Thaiddhi
Ogawa Shinsuke Prize:
What Did You Dream Last Night, Parajanov? Dir: Faraz Fesharaki
The Yamagata Shimbun and YBC Award (Award of Excellence):
When the Trees Sway, the Heart Stirs Dir: Lee Jiyoon
Tohoku Denka Kogyo Award (Award of Excellence):
The Tales of the Tale Dir: Song Cheng-ying, Hu Chin-ya
Citizens’ Prize- Writing Hawa Dir: Najiba Noori, Rasul (Ali) Noori
Jury CommentsYIDFF 2025 Facts and Figures
- Total Films Shown: 136
Total Entries: 2,676 Films out of 135 Countries and Areas-
- Internatinal Competition
1,318 Films out of 129 Countries and Areas - New Asian Currents
1,358 Films out of 75 Countries and Areas
- Internatinal Competition
Attendance: 26,273
Guest: 131- Press: 299
- Volunteers: 231