The South East European Film Festival (SEEfest) in Los Angeles has concluded its 20^th edition, celebrating the achievements of filmmakers with the announcement of jury and audience awards.

DJ Ahmet, a film by North Macedonian director Georgi M. Unkovski, has been honored with SEEfest’s Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature Film.

The jury, which included Tessa Blake, Robert Bailey, and Marlis Pujol, praised the film as “a lyrical coming-of-age story set in a Yuruk village in North Macedonia that is both deeply relatable and strikingly original.” They highlighted the “beautiful and evocative cinematography” and “nuanced storytelling” that captures the universal struggle of a young man seeking his identity. The jury noted how Unkovski’s attention to specific details creates a rich experience, immersing the audience in Ahmet’s perspective, with performances that radiate humanist grace.

DJ Ahmet, featuring Arif Jakup, Agush Agushev, and Aksel Mehme, also secured the Audience Award at SEEfest, along with the Cinema Without Borders’ “Bridging the Borders” award, sponsored by 360 MEDIA. This adds to its impressive accolades, including a Special Jury Award for Creative Vision and the Audience Award at Sundance, as well as Best Feature Film at the Desertscape International Film Festival in Southern Utah.

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The SEEfest jury prize includes a cash award provided by Montage Media. Montage Media President E’Ian West expressed congratulations, stating, “Congratulations on your film winning SEEfest 2025! Your storytelling and execution clearly reflect the time, dedication, and passion you poured into this project. We are truly inspired by your work and eagerly look forward to your next artistic endeavor. As a token of our support, Montage Media Production Company will be awarding you a cash prize when you enter pre-production on your next project. Here’s to more powerful stories ahead!”

The Best Ensemble Award at SEEfest was awarded to The New Year That Never Came, directed by Bogdan Mureșanu. The jury described it as “a brilliantly rendered tragicomedy that creates a vivid kaleidoscope of humanity through overlapping stories on the eve of the Romanian revolution.” They commended Mureșanu for capturing the “quiet insanity of living in a dictatorship,” and praised the cast for their extraordinary depth and nuance, resulting in a film that is both gorgeous and impactful.

In the nonfiction category, At the Door of the House, Who Will Come Knocking, directed and shot by Maja Novaković, received two awards, including Best Documentary Film. The jury remarked, “How can a film with hardly any plot or dialogue grab you by the lapels and not let go? See this film and find out!” They praised the film’s stunning visuals and emotional depth, stating, “Each exquisite frame is like a painting. We’re still thinking about it weeks later. It was our favorite film.”

Novaković’s film also won Best Cinematography in a Documentary Film. The jury noted, “In At The Door Of The House Who Will Come Knocking, isolation is skillfully portrayed through an atmospheric setting, giving the story a captivating, dreamlike quality reminiscent of a folktale.” They commended her intimate use of the camera and the film’s meditative quality.

The Audience Award in the feature documentary category was awarded to Nasty, which chronicles the life of 1970s tennis legend Ilie Nastase, recognized as the sport’s first rebel rockstar. This documentary, directed by a trio of Romanian filmmakers—Tudor Giurgiu, Cristian Pascariu, and Tudor D. Popescu—was previously screened at Cannes.

Founded in 2006 by film critic and cultural entrepreneur Vera Mijojlić, SEEfest is co-presented by ELMA—Foundation for European Languages and Movies in America. The festival’s 20^th anniversary showcased films from 20 countries across South and Eastern Europe, running from April 30 to May 7. Bulgarian American actress and singer Irina Maleeva served as the honorary chair for this year’s event.

Here are the 2025 SEEfest prize winners:

BEST FEATURE FILM, GRAND JURY PRIZE

DJ AHMET

Director: Georgi M. Unkovski

North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia

Jury: Tessa Blake, Robert Bailey, Marlis Pujol

Jury Statement: DJ AHMET – a lyrical coming-of-age story set in a Yuruk village in North Macedonia – manages to be both deeply relatable and rapturously original. With beautiful and evocative cinematography and nuanced storytelling, Georgi M. Unkovski (writer/director) captures the universal pain of a young man trying to find his place in the world. Utilizing the deeply specific details of the setting, Unkovski creates a rich and complex experience, saturating us in Ahmet’s point of view. The performances are gorgeous, allowing the film to envelop the audience in its humanist grace.

The award comes with a cash prize from Montage Media (montagemediausa.com) whose president, E’Ian West, stated: “Congratulations on your film winning SEEfest 2025! Your storytelling and execution clearly reflect the time, dedication, and passion you poured into this project. We are truly inspired by your work and eagerly look forward to your next artistic endeavor. As a token of our support, Montage Media Production Company will be awarding you a cash prize when you enter pre-production on your next project. Here’s to more powerful stories ahead!”

BEST ENSEMBLE

THE NEW YEAR THAT NEVER CAME

Director: Bogdan Mureșanu

Romania-Serbia

Jury: Tessa Blake, Robert Bailey, Marlis Pujol

Jury Statement: A brilliantly rendered tragicomedy, THE NEW YEAR THAT NEVER CAME creates a vivid kaleidoscope of humanity through overlapping stories on the eve of the Romanian revolution. Capturing the quiet insanity of living in a dictatorship, writer/director Bogdan Mureșanu saturates his story in the details of rage and fear. The actors bring extraordinary depth and nuance to every moment. It’s a gorgeous film with a remarkable ensemble of performers.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A FEATURE FILM

SUPERMARKET

Director: Nemanja Bečanović

Cinematographer: Dusan Grubin

Montenegro

Jury: Dennis Flippin, Valentina Caniglia, Jihane Mrad Balaa

Jury Statement: SUPERMARKET delivers a visual experience that transcends its simple setting. The cinematography transforms fluorescent sterility into a living, breathing landscape of human emotion. Every frame feels intentional; the lighting nuances between harsh reality and fleeting dreams create a rhythm that mirrors the protagonist’s fragile grip on hope. The camera doesn’t just observe but immerses, drawing us into corners of loneliness, unexpected beauty, and silent rebellion. It’s rare to find imagery so deeply wedded to a character’s soul. In SUPERMARKET, the cinematography leans heavily into contrast: cold aisles lit with clinical precision dissolve into pockets of warmth. This seamless dance is why its visual language deserves to be celebrated.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM

AT THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE WHO WILL COME KNOCKING

Director: Maja Novaković

Serbia

Jury: Sarah Anthony, Gabi Hayes

Jury Statement: How can a film with hardly any plot or dialogue grab you by the lapels and not let go? See this film and find out! An old man and his horse share an intense bond as they survive the cold and lonely winter in the snowy Bosnian countryside. Each exquisite frame is like a painting. We’re still thinking about it weeks later. It was our favorite film.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY FILM

AT THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE WHO WILL COME KNOCKING

Director/Cinematographer: Maja Novaković

Serbia

Jury: Ivan Cordeiro, Mark Hayes, Denny Dugally

Jury Statement: In AT THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE WHO WILL COME KNOCKING, isolation is skillfully portrayed through an atmospheric setting, giving the story a captivating, dreamlike quality reminiscent of a folktale. The narrative unfolds and evolves over time, steadily peeling away psychological layers and adding depth through creative additions. Director Maja Novakovic strikes a balance between restraint and gentle nudging, allowing the story to breathe while occasionally adding subtle touches to coax it forward. Her very intimate use of the camera, combined with relentless patience, gives the film a meditational feeling that ultimately transcends mere life philosophy.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A DOCUMENTARY FILM – HONORABLE MENTION
SOIL AND WINGS

Serbia

Director/Cinematographer: Stefan Malešević

Jury Statement: The film’s cinematographic style is characterized by serene panoramic shots that capture the tranquil lifestyle of its subjects, setting the tone for introspective storytelling. SOIL AND WINGS is further enhanced by thoughtful editing, creating a meditative pace that immerses the viewer in the world of the storytellers. The shots create a hypnotic experience, especially in its ending sequence.

BEST SHORT FICTION:

CHOICE

N. Macedonia

Director: Marko Crnogorski

Jury: Leo Behrens, Michael Cory Davis, Brenna Malloy

Jury Statement: Choice grips the viewer from its very first frame, launching into a frenetic visual style that mirrors the internal chaos of its lead character. The use of rapid, disorienting camera movements and urgent pacing—motivated by the protagonist’s experience—creates a visceral sense of unease, pulling the audience directly into her emotional state.

Without offering a detailed backstory for the character’s decision to seek an abortion, the film instead forces the viewer to confront a deeper question: Do we, as a society, have the right to define the legitimacy of someone’s personal reasoning—or should it always be her choice? The lead performance is raw and compelling, anchoring the chaos with a powerful emotional core. The narrative, though minimal, resonates through its intensity and restraint. Choice doesn’t moralize or provide easy answers; instead, it challenges viewers to examine their own beliefs through the lens of empathy and urgency. By the end, the film leaves a lasting impression—not only as a commentary on reproductive rights but as a human story of autonomy and compassion, and the lengths some women must go to preserve their own free will. It’s a bold, affecting piece that keeps its audience on emotional edge from start to finish.

BEST SHORT FICTION – HONORABLE MENTION

APARTMENT 2A

Slovenia

Director: Gaja Möderndorfer

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY FILM

ZASTAVA BROTHERS

Director: Pep Stojanovic

USA

Jury: Lori Nelson, Todd Thompson, Jonathan Berman

Jury Statement: In the 1980s, the Zastava Yugo, aka the Yugo, was sold in the US for less than $4000, bringing both popularity and derision. The film focuses on “superfans” of the car, immigrants to the U.S. who bond over their love for the vehicle, transcending politics. The jury found this affectionate film a breath of fresh air, delivering a peppy subtext of adventure, unity, and joy for the Yugo’s fans and their families. Spanning continents and generations, this tradition pays fond childhood memories forward, creating new bonds and bringing families together—all through a shared love of automobiles.

BEST SHORT ANIMATION – 2D

HURIKAN

Czech Republic

Director: Jan Saska

Jury: Omandi Moore, Rachel Lewis, Peter Jayne

Jury Statement: HURIKAN perfectly leverages the strengths of animation in storytelling. Through technical expertise, deft pacing, and timing, HURIKAN pulls us into its world immediately. Although strange, anachronistic, and exaggerated, this world reflects the daily problems that all people endure. With perfect comic timing and stunning character animation, HURIKAN shows us that no matter how big or small our problems are, good fortune may lie just one bad decision beyond our reach. This hilarious odyssey of a parched protagonist reminds us that sometimes our relative sacrifices for the greater good can be tempered by small mercies along the way.

BEST SHORT ANIMATION – 3D

MILES AND FLOWERS

Ukraine

Director: Danny Volosozhar

Jury: Omandi Moore, Rachel Lewis, Peter Jayne

Jury Statement: MILES AND FLOWERS instantly conveys the heart-wrenching realities of war and specifically Ukraine’s current struggle. Through deceptively innocuous caricature, the viewer immediately identifies with the travelers as they navigate a decimated city. The adept use of 3D’s ability to manipulate light and atmosphere makes the characters’ dread and hope palpable and poignant. MILES AND FLOWERS’ great achievement is its ability to evoke empathy, no matter how removed the viewer may be from real-time events.

BEST SHORT ANIMATION – STOP MOTION

FAMILY PORTRAIT

Croatia

Director: Lea Vidakovic

Jury: Omandi Moore, Rachel Lewis, Peter Jayne

Jury Statement: FAMILY PORTRAIT is a beautiful, haunting, and at times grotesque representation of family in the midst of loss and grief. With exquisite attention to detail, FAMILY PORTRAIT expertly uses stop-motion’s surreal nature to reveal the discord that arises from the collision of each family member’s coping methods. Through amazing craftsmanship and technique, the invisible heartache becomes the main character in this all-too-familiar tale.

Audience Awards

Feature Film: DJ AHMET, a shepherd’s boy tale of music, first love, and dance in a rural Macedonian village, directed by SEEfest alum Georgi M. Unkovski, N. Macedonia.

Documentary Film: NASTY, the story of 1970s tennis legend Ilie Nastase, the sport’s first rebel rockstar, directed by a trio of Romanians: Tudor Giurgiu, Cristian Pascariu, and Tudor D. Popescu.

Other Awards:

The winner of the Cinema Without Borders’ Bridging the Borders award, sponsored by 360 MEDIA, is DJ AHMET, Georgi M. Unkovski’s charming feature debut about a teenage North Macedonian shepherd’s love of electronic dance music, which he plays to help a young girl pursue her dreams of being a dancer.

Honorary Mention goes to Emir Kapetanović’s WHEN SANTA WAS A COMMUNIST, a tragicomedy about a traveling troupe of performers frustrated in their attempts to bring Christmas joy to the children of religiously divided communities in Bosnia.