2025 Sonoma International Film Festival Awards: ‘DJ Ahmet,’ ‘Mistress Dispeller,’ ‘Meet the Barbarians’ Among Winners at 28th Wine Country Fest
The 28th Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) concluded ion Sunday with an awards ceremony celebrating the best of the fest from juries and audiences alike, where Georgi M. Unkovski’s DJ Ahmet, Elizabeth Lo’s Mistress Dispeller and Julie Delpy’s Meet the Barbarians were among the winners.
2025 Sundance Film Festival winner DJ Ahmet was awarded the Grand Prize for Narrative Feature. The film tells the story of a 15-year-old Yuruk boy from a remote North Macedonian village escapes into music amidst parental expectations, societal conservatism, and forbidden love for a promised girl. The film was also the first runner-up from audiences. Mistress Dispeller, about a woman in China hires a professional to go undercover and break up her husband’s affair, received the award for Documentary Feature. Meet the Barbarians was the top narrative feature audience award winner while The Last Journey was the audience favorite for documentary feature. Short film winners included Jane Austen’s Period Drama from Julia Aks and Steve Pinder.
This five-day celebration of cinema featured 93 films, including highly anticipated World, North American, and California premieres, alongside an impressive array of renowned filmmakers, celebrated actors, and culinary icons. 21 countries representing the festival’s diverse lineup showcased 39 narrative features, 16 documentary features, and 38 short films.
The festival opened with the World Premiere of Sweet Störy directed by Sarah Justine Kerruish and Matt Maude, setting the stage for a lineup that celebrated both storytelling and cuisine. The Centerpiece Film, On Swift Horses, featuring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi, was met with critical acclaim, while Andrew Ahn’s Closing Night Feature, The Wedding Banquet, starring Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, and Joan Chen, provided a poignant and celebratory finale. The festival honored Joan Chen with the SIFF Career Achievement Award on Closing Night, recognizing her remarkable contributions to cinema. Alongside these marquee screenings, SIFF audiences experienced an array of premieres, including the North American debut of Strand Releasing’s Berlinale Golden Bear Winner Dreams (Love, Sex), the California Premieres of Apollo 1, The Surfer, and The Ugly Stepsister, and the World Premieres of Ali Eats America, Café Chairel, and Fatal Watch.
One of the festival’s unique offerings of its wine country location was SIFF’s Culinary Cinema program–from the opening night screening of Sweet Störy to The Wedding Banquet –15 culinary documentaries and features delighted audiences. Food lovers were treated to the extravagant Marcella Hazan tribute dinner alongside a special screening of Marcella and a master class in Japanese cuisine by Michelin-starred chef Yoshinori Ishii. “This year’s festival was a feast for the senses, blending extraordinary films with immersive food and wine experiences,” said SIFF Artistic Director Carl Spence. “The response was overwhelming, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the success of SIFF 2025.”
Another major highlight was the debut of SIFF Pop-Ins, a new program offering festival pass holders exclusive culinary and wine experiences at top local venues. Over three days, six locations—including The Bar at MacArthur Place, Wit & Wisdom, Capo Isetta Tasting Room, Enoteca Della Santina, Williams Sonoma, and Sonoma Cheese Factory—hosted packed events featuring chef-curated bites and exquisite wine pairings. Festivalgoers raved about these intimate tasting experiences, calling them a perfect fusion of food, film, and community.
SIFF also marked the 20th anniversary of Mysterious Skin and presented a Spotlight on Italian Cinema and a Scandinavian Film Showcase, offering audiences a rich global perspective. Beyond the screen, aspiring filmmakers gained invaluable insights from industry veterans at the Film Veterans Tell All panel featuring Christine Vachon (Academy Award-nominated producer), Eugene Hernandez (Sundance), Daniela Michel (Morelia Film Festival), Maggie Mackay (Vidiots), Brian Brooks (Cinetic Marketing). A live taping of The Film That Blew My Mind podcast with John Cooper, Tabitha Jackson, and guest Christine Vachon provided festivalgoers with rare industry insights. SIFF’s special events drew packed crowds and delivered memorable moments.
GRAND JURY FILM AWARDS
Grand Jury Award | Best Narrative Feature
DJ Ahmet (Georgi M. Unkovski | North Macedonia)
Jury Statement from the Narrative Feature Grand Jury: Angelo Acerbi (Fred Film Radio), Maggie Mackay (Vidiots) and Rajendra Roy (Chief Curator of Film, MoMA).
“We chose a film with sure-handed directing, brilliant casting – A classic love story reimagined – A film full of risks and rich rewards – we are honored to award Best Narrative Feature to DJ Ahmet”
Narrative Competition Films
Café Chairel (Director: Fernando Guillermo Barreda Luna/Mexico), DJ Ahmet (Director: Georgi M. Unkovski/North Macedonia), Gloria (Director: Margherita Vicario/Italy), Long Good Thursday (Director: Mika Kaurismäki/Finland), Mexico 86 (Director: César Diaz/France), My Favorite Cake (Director: Maryam Moghaddam, Behtash Sanaeeha/Iran), The Party’s Over (Director: Elena Manrique/Spain), Waves (Director: Jiří Mádl/Czech Republic)
Grand Jury Award | Best Documentary Feature
Mistress Dispeller (Elizabeth Lo | China/USA)
Jury Statement from the Documentary Feature Grand Jury: Brian Brooks (Cinetic Media), Jaie Laplante (DOC NYC), and Rachel Rosen (New York Film Festival).
“For combining impeccable craft with a novelistic approach to nonfiction storytelling while always being empathetic to its subjects, this year’s Documentary Prize goes to Elizabeth Lo’s Mistress Dispeller.”
Special Mention | Suburban Fury
“For its bold ambition coupled with its probing research and daring approach, a Special Mention goes to director Robinson Devor’s Suburban Fury.”
Documentary Feature Competition Films
Ali Eats America (USA) Directed by: Roush Niaghi, Greg Morris, Apollo 1 (United Kingdom) Directed by: Mark Craig, Fatal Watch (USA) Directed by: Mark Benjamin, Katie Carpenter, Free Leonard Peltier (USA) Directed by: Jesse Short Bull, David France, Mistress Dispeller (China) Directed by: Elizabeth Lo, Suburban Fury (USA) Directed by: Robinson Devor, Sweet Störy (United Kingdom) Directed by: Sarah Justine Kerruish, Matt Maude, Tokito: The 540-Day Journey of a Culinary Maverick (Japan) Directed by: Aki Mizutani.
Grand Jury Award | Short Films and Jury Statements
All 38 Official Selection short films competed for the 3 Grand Jury Short Awards.
The Short Film Grand Jury included Gregory Ellwood (The Playlist), Daniela Michel (Morelia International Film Festival), and Mike Plante (Sundance Film Festival).
Grand Jury Award: Live Action Short
Trokas Duras (Director Jazmin Garcia | USA)
“For shining a light on underheard voices in an era of contagious misunderstanding, we would like to give the Best Live Action Short Film to Trokas Duras.”
Grand Jury Award: Documentary Short
Embracing Instability (Director Nathan Willis | USA)
“For its insightful spotlight on an artist persevering through overwhelming change, we would like to give the Best Documentary Short Film to Embracing Instability.”
Grand Jury Award: Animated Short
Como si la Tierra se las Hubiera Tragado (Director Natalia León | France)
“For a stunning and emotionally resonant artistic achievement, we would like to give the Best Animation Short Film to Como Si La Tierra Se Las Hubiera Tragado.”
Special Jury Mention for Directing
Sweet Talkin’ Guy (Directed by Spencer Wardwell & Dylan Wardwell | USA)
¨For its brilliant and concise grasp of comedic filmmaking, Sweet Talkin’ Guy, directed by Spencer and Dylan Wardwell. “
AUDIENCE FILM AWARDS
The Stolman Audience Award for Best Feature
Meet The Barbarians (France) Directed by Julie Delpy
1st Runner-up: DJ Ahmet (North Macedonia) Directed by Georgi M. Unkovski
2nd Runner-up: Mistura (Peru) Directed by Ricardo de Montreuil
3rd Runner-up: Waves (Czech Republic) Directed by Jiří Mádl
4th Runner-up: Bad Shabbos (USA) Directed by Daniel Robbins
The A3 Audience Award for Best Documentary
The Last Journey (Sweden) Directed by Filip Hammar, Fredrik Wikingsson
1st Runner-up: Checkpoint Zoo (USA) Directed by Joshua Zeman
2nd Runner-up: One to One: John & Yoko (United Kingdom) Directed by Kevin Macdonald
3rd Runner-up: Apollo 1 (United Kingdom) Directed by Mark Craig
4th Runner-up: Sweet Störy (United Kingdom) Directed by Sarah Justine Kerruish, Matt Maude
The McNeely Award for Best Short Film
Jane Austen’s Period Drama (USA) Directed by Julia Aks, Steve Pinder
1st Runner-up: Teen Mary (USA) Directed by Ali Rosenthal
2nd Runner-up: Foxhole (USA) Directed by Nick Dugan
3rd Runner-up: Wingspan (USA) Directed by Matthew Fabiano
4th Runner-up: Our Neighbors, The Peacocks (USA) Directed by Callie Barlow
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Critics Choice Association (CCA), San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
- 68th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM) Lineup: Josh O’Connor in ‘Rebuilding,’ Tributes to André Holland, Chris Columbus - March 26, 2025
- The Academy Partners with Global Screenwriting Programs for Nicholl Fellowships, The Black List to Serve as Submission Portal - March 25, 2025
- 2025 Sonoma International Film Festival Awards: ‘DJ Ahmet,’ ‘Mistress Dispeller,’ ‘Meet the Barbarians’ Among Winners at 28th Wine Country Fest - March 24, 2025
68th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFFILM) Lineup: Josh O’Connor in ‘Rebuilding,’ Tributes to André Holland, Chris Columbus 
The Academy Partners with Global Screenwriting Programs for Nicholl Fellowships, The Black List to Serve as Submission Portal 
Director Watch Ep. 91 – ‘Angels in America’ (Mike Nichols, 2003) 
2025 Sonoma International Film Festival Awards: ‘DJ Ahmet,’ ‘Mistress Dispeller,’ ‘Meet the Barbarians’ Among Winners at 28th Wine Country Fest