16th Merlinka festival – Awards

The 16th International LGBT Film Festival Merlinka concluded last night in Belgrade and Novi Sad with the screening of the Italian film I Am Not Invisible and the presentation of awards for the best films of this year’s festival.

The awarded films are as follows:

Best Animated Film: Pietra (director: Cynthia Levitan)
The Portuguese animated film Pietra captivates with its combination of artistic aesthetics and emotional depth, telling an intimate story of self-discovery and love. The award for Best Animated Film is presented for outstanding visual creativity and the ability to convey complex themes through animation.

Best Short Film: Buffer Zone (director: Savvas Stavrou)
The Cypriot film Buffer Zone successfully explores the love between two soldiers on opposing sides who escape their oppressive environment through music. This award is presented for its powerful screenplay, impressive direction, and authentic acting performances that leave a lasting impression.

Best Short Documentary: Follow Me – François Sagat (director: Christophe Hely)
The French documentary Follow Me – François Sagat follows the renowned queer artist and actor as he explores identity, art, and his personal boundaries. The award for Best Short Documentary goes to this film for its bold and sincere approach to the story of freedom of expression.

Best Documentary Film: Warm Film (director: Dragan Jovićević)
The Serbian documentary Topli Film follows two young actors who receive an offer to perform in a movie featuring homosexual love scenes. Torn between their desire for fame and fear of stigma, they explore how queer themes have been portrayed throughout the history of Yugoslav cinema and what the presence of queerness on screen has truly meant over the decades. The award for Best Documentary Film is presented for its courageous and thoughtful examination of societal prejudices and its reminder of art as a space for freedom and identity.

Best Feature Film: Baby (director: Marcelo Caetano)
The Brazilian film Baby, which follows the challenging relationship between two young men in São Paulo, stands out for its emotional depth, strong performances, and visually striking atmosphere. The award for Best Feature Film is presented for its artistic bravery and faithful portrayal of complex human relationships.

Special Jury Award: Warm Film (director: Dragan Jovićević)
The Special Jury Award is presented to Topli Film for its innovative approach to the theme of queer representation in Yugoslav cinema. Through authentic research and the introspective journey of its protagonists, the film highlights the role of art in breaking stigmas and opens space for new, vital questions about freedom of expression and acceptance.

Merlinka Festival Special Award – Bull’s Eye (director: Petar Lakić)
The film Bull’s Eye won the Special Award at this year’s 16th Merlinka Festival. This Serbian short film from 2024 follows Mateja, a young man who begins to dream of his best friend as an S&M bull. Confronted with his own emotions and internal struggles, Mateja attempts to confess the truth.

This year’s festival showcased ninety short, documentary, and feature films from around the world, depicting the existence of the LGBT+ community in societies ranging from those with significant acceptance to those where the death penalty still exists. Merlinka Festival continues to serve as a space for freedom, art, and visibility for those whose voices are all too often marginalized.