The special RIGHTS NOW! prize is an award given to creative documentaries which explore and analyse the modern world and make a significant contribution to the discussion around human dignity, freedom, and equality. Ten films from all festival programmes are nominated for it.
The winners in the RIGHTS NOW! nomination have been determined by
Giorgi Mrevlishvili, Kartveli documentary filmmaker;
Liudmyla Huseinova, an activist and public figure from the Donetsk Region, a human rights advocate, former civilian hostage; Maksym Butkevych is a human rights advocate, journalist, public figure, former military serviceman, and former prisoner of war.
MAIN PRIZE
2000 Meters to Andriivka / Mstyslav Chernov / USA, Ukraine /
2025 / 106' War is not just a crisis or a tragedy — it is a total, brutal violation of human rights, first and foremost the right to life. From up close, war is no abstraction; it is an almost unbearable, repulsive reality in which people are forced to live, to lose, and to survive. “Reality—where time and distance are measured by the pauses between explosions.”With no choice, no protection, on the edge. It is this terrifying closeness and human vulnerability that Mstyslav Chernov’s film 2,000 Meters to Andriivka lays bare. For its honesty, depth, and emotional power, we as the jury award it the main RIGHTS NOW! prize.
Here is the list of films nominated for RightsNow! Award:
- Songs of Slow Burning Earth, dir. Olha Zhurba (Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden, France);
- Timestamp, dir. Kateryna Gornostai (Ukraine, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France);
- Militantropos, dir. Yelyzaveta Smith, Alina Gorlova, Simon Mozghovyi (Ukraine, Austria, France);
- 2000 Meters to Andriivka, dir. Mstyslav Chernov (USA, Ukraine);
- Limits of Europe, dir. Apolena Rychlíková (Czech Republic, France, Slovakia);
- Writing Hava, dir. Nadjibah Nuri and Rasul Nuri (France);
- My Sweet Child, dir. Maarten De Schutter (Netherlands);
- Your Life Without Me, dir. Anna Rubi (Hungary);
- A Land of Paper, dir. Marion Boé, (France);
- Dad’s Lullaby, dir. Lesia Diak (Ukraine, Romania, Croatia).
