International Catholic Film Festival: The stories of hope and redemption that triumphed in 2025

The movie Aydinlarheld at Uzbekistan, won the XVI edition of the International Catholic Film Festival “Mirabile Dicutu” (wonderful to count)held at the Palais des Ambassadeurs de Bindo, France.

For this year’s jubilee, the festival had as its central theme the hope and redemption, axis of all the finalist works.

This year, 3,284 works from different countries were postulated, of which Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Philippines, Iran, Italy, United States, Uganda, Hungary and Uzbekistan were selected.

Created in 2010 by the director and producer Liana Marabini, the festival seeks to give space to films, documentaries, series and programs that promote moral values ​​and positive models. It emerged under the high Board of Trustees of the Pontifical Council for Culture, currently Dicastery for Culture and Education.

Liana Marabini, president of the festival, thanked the jury and the producers who participated.

“I am deeply grateful to all those who have made this manifestation dedicated to culture and faith possible, especially with the Dicastery for Education and Culture and with Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, who from the beginning, in 2010, believed in us” , he said.

Next, the winning works of the main categories, according to the Official website:

Best movie

“Aydinlar” de Muzaffran Erkinov Yu Muzaffar Karabayev (Uzbekistanán)

Set in the Aral Lake region, it tells the story of Seyit, a young man who lives in Muñnak, a city in ruins due to the lake. Raised by his grandfather Nurpeis, who tells him stories about the sea, Seyit is forced to leave his home in search of a better future when his beloved Kizlargul decides to marry the wealthy Maman. He becomes a ship captain in Egypt and, six years later, upon learning of his grandfather, he returns to his hometown, finding her deeply transformed.

The other finalist films were:

• The End of the River. De Vasil Stepanov Barkov (Bulgaria)

• Cries from the Cotton Fieldsby Larry Foley and Ed Eaves (USA)

Best documentary

“I Hope for Heaven” De Daniele Pignatelli (Italy)

In the Opera Maximum Security Prison (Milan), three inmates sentenced by murder – Ciro, Giuseppe and Cristiano – manually manufacture hosts that are then enshrined in churches around the world, becoming the body of Christ. His dream is to deliver them personally to Pope Francis, to whom they write a letter.

The other finalist documentaries were:

• Pilgrimage dayby Lívia Rojas (Brazil)

• The Dying of the Lightby Ivan Peri and Álvaro Congosto (Croatia) 7

Best short film

“Anniversary” de Kristóf Szalay (hungía)

In an austere domestic environment, this short film presents a brief but shocking story that invites you to reflect on the suffering of the relatives of the victims of terrorist attacks.

The other finalist short films were:

· Ninò, De Michele Li Volsi (Italy)

The Saraban, by Hamed Nobari (Iran)

Best Director

Alexandre Machafer by Jorge da Cappadocia (Brazil)

The story is in 303 AD, when Jorge has been promoted to commander of the Roman army after a great victory. In that context, the Diocletian emperor launches his last great persecution against Christians in the empire, promulgating cruel decrees to bend their resistance. Jorge then faces his greatest challenge: remain faithful to his faith or undergo the orders of the Emperor.

The other finalist directors were:

The Capax Award Dei Foundation to evangelization

“The Jews of Lackenbach”de norbert flea (Austria)

This documentary recounts the emotional history of a Jewish community that was prosperous until its inhabitants were forced to flee due to Nazi persecution. The work examines the fate of those who managed to escape from Austria and those who died in the Holocaust.

The documentary focuses on the collective memory of Lackenbach, which once housed the largest Jewish community in Burgenland. How do the descendants of those Jews remember this place? How has the current population reacted to this story? Based on the adventures of three protagonists, the film draws the meaning that the city has today for its descendants.