These are the winners from Stockholm Film Festival Junior 2025

During the 2025 edition of the Stockholm International Film Festival Junior, the festival has truly established itself as a national celebration of film for children and young people, with strong engagement from across the country – from Haparanda in the north to Ystad in the south. For the sixth year in a row, Junior was held as a hybrid festival, featuring films from 30 different countries, screened both in cinemas and online. With over 65,000* festival participants, the event concluded a successful week with screenings in cinemas, schools, libraries, and youth centers.

“Our goal with the Stockholm International Film Festival Junior is to introduce children and youth in Sweden to cinema from all corners of the world and to strengthen the role of film as an artistic medium. This year, we’ve seen incredible engagement from audiences, competitors, and filmmakers alike – it truly feels like that dream has come true,” says Beatrice Karlsson, Program Director of the Stockholm Film Festival Junior.

Here are the most-watched films during the 2025 Stockholm International Film Festival Junior:

1. Kayara by Cesar Zelada & Dirk Hampel (Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador)
2. Kensuke’s Kingdom by Neil Boyle & Kirk Hendry (UK, Luxembourg, France, USA)
3. Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Andrew Boodhoo Kightlinger (USA)
4. Boom! by Marta Selecka & Andra Doršs (Latvia)
5. Dalia and the Red Book by David Bisbano (Argentina, Spain, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador)
6. NAWI by Valentine Chelluget, Apuu Mourine, Kevin Schmutzler and Toby Schmutzler (Kenya)
7. Jazzy by Morissa Maltz (USA)
8. Curl Power by Josphine Anderson (Canada)
9. Night of the Zoopocalypse by Ricardo Curtis & Rodrigo Perez-Castro (France, Canada, Belgium)
10. Planet 7693 by Gojko Berkuljan (Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia)

Festival films were viewed throughout Sweden, with each region showing its own favorites. In Västerbotten, Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Andrew Boodhoo Kightlinger was the most-watched film, while Nawi by Valentine Chelluget, Apuu Mourine, Kevin Schmutzler and Toby Schmutzler was the top choice in Stockholm. In Skåne, Kayara: An Adventure in the Inca Empire by Cesar Zelada & Dirk Hampel was most popular, whereas children in Gotland and Halland watched Kensuke’s Kingdom by Neil Boyle & Kirk Hendry more than any other film.

Two Bronze Horses were also awarded for Best Film in the age categories 6–10 years and 11–19 years.
This year, the award for the younger category went to directors Karine Vézina and André Kadi for Hola Frida!. The deeply moving film Nawi from Kenya, directed by Valentine Chelluget, Apuu Mourine, Kevin Schmutzler and Toby Schmutzler, was awarded the Bronze Horse for Best Film in the 11–19 years category.

Bronze horse for best film in category 6-10 years:

Hola Frida! by Karine Vézina and André Kadi


The junior group's motivation:

"This year’s winner is a vibrant and moving film with a powerful message. Its unique animation conveys joy, sorrow, and courage in a way that resonates across all ages. The film is both entertaining and inspiring – full of surprises and emotional depth. Based on a true story, it captures the audience from start to finish with its visual originality and honest storytelling. A film we warmly recommend – for everyone, everywhere."

Karine Vézina and André Kadi, the directors of Hola Frida!, says, "Thank you for selecting our film for your prestigious festival in Stockholm. Hola Frida! is a movie about an extraordinary, trailblazing feminist and dedicated artist. It was very important for us to introduce her to new generations.
Thank you so much for this award – it is a great honor for us. We hope to be with you again at the next festival!"

Bronze horse for best film in category 11-19 years:

NAWI by Valentine Chelluget, Apuu Mourine, Kevin Schmutzler och Toby Schmutzler

The junior group's motivation:

"This year’s winner is a film that offered us new perspectives and stirred strong emotions. Nawi is a beautiful film – both in message and visuals – that moved us with its blend of hope and sorrow. It tells the story of big dreams clashing with harsh realities, and reminds us never to take anything for granted. The film made us feel seen, inspired us to follow our own dreams, and we believe Nawi is a voice that truly deserves to be heard."

"This award means a lot to us as impact filmmakers, because it shows the changemakers of tomorrow care for girls rights, social justice and education. And that gives you quite some hope for the future", says director Toby Schmutzler.