Competitions

See the eight award winners of the Movies that Matter Festival 2025.

Eight documentaries will be selected from the festival’s full film programme. These are films where cinematography and content go hand in hand. An international jury will declare the winner of €5,000.

Eight fiction films will be selected from the festival’s full film programme. These are films where cinematography and content go hand in hand. An international jury will declare the winner of €5,000.

Eight inspiring documentaries about the work of human rights activists from all over the world. Meet the activists during our festival, where they engage with the public and participate in an impact and networking programme to raise awareness of the film, expand their work and network.

Justice has many faces. Sometimes it may arrive quickly. Sometimes it requires years of struggle. One thing our Justice Frame competition makes more than clear: justice cannot happen without courage.

The Dutch Focus competition showcases Dutch documentaries by makers with gripping stories and urgent narratives, both inside and outside the Netherlands.

All films from the Shorts programme have a chance to win the SHORTS Award and a prize money of €1,500.

For this new competition, a jury consisting of an mbo student, a high school teacher and a nominee for Film Teacher of the Year will watch eight films (six features and two shorts) that are part of the Movies that Matter Education Festival. Together, they will choose the best educational film of the festival, which will walk away with the Education Award.

We are curious to know what you think of the films we screen, which is why we award the Movies that Matter Audience Award every festival. By rating a film on a scale of 1 to 5 on a tablet when you leave the screening, you as a festival visitor will help us decide who the winner will be.