Cutting Through Rocks has been voted the winner of the Movies that Matter Audience Award 2026 by the festival audience. The award was presented on the closing night of the festival, 28 March 2026, by Charelle Akihary on behalf of NPO, the Dutch national broadcaster, this year for the first time as official award partner.

Seven titles won awards on Wednesday 25 March during the Award Night of the Movies that Matter Festival 2026.

The Hague, 24 March 2026 — The NEFTi International Short Film Competition and the Movies that Matter Festival have announced a new partnership to support displaced filmmakers living in the European diaspora and across the African continent. The collaboration launches the 2026 NEFTi Competition, aimed at identifying and supporting emerging filmmakers whose perspectives are shaped by global displacement.

With the Dutch Focus competition, we create space for the Dutch film landscape and shine a spotlight on filmmakers from the Dutch film sector who, with courage and craftsmanship, tell stories about human rights, freedom, and social justice within and beyond the Netherlands.

The first titles of the Movies that Matter Festival 2026 have been announced! American Doctor by Poh Si Teng opens the festival on Friday 20 March. In addition, we highlight the eight nominees for the Grand Jury Documentary competition.

Movies that Matter will move forward with a single-director structure as of 16 April 2026. Artistic Director-Trustee Margje de Koning will take on the role of Managing Director-Trustee. Laurens Korteweg, who has served as Business Director-Trustee since September 2023, will leave the organisation following a carefully planned transition period. The decision has been taken in response to ongoing financial pressure and is aimed at safeguarding the organisation’s future.

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Our grant programme is proud to support a dynamic and diverse lineup of film festivals and initiatives this year, each harnessing the power of cinema to spark dialogue, inspire change, and amplify marginalised voices across the globe. From solar-powered mobile screenings in Zimbabwean communities to a Queer Film Festival honoring LGBTQIA+ stories in Nepal’s capital, these projects showcase the vital role cinema can play in fostering social justice and community empowerment.