BANFF, Alberta—The Banff World Media Festival recently unveiled the winners of the 2025 Rockie Awards International Program Competition, in a historic ceremony that combined both the Rockie Awards and the Banff Gala Awards for the first time. This year’s event showcased an impressive array of talent, celebrating excellence in media from around the globe.
A panel of over 150 industry experts evaluated entries from 45 countries, including participants from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, France, and South Korea. The program this year received a particularly strong response, highlighting the diversity and creativity present in contemporary media.
The Grand Jury Prize, recognizing the highest-scoring submission, was awarded to the UK feature documentary Hell Jumper from Expectation Entertainment. The film chronicles the inspiring story of Chris Parry, a 28-year-old civilian who, along with a team of "evacuators," crowdfunded vehicles and resources to aid individuals fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.
In addition, the Prix Francophone went to the Quebec-based docuseries Teenagers, Être ado, produced by KOTV, which followed ten teenagers over a five-year span, providing a deeply personal look at their lives. Leonard Cohen: If It Be Your Will, a documentary by Peacock Alley Entertainment, received the Rogers Prize for Excellence in Canadian Content.
Previously announced Gala Honorees included acteur Stephan James, honored with the Canadian Award of Distinction, and producer Phil Rosenthal, who accepted the Award of Excellence. Esteemed composer Hans Zimmer was also recognized with the Career Achievement Award for his extensive work in film music. In a notable addition this year, South Korea was designated as the 2025 Country of Honour, a distinction accepted by Hyun Suk Yoo, president of the Korea Creative Content Agency.
The awards also recognized numerous programs across diverse categories. For Comedy & Variety, The Graham Norton Show from So Television in the UK took home the honor, while the Competition Series & Game Shows category was won by The Traitors UK, produced by Studio Lambert and BBC.
Other notable winners included Black Twitter: A People’s History for Docuseries, and The Travel Show – Vietnam: Return to Banana Garden Market for Lifestyle. The Reality Series award went to The Jury: Death on the Staircase from Northern Pictures in Australia.
Children’s programming was also highlighted, with awards going to My Life in Versailles for animated children’s series, and Tiddler for preschool animation, both showcasing international creative efforts. The Live Action: Youth category recognized Remnants, produced in Israel.
This year’s competitive landscape spanned various documentary genres, featuring remarkable titles like Jim Henson Idea Man and Sugarcane, among others, each reflecting pressing social issues, culture, and history.
The festival concluded with these achievements reflecting a rich tapestry of storytelling that resonates with global audiences. The community gathered at Banff celebrated not only individual accomplishments but also the strength and unity within the global media landscape.
The full list of winners can be found on the festival’s official site.
This article was automatically written by Open AI and may contain inaccuracies. Any article can be requested to be removed, retracted, or corrected by writing an email to contact@publiclawlibrary.org.