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Awards & Jury’s
The Sea Devil is the festival’s top prize for the best Fantastic feature film
The Sea Devil is Imagine’s prize for the best Fantastic feature film of the festival. The 2025 jury consisted of journalist Joost Broeren-Huitenga, writer and director Ashgan El-Hamus and sound designer Robil Rahantoeknam.
2025 winner: Mārama
From the jury report:
‘The films we had to watch as a jury represented the most diverse perspectives, in a way that we had not previously seen side-by-side like this. We were pleasantly surprised, but this made the final choice all the more difficult. This year’s winner of the Sea Devil Award manages to completely invert the Western colonial gaze. And, to our delight, does so from a female perspective in a revenge film. The film is nuanced, layered, and relatable, regardless of the viewer’s perspective. It is innovative and refreshing, and we hope to see much more from this filmmaker in the future!
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Competition and jury Méliès d’Argent for the best European Fantastic film
The Méliès d’Argent is awarded on behalf of the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF) to the best European Fantastic feature film and short film. This year’s jury for the Méliès d’Argent for best European Fantastic feature film consisted of filmmaker Jasper ten Hoor, animator Hisko Hulsing and Katrien Lamers, director of cinema at De Fabriek in Zaandam.
2025 winner: The Last Viking
From the jury report:
‘Not only did the film manage to maintain the balance between drama and comedy without descending into painful stereotypes about mental disorders, it alsoswitched from being incredibly crude to very tender and sweet. Additionally, the liberation of choosing one’s own identity is a beautifully topical theme. Although Anders Thomas Jensen has clearly developed a distinct style after ten Danish genre films, often featuring the same lead actors, The Last Viking still feels original and fresh. Nevertheless, the jury is eagerly anticipating the moment when Jensen chooses an entirely different route. But whether he chooses the innovative or the familiar, we hope this award will motivate him to continue his work in Fantastic cinema’
Competition and jury Méliès d’Argent for best Fantastic short film
The Méliès d’Argent is awarded on behalf of the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF) to the best European Fantastic feature film and short film. This year, the jury for the Méliès d’Argent for the best European Fantastic short film includes director Malu Janssen (who won this award last year), creative producer and designer Ragna Margarita and festival programmer Thomas Streekstra.
2025 winner: Radix (Anne Breymann)
From the jury report:
‘Amongst a highly diverse selection, with especially strong animation films, a melancholic fantastic short depicting an encounter between two lonely creatures stood out. In an organic, tactile, rooted and almost earthy style, the filmmaker transports us to a non-verbal surrealistic universe in which small details and movements have emotional impact. This quiet, intimate, heartwarming tale urges us to do what we all need so very much: showing true interest in ‘the other’ and blooming through the shared experience of connecting. Rooting us to grow.’
The Silver Scream Award (Audience Award)
The Silver Scream Award is Imagine’s infamous and coveted audience prize. During the festival, visitors can vote via QR codes after the screening. You are the jury!
Winner 2025: The Last Viking (dir Anders Thomas Jensen)
