The 28th Documentary Film Festival Closing Ceremony

18 March 2026
 
The short closing ceremony with the award ceremony was hosted by Pia Nikolič, with the song We Are the Seeds performed by Mohammed Jadallah (El Henry), a Palestinian rapper from Gaza, accompanied on guitar by Ali R Taha, a Slovenian artist of Syrian and Iraqi origin
 

Amnesty International Slovenia Human Rights Award
 
The international jury consisting of Áron Demeter, Sonja Prosenc and Kukla selected a winner among the five films competing for the Best Human Rights Documentary Award: The Thing to Be Done, The Dance of Life, Peacemaker, Nuns vs. the Vatican and Cutting Through Rocks. 

“The jury had the privilege of watching five powerful films of remarkable sensitivity and conviction. We thank the filmmakers for their bravery, concision and empathy in bringing these stories to the viewers. Each film opened a meaningful window into a different reality, reminding us of the power of cinema to illuminate human experience and to create space for reflection, dialogue, and understanding,” stated the jury members.

 
The 28th Documentary Film Festival Amnesty International Slovenia Best Human Rights Award goes to:
 
The Thing to Be Done (Ono što treba činiti)
Directed by: Srđan Kovačević
 
Jury statement
Sometimes great success comes from a tiny, overcrowded office. Defending the human rights of vulnerable people rarely means flashy and thrilling scenes but rather a handful of courageous and dedicated people sitting at their desks with their phones fighting for those who have no one else to turn to. Ono što treba činiti is a powerful reminder that systemic injustices can be confronted through unwavering solidarity, collective action, and courage, as well as through the persistent effort to compel the system to no longer tolerate such exploitation.
 
Special mention: 
Cutting Through Rocks  
Directed by: Mohammadreza Eyni, Sara Khaki
 
Jury statement
Cutting Through Rocks could have been a story about an extraordinary woman working to ensure that women in her community have a future. It could also have been a story about how dedication and persistence can bring meaningful change to a community, or a stark portrait of contemporary Iran, where women, even on the best days, are treated as second-class citizens. Through its compelling and clear-eyed storytelling the film becomes all of these at once. It honors Sara and the women who, in a society where equality itself is treated as a transgression, continue to resist the structures of patriarchy.