🏆 BIUFF's Foundational & Special Awards

These 10 awards form the core pillars of the BIUFF philosophy, honoring the achievements that define the spirit of our festival.

👑 The "4U" Grand Prize This is our festival's highest honor, transcending all categories. The "4U" Trophy is awarded to the one singular work per edition that most powerfully embodies all four of our foundational principles: Uncensored, Uncompromising, Unconventional, and Unbound.

🤝 BIUFF Jury Honor This special award is bestowed upon a filmmaker who has created a work of exceptional audacity and innovation. The recipient will receive an exclusive invitation to join our main jury for the next festival edition, helping to shape the future of BIUFF.

🧭 The Production Navigator Award In a pioneering, first-of-its-kind international initiative, BIUFF presents this major award to the unsung heroes of independent cinema: the Line Producers and Production Managers. This award celebrates the art of crisis management and smart decision-making under difficult circumstances. (Includes the "Next Project Production Grant" from the Kariz Creative Hub).

💥 Underground Spirit Award This award goes to the film that most powerfully represents the raw, authentic, and defiant soul of underground cinema.

🇩🇪 Berlin Film Award A special tribute to our host city and endless source of inspiration. This award honors the best film that captures the spirit of Berlin—whether through a story told on its streets or through the rebellious, creative energy that is in the city's DNA. This award is our unbreakable bond with the capital of European underground cinema.

🌱 Best First-Time Filmmaker Honoring the audacious vision and promising talent of a director's first feature or short film.

🕊️ Human Rights Cinema Award For courageous films that shine a light on critical social issues and give a voice to the voiceless.

🌍 Environmental Cinema Award Honoring films that explore the fragility of our planet and challenge us to rethink our relationship with the environment.

♀️ Best Female Director Dedicated to supporting and celebrating the unique vision and powerful storytelling of female directors.

🎓 Best Student Film Celebrating the next generation of defiant filmmakers and the fresh, unfiltered voices emerging from film schools worldwide.

🎬 Main Competition Awards

• Best Feature Film (Narrative, Documentary, Animation)

• Best Short Film (Narrative, Documentary, Animation)

• Best Music Video

• Best Mobile Film

• Best One-Minute Film

• Best AI-Generated Short Film

• Best Screenplay (Feature & Short)

🎥 Craft & Performance Awards

• Best Director

• Best Performance (a single, gender-neutral award)

• Best Cinematography

• Best Editing

• Best Production Design (incl. Art Direction, Costume & Makeup)

• Best Sound Design