With the awards ceremony and a special appearance by legendary Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi, who presented his new film alongside director Tolga Karaçelik, the 18th Mediterranean Film Festival Split concluded at the Bačvice Open-Air Cinema.

The FMFS Hook Award for Best Feature Film in the Mediterranean programme, accompanied by a cash prize of €2,000, was awarded to the Spanish film Deaf by director Eva Libertad.

“For its powerful, intimate and deeply human portrayal of a woman grappling with motherhood and identity in a world that often fails to understand her. Through outstanding performances, evocative direction, and masterful use of sound and silence, Deaf offers a brave and moving perspective that stays with the viewer long after the film ends. An important story told with clarity and compassion for its protagonists,” stated the jury in its decision.

The jury consisted of Ana Lazarević (President of the Montenegrin Cinema Exhibitors Network), Gregor Janežić (Cultural Centre Cerknica, Slovenia) and Filip Zadro (Kino Tuškanac, Zagreb), who also awarded a Special Mention to Souleyman’s Story. The same film received an award from the Youth Jury for, as they explained, “its masterful acting, excellent screenplay and the raw portrayal of the reality that surrounds us”.

FMFS offers the largest cash award for short films in the region, and the €3,000 prize for Best Film in the Ješke programme went to the Spanish film Blue Land by young director Marina Auclair March. The decision was made by a jury composed of Turkish director Tolga Karaçelik, Danijel Pek (producer and Artistic Director of the Pula Film Festival) and Veljko Popović, last year’s winner of the Ješke programme.

“Blue Land stood out as a complete and precise film in every aspect of filmmaking: screenplay, direction, acting, cinematography, editing, costume design and production design. Every frame is imbued with the Mediterranean. You can feel it, hear it, almost smell it. The film immerses us not only as viewers, but as participants in the story. With exceptional sensitivity and depth, it reveals the inner world of its protagonist, allowing us to understand and feel what she is going through,” explained the jury, which also awarded a Special Mention to Hi Mum, It’s Me, Lou Lou.

The Audience Award, accompanied by a €1,000 prize, went to In the Centre, directed by Luso Martinez.

“This closing night of FMFS, with the presence of Steve Buscemi and Tolga Karaçelik, marks the highlight of these unforgettable ten days. Our audience warmly welcomed the largest number of guests we have ever had, and all screenings were very well attended. Reactions to the films have been extremely positive, and I believe many of them will go on to achieve success in cinemas. I would like to thank all our partners, patrons, sponsors, media representatives and, of course, our audience – together we celebrated the Festival’s 18th birthday in the best possible way,” said Alen Munitić, Festival Director.