The 75th Berlin International Film Festival wrapped its Generation competition of children and youth films with honors for a diverse and powerful slate of directors, led by Irish filmmaker Brendan Canty, whose drama Christy took home the Grand Prize in the 14plus category.
A raw and deeply affecting coming-of-age story, Christy follows a 17-year-old boy navigating the streets of working-class Cork after being kicked out of his foster home. Reuniting with his estranged brother Shane, Christy finds himself at a crossroads, caught between the pull of his past and the possibility of a new future.
The international jury praised the film’s emotional authenticity and non-professional cast, stating, “This film bursts with energy and raw emotion, capturing a teenager’s search for belonging with striking realism. The director’s deep bond with the community shines through and makes every frame feel alive and fresh.”
Belgian director Maja-Ajmia Yde Zellama received a Special Mention for Têtes Brûlées, a moving portrait of a 12-year-old girl growing up in a Tunisian-Muslim family in Brussels, navigating grief after the sudden death of her older brother. “A bold yet gentle work,” the jury noted, lauding the film’s “visually fresh imagery and heartfelt storytelling.”
Meanwhile, the festival’s youth jury awarded its top honor, the Crystal Bear for Best Film, to Antoinette Jadaone’s Sunshine from the Philippines. The drama, centering on a promising young gymnast facing an unexpected pregnancy, was hailed as “an immersive reality that feels authentic and deeply moving.” The jury commended its “sensitive view on its modern and socially critical topic” and “dark, yet hopeful and empowering atmosphere.”
A Special Mention in the youth jury category went to Brazilian director Lucia Murat’s Hora do Recreio (Playtime), a documentary-fiction hybrid tackling issues of education, violence, and racism in Brazilian schools. “A film whose visuals alone left a profound impact on us,” the jury noted, emphasizing its urgent social message and innovative storytelling approach.