The Winners of the 23nd Krakow Mountain Festival

The 23rd Krakow Mountain Festival is behind us. In addition to great guests, inspiring lectures, lively discussions, and highly popular workshops, KFG is also a solid dose of culture: literature, theatre (for the first time this year), and of course film. Yesterday, a ceremonial gala was held during which the winners of the Polish and International Film Competitions were announced.

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As part of the film competitions, we screened more than 30 films on the big screen. The jury—Kinga Baranowska, Marco Ribetti, and Dariusz Załuski—decided who would receive this year’s awards and distinctions.

GRAN PRIX 23. KFG (sponsor PZU)

„Champions of the Golden Valley”, dir. Ben Sturgulewski, USA, 2024

In the jury’s justification we read (Marco Ribetti):

Formally impeccable, it exploits every possibility of the cinematic medium to convey its message: photography, editing, music, everything converges to heighten the viewer’s emotion, to feel the protagonists’ reality.

Best Mountaineering Film

„The Cruel Way”, dir. Deyan Bararev, Bułgaria, 2025

Jury’s statement (Kinga Baranowska):

A film where the history of the mythical Bulgarian expedition to the Everest West ridge is completely rewritten thanks to the actual political situation of that country. The protagonists can finally speak without communistic restrictions and offer us a new exciting truth.

Best Climbing Film

„Eternal Solo”, dir. Andrea Cossu, Włochy, 2025

Jury’s statement (Dariusz Załuski):

The nine-day solo ascent of the Eternal Flame route on the Nameless Tower, was an exceptional feat in itself. Filming it without on-wall crews, yet with high-quality images, is truly unique, allowing us all to share in those moments. At the same time, careful direction allows us to get to know the protagonist intimately.

The Best Mountain Culture, Nature, People Film

„Ghost Resorts. Super Saint-Bernard”, dir. Julien Roserens, Jules Guarneri, Francja, 2025

Jury’s statement (Marco Ribetti):

The story of a small ski resort located on the border between Italy and Switzerland, from the euphoria of its early years to the melancholy of its closure. It could simply be an honest promotional film for a major ski brand, but the passion for skiing and the love for these places, combined with the filmmakers’ skill, let us understand what that place meant to the surrounding communities, to those who lived and worked there, to the former weekenders, and to the ski mountaineers who continue to return today.

Best Adventure/Exploration Film (Camp)

„Robson”, dir. Philip Forsey, Kanada, 2025

Jury’s statement (Kinga Baranowska):

The history of the steep sky descents from the highest Canadian Rocky Mountains peak is narrated from the early attempts until the last achievements, with amazing historical and new footage in a perfect mix that drive us in a journey through different times.

Best Socially Engaged Cinema (Patagonia)

„The Future of Climbing”, dir. Guillaume Broust, Francja, 2025

Jury’s statement (Dariusz Załuski):

Cedric Lachat takes us on a climb on the world’s most famous crags with climbing stars, and the film is constructed with spectacular, adrenaline-fueled images, the style we’re accustomed to. But in this case, he and his companions become “opinion leaders” who offer different thoughts for the climbing community, offering the opportunity to reflect about the future of climbing and its spirit of freedom that risks being lost forever. The small world of climbing becomes a mirror of much more serious problems facing our planet.

Best Polish Film (Petzl)

„Bushido. Wybór”, dir. Marcin Tomaszewski, Polska, 2025

Jury (Marco Ribetti):

The mountaineer is portrayed as a samurai, with his own inner journey, often tormented and difficult, which leads him to make the best choices for the ascent and for life. A complex theme, developed through an alternation between realistic images of mountaineering and other decidedly dreamlike ones, which flirt with the Japanese imagination, creating a truly evocative work.

Second Award in Polish Competition

„Creators”, dir. Wojtek Kozakiewicz, Polska, 2025

Jury (Dariusz Załuski):

An artistic approach that allows the public to know the difficult work of the climbing boulders creators. The balance between the black and white photography and the rhythm of the editing is perfect.

Special Mention

„Run again”, dir. Alexis Berg, Francja, 2025

Jury (Kinga Baranowska):

The protagonist Dave Pen certainly helps, but the director adds his own and the result is a film that, talking about sport – an extreme winter ultra trail – and music – that of Archive in which Dave sings -, mixing with always appropriate rhythm beautiful images, words and thoughts, manages to tell the deepest aspects of a person.

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We are still waiting for the results of the audience vote.