Barcelona, November 9, 2025. The jury of the Official Section of the Asian Film Festival Barcelon2025 (AFFBCN) has awarded the Best Film prize to The botanist, directed by Chinese filmmaker Jing Yi, who also received the award for Best Director.
The jury highlighted The botanist as a poignant coming-of-age story, experienced through the memories of loss and set in a world of ecological wonder. It also praised Jing Yi for the poetic expression of a unique voice with a universal message, supported by understated performances and an atmosphere situated on a remote frontier.
In the Official Selection, Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, director of The Witness, has received the award for Best Screenplay, while the film Me Maryam, the Children and 26 Others, also from Iran, has received a special mention.
El AFFBCN 2025 featured four additional juries who awarded prizes in the Official Panorama, Discoveries, Netpac and Special sections, all of which were competitive:
Official Section
• Best Picture: The botanist (China), directed by Jing Yi
• Best Direction: The botanist (China), directed by Jing Yi
• Best Screenplay: The Witness (Iran), by Jafar Panahi
• Special Mention: Me Maryam, the Children and 26 Others (Iran), by Farshad Hashemi
Official Panorama Section
• Best Picture (Tied): Like a Rolling Stone | Yi Lichuan | China | 2024
As the River Goes By | Charles Hu | China | 2024
• Best Direction: Some Nights Feel Like Walking | Petersen Vargas | Philippines | 2024
• Best Screenplay: Crocodile Tears | Tumpal Tampubolon | Indonesia | 2024
• Special Mention: Resurrection | Bi Gan | China | 2025
• Special Mention (Actor): 3670 | Park Joon-ho | South Korea | 2025
Netpac Section
• Best Picture: Yasmeen's Element (Pakistan), directed by Amman Abbasi
• Best Direction: Maksud Hossain (Bangladesh) by Saba
• Best Screenplay: Bird of a Different Feather (India)
• Special Mention: 366th day (Mongolia).
Discoveries Section
• Best Picture: Pope (Hong Kong).
• Best Director: Min Bahadur Bham (Nepal) for shambhala
• Best Screenplay: Second Chance (India)
• Special Mention: In the Arms of the Tree (Iran)
Special Section
• Best Picture: The Sharp Edge of Peace (Afghanistan), by director Roya Sadat
• Best Director: Manijeh Hekmat for Fear & Trembling (Iran)
• Best Screenplay: K-Number (Korea)
• Special Mentions: Aruan Anartayev (Kazakhstan) for Joqtau, and the script of Tehran, an Unfinished Historyby Saeed Nouri
New Perspectives
• Best Picture: Midwives | Hnin Ei Hlaing | Myanmar | 2022
• Best Direction: Phantosmia | Lav Diaz | Philippines | 2024
• Best Screenplay: Montages of a Modern Motherhood | OC Siu-kuen | Hong Kong | 2024
• Special Mention: 366th day | Tsegmid Orgodol | Mongolia | 2024
Audience Award
• Best Picture: Sunshine | Antoinette Jadaone | Philippines| 2024
Movies most voted by the public
• Resurrection | Bi Gan | China | 2025
• Ravens | Mark Gill | Japan | 2024
• Her story | Shao Yihui | China | 2024
Valuation of AFFBCN 2025
The director of AFFBCN, Menene Gras Balaguer, has positively assessed this edition, highlighting the A qualitative leap in the consolidation of the festival and the recognition of its programmingThe festival was accompanied by an excellent public response, with several screenings selling out. It also highlighted the presence of international filmmakers such as the Afghan Roya Sadat, the Iranian Saeed Nouri, the Korean Lee Mi Rang, the Filipinos Nick Deocampo, Ryan Machado and Antoinette Jadaone, the Japanese Miwako Van Weyenberg, the Kazakh Malika Mukhamejan, and the Indian Aditiya Kripala.
El AFFBCN 2025, held between October 29 and November 9, has projected more than 120 films from 23 countries from the Asia-Pacific region. Among the participating countries, productions from Japan (21 films), China (19), the Philippines (15), Iran (13), and India (7) stood out. In addition, emerging film industries such as Mongolia, Nepal, Indonesia, and Vietnam were present, each with its own unique characteristics, reflecting a growing dynamism and a distinct voice within the Asian film scene.
The venues have been CaixaForum, Cinemes Girona, French Institute, Confucius Institute Foundation of Barcelona, Zumzeig, Casa Seat and Soho House, while the online programming has been offered on Filmin and on the Betevé channel.
The director expressed her gratitude for the institutional support received, including the Catalan Institute of Cultural Enterprises (ICEC) of the Generalitat of Catalonia, the Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB) of the Barcelona City Council and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office-Brussels.
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