Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival
Winners Announced: September 16, 2025
Type your film name to find your award instantly
The Documentaries Without Borders International Film Festival stands out as a beacon of innovation in the dynamic world of filmmaking. Unlike traditional festivals that pit films against one another, we evaluate each film individually based on its inherent value and merit.
By focusing on the individual strengths and qualities of each film, our judges can delve deeper into the creative vision and technical execution of your work without being swayed by others' performances.
Important Note: Winning an award in a subcategory does NOT qualify for online screening or sending to our distributors. If your film did not make official selection status, we encourage you to request feedback and resubmit for free after improvements.
In order of importance
Categories: Health & Science
Country: United States
Writer/Producer/Director: Bill Haney
Cracking the Code, narrated by Mark Ruffalo, is an inspiring story of vision, perseverance, and the power of science to change the world. Phil Sharp's journey from a Kentucky farm boy to Nobel laureate embodies the American Dream and the triumph of entrepreneurial spirit.
| Film Title & Details | Award |
|---|---|
|
Croatia's Coast - Endless and Wild
Wildlife/Nature/Animals
Austria
|
BEST OF SHOW |
|
Greenwood Is Still Burning
Social Issues
Canada
|
BEST OF SHOW |
|
Hunting the Catfish Crime Gang
Investigative Documentaries
Ireland
|
BEST OF SHOW |
|
If Not For You
Human Spirit
Sweden
|
BEST OF SHOW |
|
Memory for burial (LM-SE)
Historical Documentaries
France
|
BEST OF SHOW |
|
Saturday, October 7
Documentary
United States
|
BEST OF SHOW |
|
A Stone Unturned
Health, Research (sub-category)
United States
|
BEST OF SHOW: Health OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE: Research |
|
Team Ocean Quest - The Impossible Journey
Ocean Life Documentaries
United States
|
BEST OF SHOW |
|
There is Another Way
Revolution and Reform
United States
|
BEST OF SHOW |
| Film Title & Details | Award |
|---|---|
|
725km of Culture: Running Across Guatemala
Social Issues
Guatemala
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Abebe-Butterfly Song
Music documentaries
Australia
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
AIDS REVOLUTION
Documentary
France
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Afeni shakur and the trial of the Panther 21
Documentary
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
All Our Yesterday
Historical Documentaries
Ireland
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Almost Zero
Documentary, Environmental, Zero Budget
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Another Place
Documentary
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Banned Together
Social Issues
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
The blue above and the gold within
Social Issues
Italy
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Broken & Beautiful
Human Spirit
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Calm The F**k Down
Social Issues
Australia
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Cancelled: The Rise and Fall of Aung San Suu Kyi
Documentary
United Kingdom
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Children in the Fire
Documentary
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Class of Her Own
Documentary
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
The Club That George Built
Human Spirit, Sports
United Kingdom
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Dad Bods
Health, Science
Canada
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
I Died
Documentary
Mexico
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Dissection
Documentary
Australia
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Diversion Courts: Treatment, Not Punishment
Documentary
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Even So (Phir Bhi)
Wildlife/Nature/Animals
United Kingdom
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Family Ties
Documentary
Switzerland
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Fearless Queen of the Night
Wildlife/Nature/Animals
Slovenia
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
HIDDEN - The Kati Preston Story
Docu-drama Feature
Canada
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Hidden Life / Vida Escondida
Documentary
Netherlands
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Hunted in Kherson
Investigative Documentaries
Ukraine
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Ida Rolf - Mother of Fascia
Biography
Switzerland
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Kasturba Gandhi: Accidental Activist
Biography, Documentary
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Leopards of Londolozi
Wildlife/Nature/Animals
South Africa
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
The Life That Remains
Documentary, Docu-drama Feature, Human Spirit
Egypt, Palestine
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Little Piece of Sugar
Documentary, Health, Sports, Zero Budget
France
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Marks of Majesty
Social Issues
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Matahari — The Sun of Tiganderket
Biography
Indonesia
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
The OC Effect
Documentary, Fashion Documentaries
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
One Voice: Searching for Michael Spears
Social Issues
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Operation Wolf Foster
Wildlife/Nature/Animals
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Our Warrior: The Story of Robbie Thorpe
Human Spirit
Australia
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Penalty
Documentary
Mexico
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
The Red List
Environmental
United Kingdom
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Saffron Robe
Documentary, Human Spirit, Religion/Faith
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Slaughter of Ghosts. How Russian Prisoners Fight in Ukraine
Investigative Documentaries
Czech Republic
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
SOCA RIVER / SLOVENIA
Documentary
Slovakia
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
The Strongman and the Last Days of the Khmer Rouge
Documentary
Australia
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Tainan 400 Mail Art
Documentary
Taiwan
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
TIGERS-Tracking a Legend Film Documentary
Wildlife/Nature/Animals
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Together we Stand
Documentary
Greece
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Under Mango Trees
Social Issues
Switzerland
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
VOICES of VALOR: World War II Heroes in Their Own Words
Historical Documentaries
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Wait Until Tomorrow
Social Issues
United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
War Medicine: Stories from Ukraine
Health
Ukraine, United States
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
#WAY_LamaTenzing
Human Spirit
Germany
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
We Lend a Hand: The Forgotten Story of Ontario Farmerettes
Documentary
Canada
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Wof Zerash Coffee
Environmental
United Kingdom
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
You Were Chosen, Secrets of Closed Adoption
Social Issues
Australia, United Kingdom
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
|
Yellow House Afghanistan
Documentary
Afghanistan
|
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
| Film Title & Details | Award |
|---|---|
10 Toes Down (2025) Sports Kenya | EXCELLENCE |
Aftershock of a Trauma Documentary United States | EXCELLENCE |
Apology to Earth Ocean Life Documentaries United States | EXCELLENCE |
The Art of Trees Wildlife/Nature/Animals Canada | EXCELLENCE |
The Automotive Human Environmental Austria | EXCELLENCE |
Baka, The Wisdom Of The Forest Environmental Cameroon, Portugal | EXCELLENCE |
Being a pilot, two perspectives. Human Spirit Canada | EXCELLENCE |
Beings in FUKUSHIMA Ukedo. Documentary Japan | EXCELLENCE |
Beyond the Conflict Student India, United Kingdom | EXCELLENCE |
Beyond Physical Life Documentary United States | EXCELLENCE |
Bill W Conscious Contact Documentary, Docu-drama Feature United States | EXCELLENCE |
Blood On the Tracks Human Spirit Mexico | EXCELLENCE |
Courage to Thrive Documentary United States | EXCELLENCE |
Crossed Paths, Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science Documentary Peru | EXCELLENCE |
The Disease Detective Looks at Aphasia Science United States | EXCELLENCE |
A Dream Called Khushi (Happiness) Student United States | EXCELLENCE |
Dream a World Documentary United States | EXCELLENCE |
From Earth to Earth: The Lost Art of Dying in America Environmental United States | EXCELLENCE |
From opposition to support:Wang Ming-Xiang better known as Coach Pistons witnessed the transformation of the Fou Docu-drama Short Taiwan | EXCELLENCE |
The Enlightened Zone Documentary, Religion/Faith Hong Kong | EXCELLENCE |
La Esperanza Documentary Puerto Rico | EXCELLENCE |
Food Soldiers Documentary Benin, Mali, Nigeria | EXCELLENCE |
The Foot: A Community Remembered Documentary United States | EXCELLENCE |
The Forcados: Brotherhood of the Bulls Travel/Culture/Arts United States | EXCELLENCE |
Forgiveness Documentary Canada, Ireland | EXCELLENCE |
From Depression With Love Docu-drama Feature Australia | EXCELLENCE |
Gerry Adams: A Ballymurphy Man Revolution and Reform Mexico | EXCELLENCE |
The Gift of Darkness Human Spirit United States | EXCELLENCE |
GREAT GYPSY RAID: A GENOCIDE HISTORY (ENGLISH SUBTITLES) Docu-drama Feature Spain | EXCELLENCE |
Grindavik Sports Iceland | EXCELLENCE |
Hell in Paradise Environmental Switzerland | EXCELLENCE |
Journey for a dream Zero Budget Mexico | EXCELLENCE |
Kūkai Biography, Religion/Faith China | EXCELLENCE |
When Maharishi Came to Town Human Spirit United States | EXCELLENCE |
The Medici prophecy, the first christian Kabbalah Travel/Culture/Arts Italy | EXCELLENCE |
Meeting the Buddha Documentary United Kingdom | EXCELLENCE |
OUT OF THE CAVE Human Spirit Italy | EXCELLENCE |
Nature Provides - The Ancient Wisdom of Plant Stem Cells Health United States | EXCELLENCE |
Peixinho (Little Fish) Ocean Life Documentaries, Zero Budget United Kingdom | EXCELLENCE |
PEKIN. Whole life for the club. Human Spirit Poland | EXCELLENCE |
People of the wide waters Ocean Life Documentaries Russian Federation | EXCELLENCE |
The Phoenix of Gaza Documentary Palestine | EXCELLENCE |
pleco Student United States | EXCELLENCE |
Rahyab Docu-drama Short, Human Spirit Afghanistan | EXCELLENCE |
reEarth ...Rights of Nature Documentary Australia | EXCELLENCE |
Remember me - one year later Documentary, Docu-drama Short, Human Spirit, Student United States | EXCELLENCE |
Rocketship Human Spirit United States | EXCELLENCE |
THE SAINT OF BROOKLYN Docu-drama Feature Italy | EXCELLENCE |
Seeking Judhuri Human Spirit United States | EXCELLENCE |
Second Chance Youth Issues United States | EXCELLENCE |
A Social Design Story, Humanscapes: Documenting Society with Salgado and others Documentary Italy | EXCELLENCE |
Some love In Pondicherry LGBT France | EXCELLENCE |
Spring awakens Documentary Iceland | EXCELLENCE |
It Stops With Me Health United States | EXCELLENCE |
Taha's Theorem Human Spirit United States | EXCELLENCE |
Texas City Human Spirit, Student United States | EXCELLENCE |
Trail Mix Documentary United States | EXCELLENCE |
The Ukrainian Treasure - to war for history Documentary Denmark | EXCELLENCE |
A Wall Overgrown Student Germany, United States | EXCELLENCE |
Water from a Stone Revolution and Reform Canada | EXCELLENCE |
Zero Limits Documentary United States | EXCELLENCE |
| Film Title & Details | Award |
|---|---|
Afghanistan Social Issues Italy | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Agnes Heller: Philosopher, Dissident, Activist Documentary United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Ambition is a Drug Human Spirit Canada | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Art Show. Why Bother? Human Spirit United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
On the Backs of our Ancestors Historical Documentaries United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Boulder Kirtan Fever Human Spirit United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
The Conspiracists Documentary United Kingdom | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Cordy Docu-drama Short United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Etaf Student Slovenia | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Exile Never Ends Documentary Germany | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
A Favela Thing Social Issues Brazil | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Forever Families: Untold Soldiers' Stories of World War II Documentary United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Freelance Beaver Detective Wildlife/Nature/Animals United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT | A Documentary on the Hope and Resilience of Ukrainian Refugee Children Human Spirit United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
„THE GENERATIONS OF MEDIA" - „Music is Dead ?" Documentary Austria | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Gold Fevers in Black and White. Episode 1. The Vortex: a history of violence Documentary Colombia | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Got To Be Free - A Village Drums of Freedom Story Music documentaries Germany | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Group Home Gradz Documentary, Social Issues, Youth Issues United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Haïti, 10 years ans 37 seconds later Documentary France | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Halal Dreams Docu-drama Short United Arab Emirates | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
The Hammer And The Stein Music documentaries Italy | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Heal avec Delphine Health United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
I Hear You! Human Spirit Canada | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
It's Time Documentary United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Jimmy Carter Tribute Docu-drama Short United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Lia: Body of Work Docu-drama Short, Documentary United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
MAIO Urban Exploration Portugal | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Mangyan Ambahan: Wisdom for Our Filipino Soul Travel/Culture/Arts Philippines | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Michigan Visits Matter: The Family Cost of Incarceration Social Issues United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Musical Journeys with the Black Madonna in Southern Italy Travel/Culture/Arts United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
The New Immigrants- Hong Kongers Student United Kingdom | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
NYAA WA Music documentaries Australia | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Plastic Tourism Environmental Indonesia | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Project 101: A Hundred Farmers & One Documentary India | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Roots Documentary Switzerland | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
SHALOM PASSION; Never Again is NOW! Documentary United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
This Stitching Will Last Documentary United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Redacted Dreams Human Spirit, Social Issues Canada | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Skates and Steel Documentary Italy | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Thelisis Human Spirit Greece | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Through the Body: The Story of the International Body Music Festival Documentary United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Tibet U.S. Resettlement Project Documentary United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
A Very Sad Fairytale Documentary Bulgaria | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Warriors Biography United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Who Said You Can't Dance Docu-drama Short United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
Four Women of Gulu Town Documentary United States | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
| Film Title & Details | Award |
|---|---|
54 & Counting Documentary United States | MERIT |
BATTLE KIND "THE MOVEMENT" Music documentaries United States | MERIT |
Bishop Simon Gordon Documentary United States | MERIT |
Broad Minded City Documentary United States | MERIT |
Caught Between Cultures: The Asian American Beauty Dilemma Student United States | MERIT |
I dare you to climb Mount Matutum Documentary United States | MERIT |
The Deep Dive Docu-drama Short United States | MERIT |
Divine Visitations Documentary United States | MERIT |
THE ELDERS Travel/Culture/Arts Ireland | MERIT |
House on the Plateau Documentary | MERIT |
Our Land Social Issues Guadeloupe | MERIT |
JAKE LGBT Switzerland | MERIT |
The Last Howl Wildlife/Nature/Animals Canada | MERIT |
Later is Too Late Documentary Canada | MERIT |
Mission Peace 2 Documentary United States | MERIT |
My Name is Khatri Documentary United States | MERIT |
Places of Valour: A Soldier's Pilgrimage to Angola Historical Documentaries South Africa | MERIT |
Sometimes Triumphant Biography United States | MERIT |
The Songwriters Club Documentary United States | MERIT |
Staunch Moderates Experience Live, Virtual Concert Music documentaries United States | MERIT |
Tarik Shah: Don't Play Like Them Documentary United States | MERIT |
Ten Cents: The Photography of Mike Flynn Documentary United States | MERIT |
Turnbull Canyon: A Road Unwound Urban Exploration United States | MERIT |
An Undoing Social Issues United States | MERIT |
Vanishing: A Love Story Documentary United States | MERIT |
Velvet Vision - The Story of James Bidgood (and the Making of Pink Narcissus) Documentary United States | MERIT |
"Victoria: Triumph of Puerto Rican Theater!" Biography Puerto Rico | MERIT |
VITALITY Documentary, Human Spirit, Sports China | MERIT |
Winning an award in a subcategory does NOT qualify for online screening or sending to our distributors.
| Film Title & Details | Award |
|---|---|
Antarctica: At the Intersection of Technology and Climate Action Research (sub-category) | EXCELLENCE |
Beyond Impulse Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery (sub-category) Switzerland | EXCEPTIONAL MERIT |
The Human Side Of Plastic: Babacar Thiaw Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery, Motivational/Inspirational (sub-category) United States | OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
Interpreting Erik - Available with English &/Or Spanish Subtitles Viewer Impact: Motivational/Inspirational (sub-category) Canada | MERIT |
MARICON Docu-drama Short, Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery (sub-category) United States | MERIT |
Mr. Z: What Happens Early in Life Lasts a Lifetime Viewer Impact: Motivational/Inspirational (sub-category) United States | EXCELLENCE |
OUTRAGE: The Life and Times of Al Katz Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery (sub-category) United States | OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE |
SOSPESI Original Score (sub-category) Italy | MERIT |
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