Award Winners for the Ghent Viewpoint Documentary Film Festival 2026 announced!

 

The 2026 edition of the Ghent Viewpoint Documentary Film Festival came to an end after a week of screening documentary film gems coming from all around the world. Since Studio Skoop is temporarily closed, the festival took place at Ghent's most cosy independent cinema Velvet Room, where guests could also enjoy a free drink and interact with the filmmakers: Victoire Boninn, Floriane Hernalsteens, Chloé Wasp, Vincent Terlinchamp, Laura De Baudringhien and Daphne van den Blink.

 

“As I look back on this year’s edition of the Viewpoint Documentary Film Festival, I’m struck above all by the incredible breadth of stories that came to life on screen. From deeply personal narratives to urgent global issues, the selection of short and feature documentaries formed a rich mosaic of perspectives—each film opening a window into realities that might otherwise remain unseen. This edition was, in many ways, an unusual one for us. With our main venue temporarily closed, we had to adapt and move into a smaller space. There were initial concerns, of course—but what we discovered instead was something quite special. The intimacy of the setting brought audiences and films closer together, creating a shared experience that felt more immediate, more human. The response was overwhelmingly positive; people didn’t just watch the films, they connected—with the stories, and with each other. At the same time, our online streaming selection reached new heights, with a record-breaking number of viewers tuning in from across the world. It reinforced the idea that while the physical space may have been smaller, the reach and impact of the festival only grew stronger.” says festival director Kris De Meester. 

 

Ghent Viewpoint Documentary Film Festival is pleased to share with you this morning the award winners of 2026:

 

Best Documentary Feature Film: 

The Watchman (Belgium) by Victoire Bonin, Lou Du Pontavice

 

Best Documentary Short:

Hooked (United Kingdom) by Glen Fulthorpe

 

Best Experimental Documentary Film: 

Tainted by the Visual (United Kingdom) by Laura Calzada

 

Best Underground Documentary Film: 

A Man Imagined (Canada) by Melanie Shatzky, Brian M. Cassidy

 

Best Cinéma Vérité Film:

Standby (Belgium) by Daphne van den Blink

 

Best Essay Film: 

How it begins (France) by Chloé Wasp

 

Best Connecting Cultures Film: 

Inferior Shadows (Iran) by Ramin Khalighi

 

Best LGBTQ+ Documentary Film: 

Scattered Pictures (United States) by Ibai Vigil-Escalera, Jose André Sibaja

 

Best Hybrid Documentary Film: 

The Insides of our Lives (Netherlands) by Misja Pekel

 

Best Super Short Documentary Film

Bits & Pieces (Belgium) by Laura De Baudringhien

 

Best Belgian Documentary Feature Film: 

The Watchman (Belgium) by Victoire Bonin, Lou Du Pontavice

 

Best Belgian Documentary Short Film:

Moving on (Belgium) by Vincent Terlinchamp

 

Audience Choice Award:

Matahari — The Sun of Tiganderket (Indonesia) by Bagoes Kresnawan

 

Congratulations to all!

 

The Ghent Viewpoint Documentary Film Festival would like to thank  Velvet Room for their continued support, and all guests for coming out to enjoy another week full of independent documentary cinema.

 

Starting today, filmmakers can submit their work to the 2027 edition of the festival: https://filmfreeway.com/viewpointdocfest. See you all next year!