2025 CATALOGUE | FINALISTS | SHORTLIST: R · T · D | 2025 COMPETITION
Elke Tschaikner (ORF, Austria), Marie Virginie Mbuhnum (CRTV, Cameroon), Adriana Kramarić (HRT, Croatia), Kitano Yuko (NHK, Japan).
The President: Elke Tschaikner (ORF, Austria).
Republika Zahradníiíiíiíiíi (Republic of Zahradníiíiíiíiíi)
Concept: Loré Lixenberg, Fesrt Dadler. Direction, Sound: Ladislav Železný. Narrating Voices: Loré Lixenberg, Ladislav Železný. Actors: Ran Jiao, Jana Látalová, Loré Lixenberg, Barbora Matějková, Inga Zotova-Mikshin, Roman Zotov-Mikshin, Elia Moretti, Matěj Pour, Zden Brungot Svíteková, Lucie Vrbíková. Sound, Editing: Loré Lixenberg, Elia Moretti. Music Composition: Loré Lixenberg, Elia Moretti.
This radio production is not just a broadcast. Those who listen to it become citizens of a sounding republic: citizens of Republika Zahradníiíiíiíiíi. This project is truly innovative because it reflects on the perception of sound and our environment in an unconventional way, redefining the space of radio in a highly creative manner. A new composition, sounds and field recordings: languages, voices and instruments; live events, reflections on community and audience participation; nature, ecological aspects, and above all, a subtle sense of humour. All of this can be found in this highly musical radio piece, which makes listening itself the most important theme. Listening as a journey of discovery into the sounds of humans and nature, as a democratic experience, listening even as a micro-political act. The Jury greatly appreciated all these aspects that come together in this work of art, which lets us think about important questions of society in such a sensitive way. And above all, we want to emphasize that the Jury especially enjoyed the humorous lightness that the piece conveys. The inventors defined their Republic as a place, where we all exist through listening, because it is listening, that brings us together. We highly appreciate that Czech Radio has commissioned this major musical production. We believe that making contemporary music and art possible is one of the most enjoyable and important tasks of public broadcasting.
Rostropovitch, le violoncelle en liberté (Rostropovitch, The Cello of Freedom)
Wildly Tender Is Thy Music – Lieder aus dem Moor (Wildly Tender Is Thy Music – Songs from the Moor)
Geneviève Levasseur (CBC/SRC, Canada), Antti Karhumäki (YLE, Finland), Kevin Reynolds (RTÉ, Ireland), Toms Andris Putniņš (LSM, Latvia), Aleksandra Urošević (RTS, Serbia), Peter Pavlac (STVR, Slovakia), Ersoy Haktanir (TRT, Türkiye), Yevhenii Chyzh (SUSPILNE UKRAINE, Ukraine).
The President: Aleksandra Urošević (RTS, Serbia).
Ballade de la baleine (The Ballad of the Beluga)
Author: David Lescot. Direction: Sabine Zovighian, Samuel Hirsch. Actor: Ludmilla Dabo, Antoine Sarrazin et Emma Liégeois. Editing: Sabine Zovighian. Producing Organisation: ARTE Radio.
We believe that what makes this piece remarkable is its deep devotion to the radiophonic form, a cross-generational resonance and a clever way of introducing important topics to a very young audience.
Truth, Love or Promise
Saint Joan of the Anthropocene
Fernando Farías (RTA, Argentina), Md. Ariful Islam Arif (BB, Bangladesh), Perrine Kervran (ARTE FRANCE, France), Wolfgang Schiller (ARD, Germany), Fabiana Carobolante (RAI, Italy), Gregory Catella (SRG SSR, Switzerland), Munazza Khan (BBC, United Kingdom), Rosario Tronnolone (RV, Vatican State).
The President: Perrine Kervran (ARTE FRANCE, France).
Malheur niveau 2 (Misfortune Level 2)
Author, Narrating Voice: Violette Gitton. Direction: Violette Gitton, Samuel Hirsch. Producing Organisation: ARTE Radio.
The Radio documentary jury is really happy and proud to award the Prix Italia to Malheur Niveau 2. This work gives to hear the every day life of a group of people who are hospitalised in a psychiatric clinic. One of them is Violette Gitton, and what we hear was recorded on her phone that became the black-box of this collective journey. It is also a reflection on how much we all share with mental disorder, and how artificial the line is between sane and insane. It is a warm, touching and sensitive point of view on love, family, pain and mental disorder. Through living scenes, confessions and a very strong narration Violette Gitton builds a choral story that sometimes even sings. We would like to praise the original and honest voice of Violette Gitton as an author that offered us an never heard glimpse on what we call mental illness. The Jury would also like to underline the production's attempt to try new ways of producing without being afraid to let go some of their own conservative principles.
Le piège (The Trap)
Tested
Edlira Roqi (RTSH, Albania), Kristýna Mazánková (ČT, Czech Republic), Pernille Munk Esmark Skydsgaard (DR, Denmark), Tony Mekhael (ART, Egypt), Johannes Dicke (ZDF, Germany), Nakashima Yasuhito (NHK, Japan), Volodymyr Omelchenko (SUSPILNE UKRAINE, Ukraine).
The President: Pernille Munk Esmark Skydsgaard (DR, Denmark).
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days
Direction: Omori Kensho, Senzaki Sou. Narrating Voice: Min Tanaka. Sound Track: Hoshuyama Yota. Editing: Nakajima Tatsuro. Photography: Hodai Norio. Producers: Nakamura Naofumi, Sado Taketoshi, Matsumiya Kenichi (Prod. Manager).
In its own very fine way this documentary shows the last time in the life of composer and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. His family gave NHK trust and access to an impressive amount of hours of private footage, diaries and notes, in making and sharing this fine story of Sakamoto's work and art. The film's tonality balances at a very fine line and never becomes melodramatic or sentimental but just stays true to Sakamoto's rare and giving personality in a very respectful and sensitive way. We as a viewer clearly sense the importance of art in Sakamoto's life, and that leaves the viewer in an inspired mood full of life and hope. Instead of being a film about death and sorrow it aspires into something about hope and love, and starting a important discussion about the continuity of life and death, breaking down the taboo about death in modern society. In gloomy times like these it is to feel the authenticity of life and love, and what art and nearness can bring to you as an individual. Respecting the human dignity.
Cranko
Królowa Leokadia (Queen Leokadia)
Alba Kepi (ORA, Albania), Nathan Farr (CBC/SRC, Canada), Nana Šojlev (HRT, Croatia), Leonardo Ferrara (RAI, Italy), Worood Alkhazali (JRTV, Jordan), Wensly Francisco (NPO, The Netherlands), Gena Teodosievska (MRT, North Macedonia), Karolina Socha Kalinowska (TVP, Poland), Umesh Kumar Vohra (TRT, Türkiye).
The President: Gena Teodosievska (MRT, North Macedonia).
Whiskey on the Rocks
Authors: Henrik Jansson-Schweizer, Patrick Nebout, Björn Stein. Script: Henrik Jansson-Schweizer; Jonas Jonasson (Story). Director: Björn Stein. Actors: Rolf Lassgård, Elsa Saisio, Per Lasson, Per Ragnar, Mark Noble, Anders Mossling, Filip Berg, Kestutis Stasys Jakstas. Composer: Jonas Wikstrand. Editing: Gregers Dohn, Henrik Källberg, Björn Stein. Photography: John Strandh. Producers: Jan Marnell; Patrick Nebout, Henrik Jansson-Schweizer, Magnus Bimberg (Executive Producers). Producing Organisation: Skyverse.
This TV series shows us the dark side of powerful men. The writers of the series poke fun at them with levity and intelligent humour, finding the best formula for defining the characters in a peculiar atmosphere. With original, expressive language, we relived history, but also the reality of politics, the true human and social moments that inevitably follow the tenets of the absurd.
Kaboul (Kabul)
Ein Mann seiner Klasse (Where We Come From)
Jules Iddoh Ndema Ndema (CRTV, Cameroon), Pentti Väliahdet (YLE, Finland), Corinne Glowacki (FRANCE TÉLÉVISIONS, France), Jutta Krug (ARD, Germany), Andrea Marinari (HEARST, Italy), Gianni Vukaj (TV2000, Italy), Carlos Maio (RTP, Portugal), Alina Amza (TVR, Romania), Tshilidzi Davhana (SABC, South Africa), Barbara Seiler (SRG SSR, Switzerland), Tom Coveney (BBC, United Kingdom).
The President: Tshilidzi Davhana (SABC, South Africa).
Hell Jumper
Direction: Paddy Wivell. Editing: Rupert Houseman. Producer: Adriana Timco. Executive Producer: Colin Barr. Producing Organisation: Expectation Entertainment
We award the prize to a film that has shown how love and hate can be very close. It is a work with which, in our opinion, young people in particular can identify, as they search for meaning in a hopeless context. There are now many films about this war, but this one offered a unique and surprising perspective.
Parce qu'elle était une femme (Because She Was a Woman)
Riverboom
Tabe Ebangha Enonchong (CRTV, Cameroon), Rebeka Bartůňková (ČT, Czech Republic), Charlène Gourmand (FRANCE TÉLÉVISIONS, France), Philipp Müller (ZDF, Germany), Davide Di Stadio (RAI, Italy), Ke-Ren Wang (SRG SSR, Switzerland), Samet Ünal (TRT, Türkiye).
The President: Charlène Gourmand (FRANCE TÉLÉVISIONS, France).
10 ans après les massacres en Irak (10 Years After the Massacres in Iraq)
Direction: Pablo Delpedro, Julien Bagourd. Photography: Pablo Delpedro. Social Media Editor: Cezanne Trummer. Producing Organisation: Tataki RTS. Coproducing Organisation: dev.tv.
We award a contemporary piece of writing, a narrative that challenges the conventions of journalism with a modern approach on a strong subject regarding recent History. It is a powerful way to reach new audiences. Given the difficult topic, we think this reportage offers a highly engaging viewer experience which succeeds in making a complex subject understandable and moving, with a blend of v-log, animation, on field reporting and powerful interviews.
Potížistky (Troublemaking Women)
Comme si j'étais morte (As If I Were Dead)
Leilani Kljunak (HRT, Croatia), Kåre Vedding Poulsen (DR, Denmark), Daniel Stolz (ARD, Germany), Giovanni Belli (HEARST, Italy), Jonny McGuigan (BBC, United Kingdom).
The President: Kåre Vedding Poulsen (DR, Denmark).
Nyhetssök (AI-Powered News Search)
Project Manager: Max Sommerstein. Designer: Axel Lööf. Developers: Carl-Johan Belfrage, Jesper Brodin, Shahrina Uddin, Svante Martinsson (software developers, SR); Alexis Allemann (data scientist, EBU); Pawel Glimos, Rayan Arnaout (software developers EBU). Producers: Jörgen Bang (product owner, Team News, SR), Sebastién Noir (Head of Software Engineering, EBU), Martin Heinius (development editor, SR). Coproducing Organisation: EBU.
This year's Digital Innovation award celebrates a project that dares to explore new ways of serving the public in the age of artificial intelligence. It combines technological innovation with deep ethical responsibility, proving that verified sources and transparency can triumph in a world shaped by algorithms. It is an evolving tool - simple, yet with the potential to transform how audiences engage with trustworthy journalism and shape the news they receive.
Les burgers volants (Flying Burgers)
GreenGuardiansVR
Jennifer MacMillan (CBC/SRC, Canada), Ida-Maria Bergman (YLE, Finland), Aleksandra Prokopiuk (TVP, Poland), Oana Cristea Grigorescu (ROR, Romania), Sonja Savić Vezmar (RTV, Serbia), Oleksandra Zakharchenko (SUSPILNE UKRAINE, Ukraine).
The President: Oana Cristea Grigorescu (ROR, Romania).
ARTyleriya (ARTillery)
Content Managers: Yuliia Tkachuk, Oleksii Matskevych. Direction: Mariia Derhachova, Kateryna Butler. Photography: Sofiia Pasevych, Oleksandr Perlyk. Designer: Anastasiia Rybakova, Nika Nazarenko. Developers: Yuliia Tkachuk, Oleksii Matskevych, Nadiia Mykolaienko. Website Editor: Yevheniia Lutsenko. Social Media Editor: Anna Vytiaz. Producer: Anna Pohrebna.
ARTillery channels the power of music to celebrate the essence of life. It dissolves boundaries between audiences, musicians, and digital creators, sparking a shared passion for art and human connection. In line with the mission of public service media, ARTillery empowers a new generation of young Ukrainians to define and express their unique cultural identity, strengthening resilience against disinformation and cultural suppression.
Eternal You Transmedia
BBC EastEnders – Spiked Vertical Series
Gabriel Torres Espinoza (ATEI), Claudio Cappon (COPEAM), Elena Capparelli (RAI), Nicolas Schonfeld (TAL), Alexandre Pletser (URTI), Juan Sixto (RTA, Argentina), Demba (BBS, Bhutan), Sheikha Ahmed Al Mahrouqi (OMAN TV, Oman), Jacqui Hlongwane (SABC, South Africa), Neuvides Guerrero (TELESUR, Venezuela).
The President: Jacqui Hlongwane (SABC, South Africa).
Free at Last: Unresolved Stories of Apartheid
Direction: Xoliswa Sithole. Editing: Paul Burgess. Producer: Neil Brandt. Producing Organisation: SABC/Story Scope Media. Coproducing Organisation: Beetz Brothers Film Production; ARTE; ZDF; VPRO. Production Year: 2025.
South Africa, Free At Last, explores the enduring wounds of apartheid, more than three decades after its fall, weaving together exclusive archival discoveries, ongoing legal testimonies, unpublished documents, and first-hand accounts from both victims and perpetrators. This multi-layered approach deepens the moral and narrative complexity of South Africa's history while highlighting the ongoing quest for justice. A collaborative co-production between the Global South and Global North, the documentary demonstrates exceptional investigative depth, editorial balance and cinematic precision. The documentary contributes to nation building while modelling global best practices in documentary filmmaking and storytelling. By preserving these testimonies, South Africa, Free At Last transforms the painful legacy of apartheid into a catalyst for reflection and accountability, ensuring the lessons of history are not forgotten; inspiring new generations to continue the work of national healing.
Run Against Time: The Snowman Race in Bhutan
Beyond the Sea
Graham Ellis (BBC), Emelie de Jong (RADIO FRANCE), Fabrizio Zappi (RAI), Imamura Ken-ichi (Studio IMAKEN, NHK Enterprises, 2025 Prix Italia President), Frank-Dieter Freiling (ZDF).
The President: Imamura Ken-ichi (Studio IMAKEN, NHK Enterprises, 2025 Prix Italia President).
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Last Days
Direction: Omori Kensho, Senzaki Sou. Narrating Voice: Min Tanaka. Sound Track: Hoshuyama Yota. Editing: Nakajima Tatsuro. Photography: Hodai Norio. Producers: Nakamura Naofumi, Sado Taketoshi, Matsumiya Kenichi (Prod. Manager).
This film, through its elegant and restrained cinematography, subtle use of silence, and fragments of Sakamoto's music, diary and the voices of his family and friends, depicts the fragile yet beautiful radiance of life and art. While portraying the final moments of life, it transcends them into a reflection on what it truly means to live — a work that is graceful, profoundly human, and filled with quiet hope. It reminds us that creativity can shine with the greatest intensity even at the very moment when life is fading. This year's Prix Italia brought together a rich diversity of works across nine categories — exploring issues from social justice and war to gender, art, the environment, and digital innovation. This diversity reminded us of the continued power of broadcasting to connect people and reveal truth. Television, especially public broadcasting, faces a challenging time, yet these programs reaffirmed its creative and social mission. As the first President from Asia, I was delighted to see many European broadcasters exploring stories from Asia and the Middle East. It was also inspiring to meet the creators themselves — these encounters are, I believe, the true essence of Prix Italia -- Ken-ichi Imamura, Jury President
Kaboul (Kabul)
Reasoning: The Special Mention goes to Kabul, a powerful drama that revisits the moment when the Taliban regained control of the Afghan capital. Told through multiple perspectives - journalists, soldiers, citizens, and families — it reconstructs a historic collapse with striking complexity and emotional depth. The series not only recounts events but makes us feel the fear, uncertainty, and human choices that define that moment. We commend the creative courage of a European broadcaster taking on an Asian story with such authenticity and cinematic force. Kabul stands as an outstanding example of how fiction can capture the truth of history.
Mariachiara Martina, Peter Ciaccio, Rosa Die Alcolea, Bakonyi-Tót Erika, Astrid Polz-Watzenig, Gabriel Palermo.
The President: Peter Ciaccio.
Hell Jumper
Direction: Paddy Wivell. Editing: Rupert Houseman. Producer: Adriana Timco. Executive Producer: Colin Barr. Producing Organisation: Expectation Entertainment
The Signis Special Prize goes to a documentary of great impact and artistic value, which tells the story of Chris Parry, an average young man from Cornwall who, in front of the TV news about Ukraine being bombed and military invaded, experiences an unexpected call to do something; arriving in Ukraine he finds an international community of young adults, who organize themselves to rescue people trapped in war zones; while being always serious about this hazardous choice, by even questioning it from the point of view of a young woman living in a country at war, Chris' girlfriend Olya, this documentary shows the yearn of existential meaning and spiritual fulfillment by people living a "normal" life.
Students of the University of Naples "Federico II", University of Naples "L'Orientale", Suor Orsola Benincasa University, Accademia di Belle Arti of Naples and University of Salerno.
The President: Valentina De Brasi
Comme si j'étais morte (As If I Were Dead)
Direction: Benjamin Montel, Antonin Boutinard Rouelle. Sound Track: Clément Leveau. Photography: Christophe Astruc, Antonin Boutinard Rouelle. Producer: Andréa Rawlins Gaston (CAPA Presse). Producing Organisations: CAPA Presse, France TV.
For bringing attention to a global theme often overlooked, with a delicate, respectful and human approach - for a storytelling focused on young women facing the ramifications of economic, social and gender issues, we award the YLAB Prize to "As If I Were Dead".
