<\/p>\n
Cutting Through Rocks<\/em> continues to cut through film festival documentary awards en route to the Oscars. Following its January premiere at the Sundance Film Festival \u2014 where it took home the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize for a non-fiction feature \u2014 the film recently screened at the 2025 Woodstock Film Festival and scored the festival’s top documentary prize as part of its Maverick Awards.<\/p>\n Directed by Sara Khaki\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Mohammadreza Eyni<\/strong>, Cutting Through Rocks<\/em> has already been tipped as a contender for the Best Documentary shortlist at this year’s Academy Awards. The film was made over the course of eight years and follows Iranian activist and politician Sara Shahverdi<\/strong>, the first elected councilwoman from her village. In addition to its Sundance and Woodstock wins, Cutting Through Rocks<\/em> has also been honored at festivals in New Zealand, Switzerland, and South Korea. It will next screen at the prestigious Doc NYC <\/a>festival as part of the Short List: Features category \u2014 an early indicator of which documentaries will be in the Oscar mix.<\/p>\n More from Gold Derby<\/strong><\/p>\n Woodstock’s winner for Best Narrative Feature is The Plague<\/em> from director Charles Polinger<\/strong>. A world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, the movie features Joel Edgerton<\/strong> as a water polo coach at a camp where two boys spend a memorable summer. Additionally, first-time filmmakers Delilah Napier<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Lucy Powers<\/strong> won Woodstock’s Ultra Indie Award for Floating Carousel<\/em>, a contemporary version of a New York City rom-com starring \u00a0Elsie Hewitt<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 currently in the\u00a0headlines for her relationship with\u00a0<\/a>Pete Davidson<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 as well as\u00a0Dylan T Jackson<\/strong>,\u00a0Jessica Hecht<\/strong>,\u00a0Dylan Baker<\/strong>, and\u00a0Michael Cyril Creighton<\/strong><\/strong>.<\/p>\n “Maybe the film will inspire discourse about what people really want out of their relationships and life,” the directors told Gold Derby headed into their Woodstock premiere<\/a>. “Sometimes in order to do that, we have to take a break and step off the carousel. It will always be there when you want to get back on. And in the meantime, you can remember moments and save them for a great story later.”<\/p>\n Two veteran filmmakers also received special honors at Woodstock. Ira Sachs<\/strong> was presented with the Fiercely Independent Award for his body of work, including his most recent film, Peter Hujar’s Day<\/em> starring Ben Whishaw<\/strong>. And prolific documentarian Laura Poitras<\/strong> with the Freedom of Expression Awards for such searing non-fiction films as Citizenfour<\/em> and All the Beauty and the Bloodshed<\/em>. Her latest film, Cover-Up<\/em>, played at Woodstock and the New York Film Festival.<\/p>\n Here’s the full list of 2025 Woodstock Film Festival award winners:<\/p>\n Gigantic Pictures Award for Best Feature Narrative: <\/strong>The Plague<\/em>, Charlie Polinger<\/strong> The Leon Gast Award for Best Feature Documentary: <\/strong>Cutting Through Rocks<\/em>, Sara Khaki <\/strong>and Mohammadreza Eyni<\/strong> Laurent Rejto Made in the Hudson Valley Award:\u00a0<\/strong>A Break in the Rain<\/em>,\u00a0Don Scardino<\/strong><\/p>\n Gray Schwartz Ultra Indie Award:<\/strong> Floating Carousel<\/em>, Delilah Napier<\/strong> & Lucy Powers<\/strong> Best Short Documentary:<\/strong>\u00a0Last Days on Lake Trinity<\/em>, Charlotte Cooley<\/strong> Best Short Narrative:\u00a0<\/strong>How to Shoot a Ghost<\/em>, Charlie Kaufman<\/strong> Best Animation:<\/strong>\u00a0Two Black Boys in Paradise<\/em>, Baz Sells<\/strong><\/p>\n Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography:<\/strong> Seeds<\/em>, Brittany Shyne<\/strong><\/p>\n World of Ha Changemaker Award: <\/strong>Free Leonard Peltier<\/em>, Jesse Short Bull<\/strong> and David France<\/strong><\/p>\n NYWIFT Award for Excellence in Directing a Narrative Film:<\/strong> The Floaters<\/em>, Rachel Israel<\/strong><\/p>\n NYWIFT Awards for Excellence in Directing a Documentary Film: <\/strong>Cutting Through Rocks<\/em>, Sarah Khaki<\/strong> and Mohammadreza Eyni<\/strong><\/p>\n Best Editing, Narrative Award: <\/strong>The Plague<\/em>, edited by Henry Heyes<\/strong> and Simon Njoo<\/strong><\/p>\n Best Editing, Documentary Award: <\/strong>Coexistence, My As<\/em>s,\u00a0edited by Rabab Haj-Yahya<\/strong> Best Student Short:\u00a0<\/strong>Dawn\u2019s World,<\/em> Natalie Horberg<\/em> Fiercely Independent Award: Ira Sachs<\/strong>, presented by filmmaker\u00a0Larry Fessenden<\/strong><\/p>\n Art of Activism Award: Tia Lessin and Carl Deal<\/strong>, presented by filmmakers\u00a0Pamela Yates<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Paco de Onis<\/strong><\/p>\n Freedom of Expression Award: Laura Poitras<\/strong>, presented by\u00a0Jehane Noujaim<\/strong><\/p>\n Best of Gold Derby<\/strong><\/p>\n Sign up for Gold Derby’s Newsletter<\/a>. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Honorable mention:<\/strong>\u00a0Magic Hour<\/em>, Katie Aselton<\/strong><\/p>\n
Honorable mentions:<\/strong>\u00a0Come See Me in the Good Light<\/em>,<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Ryan White<\/strong>;\u00a0Coexistence, My Ass<\/em>, Amber Fares<\/strong><\/p>\n
Honorable mention<\/strong> for Impact in Fiction Filmmaking:\u00a0Mildlife\u00a0<\/em>
Honorable mention<\/strong> for Unique and Creative Filmmaking:\u00a0The Lure of Ponies\u00a0<\/em>
Honorable mention<\/strong> for Acting: Kerry Bish\u00e9<\/strong>,\u00a0Sylvania<\/em><\/p>\n
Honorable mention:<\/strong>\u00a0Her Fight, His Name: The Story of Gwen Carr and Eric Garner,<\/em>\u00a0Brad Bailey<\/strong><\/p>\n
Honorable mention:<\/strong>\u00a0Zari,<\/em> Shruti Parekh<\/strong><\/p>\n
Honorable mention: <\/strong>Seeds<\/em>, Malika Souhali-Worrall<\/strong><\/p>\n
Special Mention:<\/strong>\u00a0St. Joe’s Hoes,<\/em> Khushali Haji<\/strong>, Hazare Renn-Glover<\/strong>
Honorable Mention:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>How I Learned to Die<\/em>, Manya Glassman<\/strong><\/p>\n