Two DocNomads films awarded in Sheffield, UK
Catarina Gonçalves’ In a Whisper won the Grand Jury Award of the International Short Film competition, and Violeta Mora’s Oscurana received a Special Mention in the same competition of the 32nd Sheffield DocFest held from 18 to 23 of June.
Jury statements:
(to In a Whisper) “For its bold and minimalistic, cinematic mastery, and thoughtfully crafted sound design, this elegant portrait of admiration and resilience reflects the extraordinary talent of a promising director whose trajectory is clearly on the rise.”
(to Oscurana) “We would like to give an honourable mention to a beautiful film for its unique perspective, presented in a visually sparse yet powerfully affecting manner. This sensory invitation fosters empathy for the human rights crises that immigrants face when crossing borders, and it is now more critical than ever in this unprecedented time.”
DANS UN SOUFFLE
By Catarina Gonçalves (Portugal) • 15’ • 2025
Synopsis:
Through masterful editing and a seamless interplay of sound and image, Catarina Gonçalves crafts a timeless cinematic essay on artistic motion. She follows 17-year-old Nina Pinzarrone, Belgium’s second-ranked figure skater, as she embarks on the delicate yet relentless pursuit of perfection while preparing for her first World Championships. Gonçalves’ intimate black-and-white cinematography remains devotedly close to her subject, capturing exercises and repetitions that reveal both resilience and vulnerability. The result is an elegant portrait of a talent in the making, and of the unwavering dedication behind every great achievement.
In Sheffield catalogue
By Violeta Mora (Honduras) • 20’ • 2025
Synopsis:
As the sun sinks below the horizon, a long walk with an uncertain outcome begins. Violeta Mora's intense, immersive Oscurana places the viewer in the shoes of a Central American migrant as they embark on a dangerous attempt to cross the border into North America. The journey is slow, excruciating and hazardous. And as footsteps stumble, breath grows heavy and smoke begins to fill the air, a sense of dread increases. Over the past decade, thousands of deaths and disappearances have been reported along this border. In the context of increasingly hostile anti-immigrant rhetoric in the US, Oscurana offers an empathic and humane insight into those desperate to better their lives but who find themselves lost in this stark landscape.
In Sheffield catalogue
