Doc.Boston Wraps Up 5th Edition, Announces Award Winners

 

“The 2025 edition of Doc.Boston once again pushes the boundaries of nonfiction storytelling,” says festival curator Kris De Meester. “From the ravaged oil fields of Syria to a widow’s defiant stand on Lebanon’s southern border, from the intimate pain and resilience of a genderqueer performer in Las Vegas to the haunting legacy of a forgotten American master painter—this year’s films reveal lives shaped by conflict, identity, trauma, and tenacity. Whether through the quiet reflections of cloistered nuns or the raw emotion of an Armenian artist setting fire to his own work, these documentaries challenge, move, and inspire. Doc.Boston 2025 is a bold testament to the power of personal truth in a fractured world.”

 

The official selection included 26 documentary films from all over the world. (the Streaming Selection, remains available for streaming until July 27, more info on https://www.doc.boston/streaming).

 

Doc.Boston is happy to share with you today the award winners of 2025, as chosen by this year's jury members:

 

Best Feature Documentary Film 

The Painted Life of Gregory Gillespie (United States) by Evan Goodchild

Best Short Documentary Film 

Who Loves the Sun (Canada) by Arshia Shakiba

Best US Documentary Film 

F-cking Sober (United States) by Em Vaughn

​

Best Experimental Documentary Film

Dearest Ghost (Estonia) by Margaret Mäses

 

Best Extremely Short Documentary Film

Buzz (United States) by Nina Ruggero

 

Best New England Documentary Film

Woman Rising (United States) by Matilde Simas

 

Best Connecting Cultures Film

Shifting Roots (Lebanon) by Angie Mrad

 

Congratulations to al filmmakers! And a big thank you to all guests for coming out to enjoy four evenings of short film cinema, we hope to see you all back next year.