FIUME O MORTE! wins the European Documentary Award at the European Film Awards 2026
On 18 January 2026, FIUME O MORTE! by Igor Bezinović was awarded the European Documentary Award at the 38th European Film Awards, held at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin.
The ceremony brought together over 1,000 international guests to celebrate the best of European cinema and marked the culmination of the European awards season. For the first time, the European Film Awards took place at a key moment in the international awards calendar, just after the Golden Globes and during the Oscar nomination voting period, further highlighting the visibility and relevance of European cinema on the global stage.
During his acceptance speech, Igor Bezinović dedicated the award to the city of Rijeka and its citizens, who participated in the making of FIUME O MORTE! and whom he described as true recipients of the award. The moment was a powerful reminder of the film’s collective spirit and its deep connection to the people and place at its heart.
For Lightdox, this recognition is both deeply meaningful and humbling. We are incredibly proud to have supported Igor Bezinović’s bold and singular vision, and to have been part of a journey shaped by trust, collaboration, and a shared belief in daring documentary filmmaking.
We extend our sincere thanks to Restart Documentary — producers Vanja Jambrović and Tibor Keser — for their trust and collaboration, as well as to Videomante (Erica Barbiani) and Kino Nosorogi (Marina Gumzi) for championing ambitious, artistic work across borders. Our gratitude also goes to the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), Chris Marcich, and Irena Bilić for recognising the importance of strong institutional support in allowing films like FIUME O MORTE! to shine and reach international audiences.
This award is also a testament to the dedication of an extraordinary campaign and distribution team. We would especially like to thank our publicist and campaign manager Radina Vladimirova, whose first campaign in this role was marked by creativity, commitment, and exceptional work. Warm thanks as well to Gabriel De Bortoli and Happy Together for their brilliant digital marketing support, and to all our local campaign partners — Brigid O’Shea, Sonia Uria, ICA London, Anastasia Plazzotta (Wanted Cinema), and many others — who stepped in at key moments with generosity and strength.
Above all, we thank the European Film Academy and every Academy member who took the time to watch, support, and vote for FIUME O MORTE!. Your recognition reaffirms the power of European documentary cinema — its boldness, its diversity, and its ability to tell stories that resonate far beyond borders.
We are proud to be part of this community, and deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to making this moment possible.