The Byron Bay International Film Festival (BBFF) today announced the five finalists for the David Stratton Best Documentary Award, a category dedicated to celebrating bold and original storytelling in documentary filmmaking.

Comparsa – In a Guatemalan barrio silenced by fear, two teenage sisters lead a luminous rebellion through giant puppets, fire and art to protest gender violence, rallying local youth and healing wounds.

Champions of the Golden Valley – In remote Afghan snowbound valleys, rival village youths build a homegrown ski culture under the mentorship of a former Olympic hopeful, birthing dreams of unity and resilience.

Common Wealth – Kane Guglielmi’s personal journey of trauma and transformation expands into a global quest for compassion, justice, and new visions of how we share our world.

Nansie – A heartfelt portrait of a Sydney family coping with dementia, as sisters Adelaide and Lucinda tenderly care for their grandmother Ann — “Nansie” — in the face of memory’s gradual fade.

Beyond the Break – After a career-ending bodyboarding accident, Joel Taylor reclaims identity and finds redemption through adaptive surfing, ultimately becoming a world champion.

To ensure the award directly benefits filmmakers seeking industry exposure, documentaries that already have Australian distribution in place are not eligible for the prize.

The judging panel brings together some of Australia’s most respected screen voices:

• Margaret Pomeranz, long-time co-presenter with David Stratton on SBS’s The Movie Show and ABC TV’s At the Movies
• Jack Thompson, acclaimed actor and BBFF Ambassador
• J’aimee Skippon-Volke, Festival Director, Byron Bay International Film Festival

Festival Director J’aimee Skippon-Volke said, “This award honours David Stratton’s incredible contribution to film culture in Australia and internationally. It is our way of nurturing the next generation of documentary filmmakers, shining a spotlight on work that deserves to be discovered and seen.”

The award takes on special significance this year following the passing of David Stratton in August 2025, whose legacy as a critic, programmer, and champion of cinema continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike.

The winner of the David Stratton Best Documentary Award will be announced during the festival, running 17–26 October 2025 at venues across the Northern Rivers.