DISFF49: “Wheel to Live” and “Azul” Take the Festival’s Top Awards

Summary

• “Wheel to Live” won the Golden Dionysus and Audience Award
• “Azul” received the International Competition Grand Prix
• The two top awards are connected with the Academy Award for Short Film process
• “Free Eliza” was selected for the European Film Academy process
• “The Great Organ” won Best South-Eastern European Film
• “Fruits of Despair” won the first International Documentary Competition
• “Find Fenia” was named Best Film in the National Student Competition

Vicky Anastasiadou’s “Wheel to Live” won the Golden Dionysus at DISFF49, while Algorithmo Malvado’s “Azul” received the International Competition Grand Prix.

The 49th Drama International Short Film Festival concluded on September 12, 2026, with awards presented across its main competition programmes. “Wheel to Live” was named Best Film in the National Competition, while “Azul” received the International Competition’s top prize.

The two awards also have an important international dimension. DISFF has Academy Award qualifying status for short films, while its International Competition is also a qualifying programme for the European Film Awards. This is separate from the national selection process for the International Feature Film Oscar, where Yannis Economides’ “Broken Vein” is Greece’s official 2027 submission.

“Wheel to Live” wins the Golden Dionysus

Vicky Anastasiadou’s “Wheel to Live” received the Best Film – Golden Dionysus award. The jury highlighted the film’s treatment of disability, praising its avoidance of predictable narrative traps and its focus on human vulnerability, tenderness and humour.

The Golden Dionysus comes with a €10,000 cash prize from Finos Film, ERT and EKKOMED. The film also receives DISFF’s route into the Academy Award for Short Film process, while the filmmaker is automatically selected for the Thessaloniki International Film Festival’s Agora Short Film Lab.

“Wheel to Live” also won the Audience Award.

Best Director for “Strays”

Anastasia Gkivalou received the Tonia Marketaki Best Director Award for “Strays”. The jury highlighted a story connecting a political and existential dilemma with friendship, class and the experience of an entire generation.

The award includes €5,000, laboratory and post-production services worth €2,500 from Stefilm and automatic selection for the Agora Short Film Lab.

Special Jury Award for “Multi Family Garage Sale”

Zak Simha’s “Multi Family Garage Sale” received the National Competition Special Jury Award. The jury highlighted its experimental style and blend of lo-fi action and animation.

The distinction includes five days of van use from FilmaCo, valued at €5,600.

Special Mentions for “Arkansas” and “The Dog”

Yannis Karpouzis’ “Arkansas” received a Special Mention for directing, with the jury highlighting its transformation of a familiar space from Greek popular culture into a strange yet recognisable cinematic universe.

“The Dog”, by Vasilis Kolettis and Melissa Papadopoulou and directed by Konstantinos Demis, received a Special Mention for Animation.

“Free Eliza” selected for the European Film Academy process

Alexandra Matheou’s “Free Eliza (Notes on an Anatomical Imperfection)” received DISFF’s nomination for the European Film Academy Short Film Award. Through this distinction, the festival places the film on the European Film Academy candidate list.

The jury highlighted the film’s dark humour and its examination of the invisible labour behind Europe’s holiday industry.

“Azul” wins the Grand Prix

The International Competition Grand Prix went to Algorithmo Malvado’s “Azul”, a Mexico-US production. The jury highlighted how the film uses elements of the present to construct a convincing dystopian future shaped by violence, loss and war while maintaining hope for another world at its core.

The Grand Prix includes a €5,000 cash prize from Raycap. According to DISFF, the winning film also receives the festival’s route into the longlist process for the Academy Award for Short Film.

International recognition for “The Great Organ”

“The Great Organ” by Roxanne Krimizi and Michalis Kimonas received the Best South-Eastern European Film Award, accompanied by a €1,000 cash prize.

The jury highlighted the story of two people who create their own world when the one around them has failed to make space for them.

The first International Documentary Competition winners

DISFF49 introduced a standalone International Documentary Competition for the first time, significantly expanding the festival’s programme.

Best Documentary Film went to Nima Nassaj’s Iranian film “Fruits of Despair”, accompanied by €3,000 from ERT and EKKOMED.

The Special Jury Award went to Anna Papadopoulou’s Greek film “Loutropolis”.

The award includes €1,000 and post sound production services worth €10,000 from Authorwave.

“Find Fenia” tops the National Student Competition

Lila Barba’s “Find Fenia” received the Frida Liappa Best Film Award in the National Student Competition.

The award includes €5,000, post-production support for the filmmaker’s next film and automatic selection for the Agora Short Film Lab.

Best Director went to Nikolas Kostis for “A Moment in Her Life”.

The Documentary Award went to Nelly Evangelidou’s “(AN)OIKIA”.

The film also received the Student Drama Queer Award.

International Student and thematic awards

Júlia Coldwell Serra’s “Nobody Barks” won the International Student Grand Prix. Silva Tsoumana’s “My Cousin’s Wedding” received the Special Jury Award, while Wang Han-Xuan’s “Delay” received a Special Mention.

Gaël Kamilindi’s “Taxi Moto” received the Drama Queer Award.

Giorgio Giampà’s “Astronauta” received the Short & Green Award, accompanied by €4,000.

What the Academy Awards connection means

The Golden Dionysus for “Wheel to Live” and the Grand Prix for “Azul” relate to the Academy Awards process for short films. DISFF’s International Competition has official qualifying status for both the Academy Awards and European Film Awards.

This does not mean that “Wheel to Live” is Greece’s official submission for the 2027 Academy Awards. The International Feature Film category has a separate national selection process, and Greece has selected Yannis Economides’ “Broken Vein” for the 99th Academy Awards.

What we think

The DISFF49 awards show a festival increasingly functioning not only as a platform for recognising Greek filmmaking, but as a starting point for a short film’s next international step. Academy Awards and European Film Awards qualifying status, financial prizes, post-production support and professional development opportunities give practical value to Drama’s major distinctions. The introduction of a standalone documentary competition further expands that role.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which film won the Golden Dionysus at DISFF49?

Vicky Anastasiadou’s “Wheel to Live” won Best Film – Golden Dionysus in the National Competition.

Which film won the Grand Prix?

The International Competition Grand Prix went to Algorithmo Malvado’s “Azul”, a Mexico-US production.

Is “Wheel to Live” Greece’s official Oscar submission for 2027?

No. Greece’s official International Feature Film submission is Yannis Economides’ “Broken Vein”. “Wheel to Live” enters a different process relating to the Academy Award for Short Film through its Golden Dionysus win.

Which film did DISFF select for the European Film Academy process?

Alexandra Matheou’s “Free Eliza (Notes on an Anatomical Imperfection)” was placed on the European Film Academy Short Film Award candidate list through DISFF.

Which documentary won the new International Documentary Competition?

Nima Nassaj’s “Fruits of Despair” received the Best Documentary Film Award.