Jabier Baraiazarra, Nagore Eceiza, Luis Arrieta, Boris Peters, Ben Sturgulewski, Katie Stjernholm, Julen Elorza, Javier Álvaro, Mikel Urdangarin and Koldo Uriarte
Bilbao, December 14, 2025. The award ceremony of the 18th edition of the bbk Mendi Film Bilbao Bizkaia festival brought together numerous filmmakers on stage.
Ben Sturgulewski and Katie Stjernholm, director and producer of the film ‘Champions of the Golden Valley’, were delighted with the warm welcome they received in Bilbao, and even more so with the Grand Prize they were awarded. Jabier Baraiazarra, director of Mendi Film and president of the International Alliance for Mountain Film, gave them the Lore-Eguzki trophy, a sculpture by Iñigo Aristegui. The film has been screened at more than 75 film festivals around the world for a year and a half, and this chapter has now concluded in Bilbao. From now on, two new paths will open up: the Olympic Committee has acquired the rights to the film, given its close connection to ski mountaineering, and it will soon be available on their platform. The Winter Olympic Games will be held in Milano-Cortina (Italy) in February 2026, and ski mountaineering will be an Olympic sport for the first time. They are also excited about the other new path: they aspire to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, a decision that will be made this week.
The international premiere of the film ‘Oiarzabal. Entre Juan y Juanito’ took place at the Opening Ceremony of this edition, and the film won the award for Best Script. Spanish director Javier Álvaro Palomares received the trophy from Gonzalo Olabarria, Councilor for Culture and Governance of Bilbao. Juanito himself was present at the awards ceremony, along with Sebastián Álvaro, father of director Javier and creator of the successful series ‘Al Filo de lo Imposible’.
American cinematographer Boris Peters won the award for Best Cinematography for his film 'See What I Saw: Karakoram,' and Andoni Iturbe, Deputy Minister of the Basque Government, presented him with the trophy.
Four Basque films were honored at the 18th edition, and all were represented: Julen Elorza received the award for Best Sport and Adventure Film from Nora Sarasola, Director of Social Work at the BBK Foundation; Mikel Urdangarin and Koldo Uriarte received the award for Best Original Soundtrack for their work on the film 'Itsasora,' presented by Jon Viteri, Director of Afesa Medioambiente; and the short film 'Izarren zaunka,' directed by Nagore Eceiza, received the EiTB award for Best Film in Basque from Vanessa Fernández, Director of Culture and Basque Language at EiTB. And finally, Luis Arrieta received the award for Best Culture and Nature Film from Maddi Etxabe, a member of the Ternua marketing team.
226 films were submitted to participate in this year's Mendi Film. Of these, 55 were selected for the festival program, and 45 of those competed for the Official Selection awards.
