"DJ Ahmet" wins Grand Jury Prize in Sonoma Festival

The Sonoma International Film Festival took place from March 19 to March 23, 2025. This year, 'DJ Ahmet' from North Macedonia won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature. The film was noted for its skilled direction and engaging love story. The festival featured 93 films from 21 countries. It included 39 narrative features, 16 documentaries, and 38 short films. The event opened with the documentary 'Sweet Störy', which tells the story of a café in Sweden, and closed with 'The Wedding Banquet', featuring a performance by Joan Chen. Food and film lovers enjoyed various culinary events throughout the festival. Notable activities included a dinner honoring chef Marcella Hazan and classes in Japanese cooking by chef Yoshinori Ishii. The festival also introduced a new program called SIFF Pop-Ins, which offered exclusive culinary experiences in local venues. The Audience Award for Best Feature was awarded to Julie Delpy’s 'Meet The Barbarians'. 'DJ Ahmet' was the first runner-up, with other films like 'Mistura' and 'Waves' following closely behind. In the documentary category, 'The Last Journey' from Sweden won the audience award. The festival celebrated both emerging and established filmmakers, with panel discussions featuring industry veterans discussing various aspects of filmmaking. Overall, the festival combined the joy of film with culinary delights, allowing attendees to enjoy a full sensory experience.