42nd Cambridge Film Festival Punt Awards

The Cambridge Film Festival is excited to announce the winners of this year's audience awards. Your votes have been counted, and the results reflect the films that resonated most with our festival-goers.

The Golden Punt Best Fiction Feature award goes to CREATURA, a compelling Spanish drama directed by Elena Martín Gimeno. The film, which explores a woman's journey through sexual awakening, has connected with the CFF audience through its authentic storytelling and strong central performance.

PURE CLEAN WATER has been voted the Golden Punt Best Documentary Feature. This documentary, directed by Tony Eva, tackles the pressing issue of water scarcity in Cambridge and the potential impact on the city's future. It's a film that has sparked conversation and concern among audiences.

The winner of the Crystal Punt Best Short Film is THE SNIP by Ben S. Hyland. This short film brings a mix of comedy and commentary on masculinity to the forefront, making a memorable impact on our audience with its relatable characters and narrative.

We are incredibly pleased to announce that the Youth Lab Jury Award 2023 winner is FLEDGLINGS Pisklaki // Fledglings.

Youth Lab Lead Abby Pollock comments on the award:
"The Youth Lab Jury (part of our Youth Lab project aimed at young people between 16 and 24 years old) worked hard to decide on the award this year and were fascinated by the distinct works of all the filmmakers.

After many long discussions, we were delighted to award Fledglings as the winner of the Youth Lab Jury Prize 2023. The film broke boundaries in the documentary genre, and the young people were captivated by the picture. Through articulated analysis, they were moved by many elements of the film, including the cinematography, empathetic tone and the young children's nature.

Congratulations to the whole team involved, and welcome to the Youth Lab Family!"

Fledglings is a stunningly beautiful and touching film that follows Zosia, Oskar, and Kinga, residents of a boarding school for visually impaired children in Poland. We follow their daily lives as they learn to navigate the world, face challenges, and form friendships.

Thanks to everyone who watched and voted. Your participation is what makes the festival an actual audience event. Congratulations to the winning filmmakers! Stay tuned for the upcoming Youth Lab Jury selection.