6 November 2025 · Nicola D'Auria

ISFF 2025 Finalists

Original title: Au Cœur des Jeux

Running time: 01:47:00
Nationality: France
Sport featured: Olympics (multiple disciplines)

With: Jules Naudet, Gédéon Naudet, Tony Estanguet

Short description: Documentary by Jules and Gédéon Naudet which, with exclusive access and no voice-over, takes viewers behind the scenes of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, following the day of the Opening Ceremony and 29 days of emotion among athletes, organisers, volunteers and Paris itself.

Original title: QUANDO PASSA L’URAGANO

Running time: 01:26:00
Nationality: Italy
Sport featured: Horse racing

With: Luciano Gaucci, Alessandro Gaucci, Riccardo Gaucci, Perugia Calcio

	Original title: Au Cœur des Jeux Running time: 01:47:00 Nationality: France Sport featured: Olympics (multiple disciplines) With: Jules Naudet, Gédéon Naudet, Tony Estanguet Short description: Documentary by Jules and Gédéon Naudet which, with exclusive access and no voice-over, takes viewers behind the scenes of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, following the day of the Opening Ceremony and 29 days of emotion among athletes, organisers, volunteers and Paris itself.
	Original title: QUANDO PASSA L’URAGANO Running time: 01:26:00 Nationality: Italy Sport featured: Football, horse racing With: Luciano Gaucci, Alessandro Gaucci, Riccardo Gaucci, Perugia Calcio Short description: A portrait of Luciano Gaucci and the trajectory of Perugia Calcio: a horse empire, disappointing footballers, fraud and financial collapse, told by his sons Alessandro and Riccardo and by those who knew him closely.
	Original title: King of the Mountains Running time: 01:22:00 Nationality: Australia Sport featured: Running With: William Corlett, Romain Mongin Short description: Documentary filmed in the Blue Mountains: ultramarathon runner William Corlett attempts 500 km in 7 days to raise funds for Lifeline Australia, exploring mental health, resilience and extreme nature.
	Original title: Temps Mort Running time: 01:21:14 Nationality: Spain Sport featured: Basketball With: Charles Thomas, Félix Colomer Short description: Time Out (original title Temps Mort) is a documentary directed by Félix Colomer that reconstructs the mysterious disappearance of Charles Thomas, former Barça basketball star and the Spanish league’s top scorer in the late 1960s. Through interviews and a personal investigation, the film reveals what really happened to the man who ‘could fly’, between sporting myth and human tragedy.
	Original title: Invasion of Qatar Running time: 01:15:40 Nationality: Canada Sport featured: Football With: Alastair Forbes, Heather Marie Annis, Greg Crompton Short description: Canadian comic mockumentary following Alax Frobez at the Qatar World Cup, between attempts to invade the pitch and a satire of the contradictions of mega sporting events and human-rights abuses.
	Original title: La Santa di Brooklyn Running time: 01:12:00 Nationality: Italy Sport featured: Boxing With: Ulisse Lendaro, Jitendra Mishra, Giannandrea Pecorelli, Chiara Dituri Short description: Documentary about Chiara, an Italian-American boxer at New York’s Gleason’s Gym, who after a serious accident finds in faith the strength to be reborn and fight again, making her way through the streets of Brooklyn.
	Original title: After Dive – Una vita in sincro Running time: 01:06:01 Nationality: Italy Sport featured: Synchronized diving With: Tania Cagnotto, Francesca Dallapè Short description: Documentary following champions Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallapè as they return to synchronized diving after motherhood, amid training, family life and the difficulties of the pandemic.
	Original title: Run Again Running time: 01:05:00 Nationality: France Sport featured: Running, ultramarathon With: Dave Pen, Archive Short description: Run Again is a documentary directed by Alexis Berg following Dave Pen, singer of English band Archive, as he faces a personal and artistic crisis after years away from the stage because of Covid. Seeking renewal, he decides to enter the Spine Race, one of the world’s toughest endurance events. Through extreme landscapes and introspection, the film explores the connection between music, sport and human resilience.
	Original title: The Madmen Coach Running time: 00:57:00 Nationality: Italy – Senegal Sport featured: Football With: Malick Biteye Short description: Documentary about Senegal’s first national football team for people with mental-health problems, led by Malick Biteye, from Dakar to its first international match against Italy in Rome.
	Original title: Peligro No Asomarse Running time: 00:48:00 Nationality: Spain Sport featured: Highline Short description: A 48-minute documentary exploring the highline community in northern Spain; Daniel Cascales Granados’s first work, premiered in Spain at BBK Bilbao’s Mountain Film Festival.
	Original title: STREETBALL: The Untold Stories of Basketball Stars Running time: 00:40:24 Nationality: United States Sport featured: Street basketball Short description: Documentary series exploring American street basketball, recounting the lives, challenges and passion of some of the most iconic figures on US playgrounds.
	Original title: Correr com Tiago Running time: 00:34:00 Nationality: France Sport featured: Running Short description: Documentary about Tiago, a non-professional runner from Serra Grande (Bahia), who balances competitive training and a passion for running, becoming a reference point for young people in his community.
	Original title: Syncopation Running time: 00:20:00 Nationality: Russian Federation Sport featured: Ballet Short description: After eight years of ballet school, a young dancer faces mounting pressure and an inner conflict, forced to choose between someone else’s dream and her own truth.
	Original title: Born Racer Running time: 00:16:00 Nationality: China Sport featured: Go-karting Short description: Student documentary following Daniel’s professional national go-kart race in Zhuzhou, China, telling of the adrenaline and discipline needed to emerge.
	Original title: The Fencer Running time: 00:13:30 Nationality: United States Sport featured: Fencing With: Russo Brothers, AGBO, Ray Abruzzo, Bear D’Angelo Short description: Pressed by her coach father, a young fencer suffers a serious injury and must choose between longevity and sporting legacy, in a short film inspired by a true story.
	Original title: UNBOUND Running time: 00:13:12 Nationality: Italy Sport featured: Powerlifting With: Hind, Andrea Longhin Short description: Documentary short about Hind, the first Italian powerlifter allowed to compete nationally while wearing a hijab, amid dedication, discipline and redemption.
	Original title: ALLEZ HOP! Running time: 00:12:57 Nationality: Netherlands Sport featured: Cycling With: Els Dottermans, Teddy Cherim Short description: Karina, 55, tries to encourage her father with dementia during the Tour de France, but a clumsy gesture causes an accident; a short film reflecting on human error and the ferocity of media judgement.
	Original title: Quarshie Running time: 00:12:40 Nationality: Egypt Sport featured: Football With: Emanuel Quarshie, Omar Shama, Yara Goubran Short description: On arriving in Egypt to play for Zamalek, Emanuel Quarshie faces the hostility of his teammates and promises to prove his worth, especially to the captain.
	Original title: Het Spel van Tao Running time: 00:11:07 Nationality: Netherlands Sport featured: Table tennis With: Bettine Vriesekoop, Esther Pardijs Short description: In Esther Pardijs’s film, multiple Dutch champion Bettine Vriesekoop explains how to apply Tao principles in order to excel without abusing power in elite sport.
	Original title: Behind the Dream – Federica Running time: 00:10:00 Nationality: Italy Sport featured: Motocross With: Federica Sezzi, Ruben Fernandez, Team HRC Short description: An episode of the HRC series ‘Behind the Dream’, devoted to Federica Sezzi, a mechanic in the MXGP World Championship, recounting her rise in a traditionally male environment.
	Original title: La Mélodie du Vestiaire Running time: 00:08:40 Nationality: France Sport featured: Boxing With: Freddy Kemayo Short description: Minutes before an important bout, a young boxer prepares in the changing room in a kind of ritual choreography, where every gesture becomes decisive.
	Original title: CSEREBOGARAK – Fledglings Series (episodes 6 and 7) Running time: 00:08:20 per episode Nationality: Hungary Sport featured: Football, water polo With: Gyula Grosics, Dénes Kemény Short description: Two episodes of the Hungarian animated series ‘Fledglings’, telling the origins of future Olympic champions Gyula Grosics, football’s ‘Black Panther’, and Dénes Kemény, the legendary national water-polo coach, through stories of talent, passion and sporting development.
	Original title: Dreams on Wheels Running time: 00:07:00 Nationality: Germany Sport featured: Wheelchair basketball With: Bo, Paul, Anton Geretzki, Christopher Henseler Short description: Documentary short following Bo, a wheelchair basketball player, and his coach Paul in their daily journey to improve and pursue their sporting dream. Trailer: 1d3f52c2-DreamsOnWheels_Intro_dapcloud.tv.mp4
	Original title: JAI Running time: 00:05:16 Nationality: Italy Sport featured: Muay Thai Short description: Two friends, Juan and Daniele, prepare for a Muay Thai bout; when their coach chooses only one of them, a secret puts their friendship to the test. Trailer: 720_2200.mp4
	Original title: CAM1L0 Running time: 00:03:22 Nationality: Argentina Sport featured: Football With: Diego Maradona Short description: On his way to work, Camilo passes Diego Maradona murals and finds in his memories the strength to face the day.
	Original title: Out of Bounds – PSA Series (#WeRideTogether): It’s Not Just a Ride Home / W.T.F. – Wait, That’s Fair? / Life Sentence / Stop Asking Running time: 00:01:42 · 00:01:00 · 00:01:00 · 00:00:41 Nationality: United States Short description: Four micro-PSAs from #WeRideTogether’s ‘Out of Bounds’ series giving survivors a voice: an everyday situation as a metaphor for society’s inadequate responses, a diner scene highlighting a lack of empathy, a rock symbolising the weight of trauma, and an invitation to move from judgement to support.
	Original title: KICKOFF Running time: 01:17:00 Nationality: Germany – Spain Sport featured: Football With: Roser Corella, Stefano Obino Short description: Documentary about Gazi, who organises a women’s football tournament in a Kyrgyz village, challenging traditions and prejudice while telling a story of resilience and empowerment.