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Announcing the return of the Avolon World Cinema Award for DIFF 2026
Updated: Jun 10, 2025
DIFF's Avolon World Cinema Award returns for a second year in 2026, honouring compelling cinema from around the globe, made by first, second or third time directors. The inaugural 2025 prize was awarded to Santosh, the debut feature from director Sandhya Suri, which first premiered at Cannes in 2024 and went on to resonate with audiences and critics alike.
Actor and competition jury member Liam Cunningham, reflecting on the award ahead of the ceremony, said:
“The world is in a particularly tricky position at the moment. One of the things that cinema can do is bring the world to our doorstep—we can celebrate the humanity of the world. Anything that brings us closer to each other is worth doing.”
Accepting the award this February, Sandhya Suri said:
“Thank you so much to Avolon for this prize, and to the Jury for selecting Santosh. I’m really glad the film spoke to you… I really hope this is a good omen and that it’s going to go out well in the world and speak to wider audiences.”
Submissions for the 2026 award are now open via diff.ie, with the award once again recognising international cinema that reflects bold storytelling, diverse cultural perspectives, and emotional resonance. The award is supported by Avolon, a leading global aircraft leasing company headquartered in Dublin.
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I like the idea that cinema can bring different cultures and human experiences closer together. I think recognizing films with diverse perspectives is especially valuable because powerful stories can help audiences understand lives very different from their own. Veck IO is unrelated to the excerpt, but the broader message about storytelling creating connection is compelling.
The return of the Avolon World Cinema Award is a nice addition to the festival. I always find it interesting when awards highlight films from different parts of the world, since it gives audiences an opportunity to discover stories they might not otherwise come across. It’s a little like finding older titles through modern platforms, such as GTA Vice City online.