FEFFS 2025 Announces Méliès d’Argent Winners

After ten inspiring days filled with unforgettable films that electrified the city’s cinemas, the juries have reached their decision. The 18th edition of the Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival proudly announces this year’s Méliès d’argent winners.

And the Melies d’argent winners are…

The winner of the Méliès d’Argent Award for Best European Fantastic Genre Feature Film at FEFFS is “The Holy Boy” (La valle dei sorrisi) directed by
Paolo Strippoli.

In Italy’s happiest village, a haunted teacher discovers dark secret behind weekly gatherings where locals seek healing from a teenage boy’s embrace. His quest to save the youth reveals the sinister nature of a community hiding behind joy.

The winner of the Méliès d’Argent Award for Best European Fantastic Genre Short Film at FEFFS is “Nervous Ellie” directed by David York.

Ellie, new to the dating scene and anxious to impress Danni, finds herself overwhelmed by nerves, leading to unexpected nosebleeds. As she tries to hold it together, the situation quickly worsens-Ellie starts bleeding from her ears and mouth. Danni’s attempts to help only lead to a shocking and unpredictable outcome.Another sleepless night leads a man to a strange community living in his building. He quickly finds himself fascinated by this unusual group of people who, in order to escape an oppressive urban reality, have chosen to surrender completely to a life of absolute illusion.