The winners of Wench 2026
The Wench Film Festival has awarded its first-ever Méliès d’Argent for Best European Short Film, marking a significant milestone for the Indian festival and for the Méliès International Festivals Federation network.
At its 2026 edition, held in Kolkata and Mumbai, Wench joined the Méliès d’Argent circuit for the first time, presenting a dedicated competition for European fantastic short films.
This first award establishes Wench Film Festival as a new and important stop within the international Méliès network.
And the Melies d’argent winner of the Wench Film Festival is…
Méliès d’argent Award Winner – Short Films @ Wench Film Festival 2025
The winner of the Méliès d’Argent Award for Best European Fantastic Genre Short Film at Wench Film Festival is “Coyotes” by Said Zagha (United Kingdom, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Jordan, France 2025, 20 minutes).
A Palestinian surgeon drives home after a long night shift, but little does she know that a commute through a desolate West Bank road will change her forever.
The award was decided by the Wench Film Festival Jury — Leila Taylor, James McNally, Sara Lopo and Sultan Barodawala — who stated: “For the Méliès d’argent Award – Best European Short Film, we wanted to highlight the best short film within the fantastic genre. The award goes to a poignant story about oppression with a palpable tension that reminds us that humans can also be hunted just as animals.”
Wench Film Festival is part of the Méliès International Festivals Federation, an association currently consisting of 35 film festivals, whose mission it is to promote European fantastic cinema around the globe. The Méliès d’argent is awarded to short films for cinematic quality and creativity. The winning short film qualifies for the competition for the Méliès d’or.
Don’t forget to watch the MELIES D’ARGENT Special Programs on our Méliès Fantastic Hub!