New Directors Competition
To qualify for the New Directors Competition, films must be dramatic features, a director’s debut or second feature, and without U.S. distribution at the time of SIFF selection. This competition celebrates new directors whose films have original scripts, employ innovative cinematography, and offer unique insights on people and places.
The New Directors Competition jury, comprised of filmmakers, journalists, and industry professionals, selects the winning filmmaker, who will be announced at the Golden Space Needle Awards May 25 and awarded a cash prize of $5,000.
Beginnings
Denmark | 2025 | 96 min. | Jeanette Nordahl
Just as Ane and Thomas are about to finalize their divorce and tell their two daughters, she suffers a stroke.
The Crowd
Iran | 2025 | 70 min. | Sahand Kabiri
A vibrant portrait of a younger generation in Iran, determined to live life on their own terms.
DJ Ahmet
North Macedonia | 2025 | 97 min. | Georgi M. Unkovski
Teenage shepherd Ahmet rebels against his conservative farming village when he gets a taste of electronic dance music.
Mongrels
Canada | 2024 | 110 min. | Jerome Yoo
A Korean father and his two children move to the Canadian prairies to help a town deal with the feral dog population.
Ready or Not
Ireland | 2025 | 84 min. | Claire Frances Byrne
Katie’s summer turns complicated when she and her friends push toward an adulthood they’re unprepared for.
To Kill a Mongolian Horse
Malaysia | 2024 | 97 min. | Xiaoxuan Jiang
A champion horseback rider and herdsman struggles to maintain his family’s ranch.
The Village Next to Paradise
Somalia | 2024 | 133 min. | Mo Harawe
A villager and his sister try to make ends meet and send his son off to boarding school.