Winner of 2026 Bridging The Borders Award for 27th edition of Polish Film Festival LA has been announced on Thursday November 12th 2026 in opening night of the festival held at El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.
The winner of the Bridging the Borders Award for the Best Short Film” at this year’s Polish Film Festival Los Angeles was Nothing Else
Jury Statement: For its haunting portrayal of loss and its impact on human existence, its compelling narrative built around meticulous attention to detail, purposeful direction, and powerful performances, the Bridging the Borders Award for Best Short Film at the Polish Film Festival LA is presented to Nothing Else, directed by Jakub Prysak.”
Jury members of Cinema Without Borders for Bridging The Borders Award were:
Arameh Etemadi
Arameh Etemadi is a versatile media professional with extensive experience in television production, documentary direction, journalism, and film criticism. Since 2007, she has been recognized as a film critic for Iranian Film Magazine, where she is known for her insightful articles and film reviews. In 2014, she won the award for Best Art Interviewer from the Iranian Society of Film Critics and Writers (ISFCW). Currently, Arameh Etemadi works as a film critic for Cinema Without Borders, and her writing has also appeared in a range of other publications, including Chelcheragh, Hamshahri Javan, Shargh Newspaper, Tehran-e Emrooz, and 24 monthly magazines. She was born and raised in Tehran, where she began her professional career as a journalist and film critic for Hamshahri and Naghshafarinan in 2004. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and has studied Social Communication Science in Tehran and Arameh Etemadi completed post-production courses at UCLA. In addition to her work as a film critic, Arameh Etemadi is also a talented writer, director, and live TV show producer. Her documentary on the life and works of “Mohamadreza Lotfi” was released in 2015, showcasing her skills as a director. In 2022, Arameh Etemadi directed and produced two documentaries about cryptocurrency. Furthermore, she co-founded and served as Artistic Director of the Sheed Film Festival in Dallas, TX, in 2016 and 2017.
Susan Morgan Cooper
Susan Morgan Cooper is an accomplished Director, Producer, and Writer known for her impactful documentaries. Her notable works include “To the Moon and Back” (2016), “Mulberry Child” (2012), and “An Unlikely Weapon” (2008), receiving critical acclaim for their storytelling. She also directed “Heroes And Sheroes” (2000) and “Mirjana: One Girl’s Journey” (1997). Her narrative projects include the short film “Stringers” (1990) and the feature “Hadley’s Rebellion” (1989). With a career spanning over three decades, Cooper continues to create compelling content that resonates with audiences.
Narges Samadi
Narges Samadiis an Iranian-Canadian film critic and festival journalist based in Toronto. A former emergency physician with over twenty years of experience in Tehran, she holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Cinema Studies from the University of Toronto.
Her background in medicine and cinema informs her distinctive approach to film criticism, with a particular interest in human experience, memory, identity, and social issues. She actively covers major international film festivals as a journalist and contributes film criticism to Cinema Without Borders and Narges Cinema House Magazine. She is also the founder of Narges Cinema House in Toronto.
Hamed Sarrafi
Hamed Sarrafi is a UK-based film critic, translator, and podcaster with more than 27 years of experience writing and translating for Iranian newspapers and film journals. A former member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), he has extensively covered major international film festivals, including the BFI London Film Festival. He has served as a guest editor for Senses of Cinema and hosts the long-running Persian-language podcast Abadiat Va Yek Rooz (Eternity and a Day), which features film criticism, international festival coverage, and in-depth interviews with filmmakers and critics. His work places particular emphasis on emerging filmmakers and the social and political dimensions of contemporary cinema. His interviews have been published in Cineaste, Notebook (MUBI), Cinema Without Borders, and Senses of Cinema.
Hamed Soleimanzadeh
Hamed Soleimanzadeh is a film critic, filmmaker, and university lecturer whose work focuses on film studies in Germany and Italy. He holds a postdoctoral degree in Film and Philosophy from the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK Berlin).
Soleimanzadeh has served as a jury member at more than fifty prestigious international film festivals and award events, including the Golden Globe Awards, the Cannes Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
He has also directed several short films and published several books as well as hundreds of articles on cinema, philosophy, theatre, culture, and media. In addition, he serves as the director of the Koker International Short Film Festival and is a member of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI).
Supporters of the Bridging The Borders Award were Things You Can Tell & Lonely Seal Company Group
