We would like to express our deepest thanks to all the people who took part in the competition for the 49th edition of the Donostia-San Sebastian International Underwater Film Festival, which was held on 13, 14 and 15 November at the Teatro Principal. Their participation has been key to ensuring that CIMASUB continues to be a festival of great diversity and talent, helping to disseminate the underwater universe and promoting awareness of the importance of protecting and conserving our seas and oceans.
We congratulate the award winners for the high quality of their work. Once again, we are proud to present at CIMASUB 2025 a selection of works created with extraordinary talent and a deep passion for the subject.
Below is the list of the winners of CIMASUB 2025:
DOCUMENTARIES
- Shark Preyed - Marco and Andrea Spinelli (Italia). 1st prize, golden banister + REAL SOCIEDAD FUNDAZIOA Award of 1.000€ + S.M.Y. ONDINA Award. Cruise in Indonesia + 50% companion (valued at more than 6.000€) + FOOTAGE.film Award, Pack 4K PRO, with licence to use film footage (valued at 990€).
- The Island of Giants - Nuno Sá (Portugal). 2nd prize, silver railing + 200€ + LEMBEH Resort Award (Sulawesi, Indonesia), 4 nights with 5 guided boat dives (with air), return airport transfers, full board, for 1 person and 50% discount for a companion (valued at over €1,800).
- La Costa Quebrada: Naturaleza entre las mareas - Nat Savage (Reino Unido). 3rd prize, bronze railing + 100€.
SHORT FILMS
- Magic Moments - Alfred Schaschl (Austria). 1st prize, S.M.Y. ONDINA Award, gold railing + Cruise in Indonesia + 50% companion (valued at more than 6.000€) + FOOTAGE.film Award, HD CREATOR Pack, with licence to use film footage (valued at 290€).
- Un cuento del mar - El Farandulero (Tenerife). 2nd prize, silver railing + 200€.
- Una vida de pez - Leandro Blanco (Madrid). 3rd prize, bronze railing + 100€.
MUSICALS
- The Tiny Wonders of Anilao - Valera Sakhnenko (Canadá). 1st prize, gold railing + €200 + ATMOSPHERE Resorts & Spa Award (Negros oriental, Philippines), 4 nights in a Deluxe Suite for 2 people. Breakfast included. Package of 10 dives per person. Return flights between Dumaguete and Atmosphere (valued at over €2,500) + FOOTAGE.film Award, HD CREATOR Pack, with licence to use film footage (valued at €290).
- Dhangethi - Memories from Alif Dhaal - Jorge Martínez Vázquez (A Coruña). 2nd prize, silver railing + 200€.
- Seascape Underwater Cinematic Collage Clayton Conn (Estados Unidos). 3rd prize, bronze railing + 100€.
PHOTOGRAPHS
- Joan Barcia Ubeda (Barcelona). 1st prize, gold railing + €200 + BUCEO ANILAO Beach & Dive Resort Award (Batangas, Philippines), 7 nights in a Superior room with full board, 12 dives with Nitrox and transfer Manila/Anilao/Manila. Companion 50%. To be enjoyed in July, August or September (valued at over €2,000).
- Daniel Sly (Australia). 2nd prize, silver railing + 200€.
- Miguel Ramírez (Francia). 3rd prize, bronze railing + 100€.
SPECIAL AWARDS (Video)
- FRANCISCO PIZARRO SPECIAL AWARD: Barco Ecoactivo Mater Museoa. Tribute from SUBACUÁTICAS REAL SOCIEDAD, awarding it the Francisco Pizarro Award for embodying the values that inspire Cimasub. For its commitment to marine conservation and outreach, making it a benchmark in environmental education. A well-deserved recognition for an exemplary career, raising awareness and respect, bringing the sea and its biodiversity closer to diverse audiences.
- ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS AWARD: Shark Preyed - Marco and Andrea Spinelli (Italy). Award for the most awareness-raising work, white railing + 300€ + THE SEVEN SEAS LIVEABOARD Award (Indonesia), a free place on board on any itinerary between 8 and 12 nights (except Forgotten Islands) and 50% discount for the accompanying person (valued at around €9,000).
- CANTABRIAN AWARD: SOCAVA Vida sumergida - Enrique Talledo (Cantabria). BASQUE GOVERNMENT Award for the best work carried out in the Cantabrian Sea, Award white railing + €300.
- WOMAN VIDEOGRAPHER AWARD: Norway, welcome to the darkness - Sonja Bader (Alemania). AQUARIUM Award for the best work by a woman, white railing + £100.
- SPECIAL MENTIONS OF THE JURY:
- Extinction. For a bowl of soup - Hendrik S. & Claudia Schmitt (Alemania). Special mention for its message of ecological awareness. DIARIO VASCO Award, white railings.
- El alga invasora - Rugulopteryx Okamurae Julio Junquera Aparicio (Cádiz). Special mention for raising awareness of a serious current environmental problem. AOLDE RADIO Award, white railing.
- Tiburones. Luces y sombras Karlos Simón Jiménez (Madrid). Special mention for raising awareness and demystifying sharks. LIQUID DIVE MAGAZINE Award, white railing.
- Les gardiennes de l'Océan - René Heuzey (Francia). Special mention for filming the beauty of large cetaceans. GUIF Award, white railing.
SPECIAL AWARDS (Photography)
- ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: Isaias Cruz Irujo (Navarra). IUCN SSC Coral Specialist Group Award for the most awareness-raising photograph, white railing + 200€.
- PREMIO CANTÁBRICO: Félix Aguado Zabaleta (Gipuzkoa). EITB Award for the best gallery in the Cantabrian Sea, white railing + 200€.
- PREMIO MUJER FOTÓGRAFA: Merche Llobera (Madrid). ORAIN GIPUZKOA Award for the best new photographer in the Cimasub, white railing + 100€.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
In addition to most of the winning films, the following works will also be screened at the festival:
- The first to fall - Olivier Bourgeois, Emma Pettersson (Andorra)
Special Selection in collaboration with the IUCN SSC Coral Specialist Group.
- Komodo Sirens - Sonja Bader (Alemania)
- Mar Rojo - Elphinstone, Fury Shoals, Daedalus - Jorge Martínez Vázquez (A Coruña)
- El reto de las basuras marinas. Jóvenes protagonistas del cambio - Sara lizarza (Gipuzkoa)
- Of Water and Wonder - Suhas Shyamsundar (India)
- La belleza que aun podemos salvar - José Ramón Castelló Fortet (Madrid)
- Epic Run A Ritual in the Abyss - Weiwei Gao (Estados Unidos)
- Komodo - David Galvañ Fernández (Alicante)
- The Mother Of Diamonds. Kimberlite - Alexander Benedik (Austria)
- UnWRECKed - Bingqian Gao (Reino Unido)
And in the photographic exhibitions we will have photographs by all the winners and by David Mocholi Valiente (Valencia), Aldo Gustavo Galante (Argentina), Bingqian Gao (China), Damaris Palo Rosco (Barcelona), Dawn Strohmeyer (Estados Unidos), Enrique Talledo Ruiz (Cantabria), Francisco Sedano Vera (Sevilla), Gabriel Jensen (Estados Unidos), Isabelle Drouet (Francia), Jo Cudmore (Reino Unido), José Joaquín Hoyas Andrevis (Tenerife), Rowan Dear (Gales). José Luis González Guerra (Madrid), David Pleuvret (Francia), José Ramón Castello Fortet (Madrid), Michal Štros (República Checa), Miranda Narduzzi (Italia), Iñaki Alcalde Ayerbe (Gipuzkoa), Salvatore Gambacurta (Italia), Julio Martínez (Murcia), Gaetano Gargiulo (Australia), Franco Tulli (Italia), Armando Oquendo Parilli (Barcelona), Daniel Landa Quiroga (Gipuzkoa), y Luc Rooman (Bélgica).
All thanks to the organisation of Subacuáticas Real Sociedad...
- To our sponsors: Real Sociedad Fundazioa, Aquarium Donostia, Eitb, Diario Vasco and la Federación Guipuzcoana de Actividades Subacuáticas.
- Institutions: Departamentos de Cultura y de Sostenibilidad de la Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa, Donostia Kultura and Gobierno Vasco.
- Collaborators: S.M.Y. Ondina, The Seven Seas Liveaboard, Atmosphere Resorts & Spa, Lembeh Resort, Buceo Anilao Resort & DIve, Barco Museo Ecoactivo Mater, Footage.film, BPXPort, Aolde Radio, Liquid Dive Magazine, Donostia-San Sebastián Turismo, Oribay Tours, Navegavela, and Brai Kantauri.
- All in support of the Grupo de Especialistas en Corales UICN SSC and the associations Saca la Lengua a la ELA and Siempre AdELAnte.
