‘Paul and Paulette Take A Bath’, ‘Souleymane’s Story’ take home competition prizes at the Red Lorry Film Festival 2025-OxBig News Network

Stills from ‘Paul and Paulette Take A Bath’ and ‘Souleymane’s Story’

The Red Lorry Film Festival 2025 has unveiled the winners of its Competition Segment, recognising outstanding talent in global cinema. The second edition of the festival was held in Mumbai and debuted simultaneously in Hyderabad.

The jury, featuring industry stalwarts Vikramaditya Motwane, Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Atul Sabharwal, Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, and Prachee Shah Paandya, alongside honorary juror Ashish Hemrajani and film critic Kaveree Bamzai, selected Paul and Paulette Take A Bath as the winner of the Fresh Frames category, while Souleymane’s Story received the Frontrunner title.

Expressing his gratitude, director Jethro Massey said, “What a joy to receive this award! I cannot wait to share the misadventures of Paul & Paulette with audiences in India. This recognition is a reminder that cinema truly is an international language that can cross all boundaries.”

Meanwhile, Souleymane’s Story creators Burno and Boris shared, “We are very honoured by this distinction from a major festival in Asia. Knowing that Souleymane’s life resonated with the audience and jury gives us the energy to continue telling meaningful stories.”

The Critics’ Pick was awarded to I’m Nevanka, selected by a panel including National Film Award winner Alaka Sahani, journalist Anna M.M. Vetticad, and Mid-Day’s Mayank Shekhar.

Now in its second edition, the festival made a splash with its dual-city expansion, splitting itself into ‘Take Two’ in Mumbai and ‘Parallel Verse’ in Hyderabad. Scheduled from March 21st to 23rd, the festival was saw over 120 titles, boasting premieres from Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and Toronto.