The Ecumenical Jury at Karlovy Vary 2025 awarded their Prize to "Rebuilding", directed by Max Walker-Silverman, his second feature film, and a Commendation to "Cinema Jazireh", directed by Gözde Kuran, about a woman in Taliban ruled Afghanistan. The main prize of the festival, the Crystal Globe, went to the documentary "Better Go Mad in the Wild" (OT: Raději zešílet v divočině, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, 2025), directed by Miro Remo. The jury of the international film critics (Fipresci) chose "Out of Love" (OT: Les enfants vont bien, France, 2025), directed by Nathan Ambrosioni, as their prize winning competition film. Actor Stellan Skarsgård received a Honorary Crystal Globe and actress Vicky Krieps the KVIFF President's Award.
At the opening ceremony on 4 July the festival paid tribute to its longstanding President, actor Jiři Bartoška, who died in May 2025. Part of the homage was the world premiere of "We've Got to Frame It! (a conversation with Jiří Bartoška in July 2021)", directed by Milan Kuchynka and Jakub Jurásek, screened subsequently. At the end of the festival the film received the Aufdience Award.