Copenhagen, 1 October 2026. Films from France and the Netherlands won the top awards at Belief on Screen, the SIGNIS/WACC 21st European Television Festival of Religious Programmes, held in Copenhagen from 23 to 25 September 2026. The festival received 75 submissions from 22 countries and screened 18 selected productions from across Europe at the Danish Film Institute (DFI).
The first prize went to the documentary Jaffa, School of Peace, directed by Hélène Renaux and produced by CFRT for France Télévisions. The film follows Muslim, Jewish and Christian children who study together at the Lasallian College of the Brothers in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv. Despite the war that divides them, a group of women teachers is working to build a shared future for Palestinian and Israeli children.
The Special Award for Innovation and Creativity went to War does not have the last word, directed by Paul Cabanis and Thibaut la Flaquière and broadcast on the French Catholic channel KTO. The film tells the story of Gaza’s Christian community at a time when the Holy Land is too often seen only through the lens of conflict.
The Audience Award went to Crossroads – From Addiction to Redemption, produced by Ben Jebbink and Bas Roetman for the Dutch broadcaster KRO-NCRV. The documentary follows people who have been through great suffering as they make a pilgrimage to Rome, pass through the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica and find new courage to face life.
The international jury members were Catia Barone (Italy), a RAI journalist and documentary filmmaker; Jim McDonnell (England), who has worked in religious broadcasting since the 1990s; and Kristian Danholm (Denmark), a journalist and historian who is Head of Press for the Diocese of Copenhagen.
Over three days, the festival looked at where religious and ethical programmes stand on European television today and what might come next for spiritual and existential formats. In his opening address, Festival President Christoffer Emil Bruun, an editor at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, said: “It is crucial for Europe to understand its own values and its own faith. Europe needs a festival that encourages thought, discussions and exchange of ideas on religion and ethics as topics for mass communication.”
The festival opened in Copenhagen Cathedral (Church of Our Lady) with a special screening of Carl Theodor Dreyer’s 1928 silent film La passion de Jeanne d’Arc. Musician Frederikke Hofmeier accompanied the screening live with a new organ score she composed.
Belief on Screen dates back to 1969 and takes place every three years in a different European country. It was founded by two international church media organisations, SIGNIS Europe and WACC Europe, which organise it together with local representatives. This year’s cooperation partners were the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR), the Danish Film Institute (DFI), the Diocese of Copenhagen and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
More information and a photo gallery of the event are available at www.beliefonscreen.tv.