Budapest, September 26, 2025 – The Heritage in Motion 2025 Award Ceremony took place at the Money Museum, in the framework of the European Museum Academy (EMA) Annual Conference. The evening was marked by excitement and celebration as the best digital achievements in cultural heritage were honored.
Now in its 11th edition, Heritage in Motion is a unique platform that highlights how multimedia and digital tools are transforming the ways cultural heritage is preserved, communicated, and experienced. This year, its expanding global reach is reflected in submissions from 22 countries across four continents.
The prizes were presented by Andreja Rihter, President of the European Museum Academy and Director of the Forum of Slavic Cultures, Massimo Negri, EMA Scientific Director, and Laura Diamanti, Heritage in Motion Coordinator. The Overall Prize was awarded by Eszter Hergár, Director of the Money Museum.
The 2025 edition of Heritage in Motion demonstrated how creative use of technology can bring cultural heritage closer to people of all ages and backgrounds. From cinematic web storytelling to immersive XR trails and documentaries on digital subcultures, this year’s winners show that the future of heritage lies in innovation, accessibility, and global collaboration.
The Winners of 2025 are:
Heritage Audiovisuals Category & Overall Winner: Hands Deep – A Journey into the Demoscene (Finland)
The powerful documentary explores the Finnish demoscene, a digital subculture where creativity and coding intersect. Following three young “miniHackers” alongside veteran voices and rare archival footage, the film portrays the demoscene as an inclusive, intergenerational community. Recognized as part of Finland’s Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2020, it demonstrates how grassroots digital culture continues to thrive as living heritage.
New Digital Experiences Category: Mouthful of Dust (Australia)
Created by State Library Victoria, this cinematic web project reimagines the story of Ned Kelly, Australia’s most infamous bushranger. Through high-resolution 3D scans of Kelly’s artefacts and fresh perspectives from contemporary writers—including female, First Nations, and migrant voices—the project turns contested cultural memory into a vivid, inclusive storytelling experience.
Virtual and Augmented Reality Category: HistoryCity (Italy/UK)
An innovative XR initiative that transforms city streets into “living history” trails. By combining first-person narratives, expert commentary, and archival collections, the free apps allow users to explore georeferenced urban landscapes where historical figures guide them through stories tied to real sites of the past.
Heritage in Motion 2025 highlighted the extraordinary creativity and innovation of the global heritage community. The organizers warmly congratulate this year’s winners and thank all participants for their inspiring contributions. With each edition, the awards reaffirm the power of digital technologies to make heritage more engaging, inclusive, and accessible to audiences worldwide.
