Feature
films
Jury: Hannah Fischer, Yorgos
Karypidis, Rada Secic
We were presented with a very strong
and varied selection of films which created endless
discussion amongst the jury members.
FIRST PRIZE: Surya, From Eloquence to
Dawn,
by Laurent van Lanker.
We have been spirited away on a
journey - an epic journey on the wings of classic
storytellers. We traveled overland from Belgium
throughout Asia, to our final destination in
Vietnam, and we are filled with stories, with
images, with dreams and with a ceremony of claiming
one's own name.
We are delighted to award First Prize
to SURYA, FROM ELOQUENCE TO DAWN, directed by
Laurent van Lanker.
SECOND PRIZE: Forever,
by
Heddy Honigmann.
We are born, we live, we die. And in
our death we would hope to be at peace and
remembered. For a thoughtful and philosophical
remembrance of those who have gone before, we award
Second Prize to FOREVER directed by Heddy Honigmann.
SPECIAL MENTION: My Country, My
Country,
by
Laura Poitras
A young American woman travels to the
worlds most violent war zone and spends 9 months
living with an Iraqi family .Her experience provides
for us a window in a very intimate manner as we
learn about the difficulties facing Iraqi society in
general and that of one specific family, the family
of doctor Riyad. We would like to present the
Special Mention award to MY COUNTRY MY COUNTRY
directed by Laura Poitras.
Jury: Olivier Delesse, Michel
Demopoulos, Maher Abi Samra
First PRIZE: Akhmetely street, number
4,
by
Artchil Khetagouri
For its humanitarian point of view,
social approach and humoristic touch in the
directors portraying the members the hard treated
but nevertheless always optimistic society of
Tyflid- Georgia. A society he knows better than
anyone else, since it�s his own and he describes it
with a rare formal freedom.
SECOND PRIZE: Le cheval ouvrier / The
workhorse, by
Alain Marie
For the elaborated narration in Alain
Marie�s poetic and nostalgic picturing of the
memories that working horses graved into the
miners conscience who inhabited Northern France.
Short films
Jury: Fred de Haas, Yvonne A. Owuor, Elli Paraskeva
FIRST PRIZE: Identities,
by Sawsan Mujahed Darwaza
The theme of the film reflects an actual reality and
global problem. It communicates the sense of
mistrust among civilisations and manages to visually
recount the harrowing experiences of fifty years of
living without a home. The film is an honest
portrayal of the frustration and tensions of exile.
The juxtaposition of these challenges of identity
with dance and music not only draws audiences into
the situation but also conveys hope. It is a daring
film. It does not only illustrate the performance of
the identity struggle, but also leaves the safety of
theatre, a controlled space, and goes into the
street where anything can happen. It brings together
multiple perspectives showing how the struggle
inside the performer-exiles is brought to light and
into public places.
SECOND PRIZE: Star Story,
by Alexey Pochivalov
The jury was taken by this fresh, well-made,
humorous, well-executed animation story. It is
surprisingly complete in the short time of eight
minutes. It is a pleasure to look at, it is
entertaining and also manages to convey simple,
universal and positive values. Its simplicity is its
beauty.
SPECIAL MENTION: Spirales,
by Marie Daniel
A beautiful exploration into the intimate life of
snails. An exceptional portrayal of a micro
universe. The film is a nostalgic reflection of
childhood innocence and the special ability to see
magic and mystery where it unfolds.
Ramsar MedWet Award for best film on water and
wetlands
Jury: Melanie Giard, Kostas
Vassilakis
The waterfront,
by Liz Miller
Water is not only an issue affecting
poor countries. Everywhere in the world, people
are facing a diversity of difficulties in
accessing water. And the characters Liz Miller
choose to portray in her film are particularly
strong, having an interesting way of facing up the
situation, reacting, gathering, getting involved and
fighting together.
Covering all water issues, from
privatization to financing and � above all- the
supreme right for WATER, this film sends a strong
message on the way public participation and action
can overcome problems.
Greek Film Center
Award for best greek film
Jury: Fred de Haas, Yvonne A. Owuor, Elli Paraskeva
FIRST PRIZE: My Place in the Dance,
by Marianna Economou
A sensitively made film with an authentic human
touch and an amusing twist from time to time. A good
example of Greek local tradition with universal
appeal. It could be about anybody�s mother, aunty or
sister. We enjoyed it very much.
SECOND PRIZE: Dehiscence,
by Zoe Manta
The jury thinks that this film is an exemplary for
the visual arts section of eco films and has
therefore decided to give it a special mention.
Dehiscence is a unique combination of film and
visual arts that manages to communicate a surprising
philosophical value.
