Documentaries about the impact of war claimed two of the top prizes as the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam handed out awards Thursday night.
1489, directed by Armenian filmmaker Shoghakat Vardanyan, won Best Film in International Competition. The film revolves around the disappearance of the director’s 21-year-old brother, Soghomon Vardanyan, who went missing in the early days of the renewed fighting in 2020 between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, an area Armenians refer to as Artsakh.
The award comes with a €15,000 cash prize. The jury members of the International Competition were Emilie Bujès, Francesco Giai Via, Tabitha Jackson, Ada Solomon, and Xiaoshuai Wang.
‘1489’
Jurors called 1489, “A film that acts as a piercing light that makes visible the vast hidden interior landscape of grief and creates a tangible presence from unbearable absence. Cinema as a tool of survival—to allow us all, to look at the things we would rather not see.
1489, directed by Armenian filmmaker Shoghakat Vardanyan, won Best Film in International Competition. The film revolves around the disappearance of the director’s 21-year-old brother, Soghomon Vardanyan, who went missing in the early days of the renewed fighting in 2020 between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, an area Armenians refer to as Artsakh.
The award comes with a €15,000 cash prize. The jury members of the International Competition were Emilie Bujès, Francesco Giai Via, Tabitha Jackson, Ada Solomon, and Xiaoshuai Wang.
‘1489’
Jurors called 1489, “A film that acts as a piercing light that makes visible the vast hidden interior landscape of grief and creates a tangible presence from unbearable absence. Cinema as a tool of survival—to allow us all, to look at the things we would rather not see.
- 11/17/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Shoghakat Vardanyan’s “1489,” which follows the director’s family after her brother goes missing while serving in the Armenian army, won documentary festival IDFA’s best film prize Thursday.
The jury of the International Competition section said the film “acts as a piercing light that makes visible the vast hidden interior landscape of grief and creates a tangible presence from unbearable absence.”
The jury added that it was “cinema as a tool of survival — to allow us all to look at the things we would rather not see, and ultimately, an unforgettable example of cinema as an act of love.”
The best directing award went to Mohamed Jabaly for “Life Is Beautiful,” in which the Palestinian filmmaker documents his life in 2014 when he was visiting Norway and was prevented from returning home to Gaza because the border was closed.
“Life Is Beautiful”
The jury members said the film was “a...
The jury of the International Competition section said the film “acts as a piercing light that makes visible the vast hidden interior landscape of grief and creates a tangible presence from unbearable absence.”
The jury added that it was “cinema as a tool of survival — to allow us all to look at the things we would rather not see, and ultimately, an unforgettable example of cinema as an act of love.”
The best directing award went to Mohamed Jabaly for “Life Is Beautiful,” in which the Palestinian filmmaker documents his life in 2014 when he was visiting Norway and was prevented from returning home to Gaza because the border was closed.
“Life Is Beautiful”
The jury members said the film was “a...
- 11/16/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
For the second year in a row, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) launches against the backdrop of a major war. Last year, the festival took place at the height of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine, this year it runs as the Israel-Hamas War rages. Asked about the significance of IDFA being an openly political festival, artistic director Orwa Nyrabia says it is “very important to our filmmaking community, to our audiences and to our festival team and staff.”
Speaking to Variety just before the opening of the festival’s 36th edition, which runs Nov. 8-19, Nyrabia highlights how people are currently trying “not to take sides in a cheap way, to understand more and to discuss better.” The artistic director opened the festival’s press conference by acknowledging the fighting in Israel and Gaza, and emphasizing how he believed “this would have been much better” if we “all...
Speaking to Variety just before the opening of the festival’s 36th edition, which runs Nov. 8-19, Nyrabia highlights how people are currently trying “not to take sides in a cheap way, to understand more and to discuss better.” The artistic director opened the festival’s press conference by acknowledging the fighting in Israel and Gaza, and emphasizing how he believed “this would have been much better” if we “all...
- 11/8/2023
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety Film + TV
A total of 24 world premieres are included in the Berlinale’s Panorama selection, which has added a number of Asian productions.
Some 36 films from 29 countries will feature in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 6-16), of which 24 will be world premieres.
Most recently invited are works from Norway, Ethiopia, Mexico, India, Iran, Georgia, Greece, Hungary and Austria – with returning filmmakers Elfi Mikesch and Umut Dağ, who opened Panorama 2012 with Kuma, his directorial debut.
New titles include a number of Asian productions. In Ieji (Homeland) by Japan’s Nao Kubota, a farmer’s son, who first fled to the city, explores his home village in the Fukushima district, an area that is actually still a no-go zone following the disaster at the region’s nuclear power plant.
In the South Korean film Night Flight, LeeSong Hee-il presents a duel between two schoolmates. LeeSong previously showed the films No Regret and White Night in Panorama...
Some 36 films from 29 countries will feature in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 6-16), of which 24 will be world premieres.
Most recently invited are works from Norway, Ethiopia, Mexico, India, Iran, Georgia, Greece, Hungary and Austria – with returning filmmakers Elfi Mikesch and Umut Dağ, who opened Panorama 2012 with Kuma, his directorial debut.
New titles include a number of Asian productions. In Ieji (Homeland) by Japan’s Nao Kubota, a farmer’s son, who first fled to the city, explores his home village in the Fukushima district, an area that is actually still a no-go zone following the disaster at the region’s nuclear power plant.
In the South Korean film Night Flight, LeeSong Hee-il presents a duel between two schoolmates. LeeSong previously showed the films No Regret and White Night in Panorama...
- 1/17/2014
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The 64th Berlin International Film Festival has announced the first set of screenings from the edition's Panorama section. 50 fictional and documentary films will be chosen to give the programme its distinctive profile between innovative mainstream and radical alternative. So far 19 films have been invited.
Fabio Audi, Ghilherme Lobo, Tess Amorim in Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho (The Way he Looks) von/by Daniel Ribeiro
If You Don't, I Will (Sophie Fillières, France)
The Rice Bomber (Cho Li, Taiwan)
Ice Poison (Midi Z, Taiwan/Myanmar)
Calvary (John Michael McDonagh, Ireland/Great Britain)
The Way He Looks (Daniel Ribeiro, Brazil)
Is the Tall Man Happy? (Michel Gondry, France)
The Man of the Crowd (Marcelo Gomes & Cao Guimarães, Brazil)
Papillio Buddha (Jayan Cherian, India/USA)
Quick Change (Eduardo Roy Jr., Philippines)
Stereo (Maximilian Erlenwein, Germany)
Test (Chris Mason Johnson, USA)
The Better Angels (A. J. Edwards, USA)
The Lamb (Kutluğ Ataman, Germany/Turkey...
Fabio Audi, Ghilherme Lobo, Tess Amorim in Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho (The Way he Looks) von/by Daniel Ribeiro
If You Don't, I Will (Sophie Fillières, France)
The Rice Bomber (Cho Li, Taiwan)
Ice Poison (Midi Z, Taiwan/Myanmar)
Calvary (John Michael McDonagh, Ireland/Great Britain)
The Way He Looks (Daniel Ribeiro, Brazil)
Is the Tall Man Happy? (Michel Gondry, France)
The Man of the Crowd (Marcelo Gomes & Cao Guimarães, Brazil)
Papillio Buddha (Jayan Cherian, India/USA)
Quick Change (Eduardo Roy Jr., Philippines)
Stereo (Maximilian Erlenwein, Germany)
Test (Chris Mason Johnson, USA)
The Better Angels (A. J. Edwards, USA)
The Lamb (Kutluğ Ataman, Germany/Turkey...
- 12/19/2013
- by Notebook
- MUBI
John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary and new films by Michel Gondry, Kutlug Ataman and Robert Lepage are to feature in the Berlinale’s Panorama strand, which will open with Jalil Lespert’s Yves Saint Laurent.Scroll down for first batch of titles
A total of 50 features will be chosen for the Panorama section of the 2014 Berlinale (Feb 6-16), films that “provide insight on new directions in art house cinema”, and the first 19 have been announced. A total of 11 of those selected are world premieres.
The opening film will mark the international premiere of Jalil Lespert’s Yves Saint Laurent, a look at the life of the French designer from the beginning of his career in 1958 when he met his lover and business partner, Pierre Berge.
The opening screening on Feb 7 will see Berlin’s flagship cinema, the Zoo Palast, re-inaugurated as a Berlinale venue after extensive renovations.
Also in the line-up are new films from Michel Gondry, Kutluğ...
A total of 50 features will be chosen for the Panorama section of the 2014 Berlinale (Feb 6-16), films that “provide insight on new directions in art house cinema”, and the first 19 have been announced. A total of 11 of those selected are world premieres.
The opening film will mark the international premiere of Jalil Lespert’s Yves Saint Laurent, a look at the life of the French designer from the beginning of his career in 1958 when he met his lover and business partner, Pierre Berge.
The opening screening on Feb 7 will see Berlin’s flagship cinema, the Zoo Palast, re-inaugurated as a Berlinale venue after extensive renovations.
Also in the line-up are new films from Michel Gondry, Kutluğ...
- 12/19/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
The 15th annual Rio International Film Festival winners were announced on October 10 at an awards ceremony held at the festival’s downtown Armazem 6 dockland pavilion.Scroll down for full list of winners
As in every year, the awards were exclusively for domestic films that screened in the Premiere Brasil section, dedicated to new work from local directors.
For the first time in festival history the most prestigious prize, the Redentor award presented to the Best Fiction Feature, was shared between two films, both from first-time directors: Caru Alves de Souza’s Underage (De Menor) and Fernando Coimbra’s Wolf At The Door (O Lobo Atrás da Porta).
Underage touches on a topical subject that divides Brazilian society about reducing the age of criminal responsibility for heinous crimes.
It follows the steps of a young woman, Helena (Rita Batata), a recently graduated attorney who works as a public defender of children and adolescents and also takes care of...
As in every year, the awards were exclusively for domestic films that screened in the Premiere Brasil section, dedicated to new work from local directors.
For the first time in festival history the most prestigious prize, the Redentor award presented to the Best Fiction Feature, was shared between two films, both from first-time directors: Caru Alves de Souza’s Underage (De Menor) and Fernando Coimbra’s Wolf At The Door (O Lobo Atrás da Porta).
Underage touches on a topical subject that divides Brazilian society about reducing the age of criminal responsibility for heinous crimes.
It follows the steps of a young woman, Helena (Rita Batata), a recently graduated attorney who works as a public defender of children and adolescents and also takes care of...
- 10/11/2013
- by elaineguerini@terra.com.br (Elaine Guerini)
- ScreenDaily
Top brass at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival have revealed the 11 features and eight documentaries that will compete for the Redentor prizes.
The selection sees a healthy mix of first-time filmmakers up against established industry names from more than a dozen states including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Pernambuco, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba and Santa Catarina.
Last year’s top Redentor prize went to first-time filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho’s O Som Ao Redor (Neighbouring Sounds), which earned the best film and screenplay honours.
Premiere Brazil 2013 full competition selection:
Fiction
De Menor (Underage), dir Caru Alves de Souza (São Paulo);
Entre Nós (Sheep’s Clothing), dir Paulo Morelli (Sao Paulo);
Estrada 47 - A Montanha (Road 47 - The Mountain), dir Vicente Ferraz (São Paulo) – world premiere;
O Homem Das Multidões (The Man Of The Crowd), dir Marcelo Gomes & Cao Guimarães (Minas Gerais) – world premiere;
Jogo Das Decapitações (Beheadings Game), dir Sérgio...
The selection sees a healthy mix of first-time filmmakers up against established industry names from more than a dozen states including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, Pernambuco, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba and Santa Catarina.
Last year’s top Redentor prize went to first-time filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho’s O Som Ao Redor (Neighbouring Sounds), which earned the best film and screenplay honours.
Premiere Brazil 2013 full competition selection:
Fiction
De Menor (Underage), dir Caru Alves de Souza (São Paulo);
Entre Nós (Sheep’s Clothing), dir Paulo Morelli (Sao Paulo);
Estrada 47 - A Montanha (Road 47 - The Mountain), dir Vicente Ferraz (São Paulo) – world premiere;
O Homem Das Multidões (The Man Of The Crowd), dir Marcelo Gomes & Cao Guimarães (Minas Gerais) – world premiere;
Jogo Das Decapitações (Beheadings Game), dir Sérgio...
- 9/3/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
- One of my favorite films of the year was Fernando Eimbcke’s Lake Tahoe. The micro-budgeted, minimalist film came to life thanks to some coin in the form of an annual cash award that allows emerging filmmakers from four corners of the globe to fund their projects. For the past 13 years, the Sundance/Nhk International Filmmakers Awards has selected projects ranging from recent indie hits such as Miranda July’s Me And You And Everyone We Know and Oscar winning pics like Walter Salles’ Central Station. This year an international jury will award lucky winners during the Sundance film fest (January 22nd to be precise). Here are the twelve finalists which as usual, we’ll keep tabs on over the months/years to come.: Europe: Celia Galán Julve's Rosita GUZMÁN Is Alive (Spain) – When dangerous fugitive Rosita Guzmán disappears into the Mexican desert, criminologist Garcia Navarro, convinced that
- 11/11/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
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