JURY DECISIONS

 

The Long Fiction Film Competition

First Prize goes to “Otelo Burning” by Sara Blecher from South Africa.

The Jury recognizes Otelo Burning as the best drama film in the long fiction competition because of its perfect balance between storytelling, aesthetic quality, acting and directing, photography and editing. The film not only shows the violence in the Apartheid time in South Africa in the days before Nelson Mandela was released, but also the joys and desires of children and youth, including first love.

The Jury Prize goes to “Alzheimer” by Ahmad Reza Motamedi from Iran.

The Jury wants to specially mention Alzheimer from Iran as a film that is tragic and humorous at the same time and that makes the audience smile about the behaviours of its characters. Besides, it shows how a completely absurd situation can give hope to people that are lost

 

The Short Drama Film Competition

note: The jury recognized two films as equally outstanding regarding their story-telling and their quality of filmmaking, so they both deserved to be awarded with the first prize.

First Prize goes to “Brothers” by Adil El Arabi&BilallFallah from Belgium/Morocco.

Brothers, made by two directors jointly, tells the tragic story of two young men of the same age that follow opposite paths in their lives, which cross in the end. A film with a well-written script and a perfect dramatic structure, with strong characters, that is emotionally touching and full of tension.

Second Prize goes to “Little King” by Socrates Alafouzos from Greece

The story of a man, who got abused as a child, that in a very consequent and radical way shows how violence creates violence. A brilliant script, very good acting and directing, technically perfect in regards to lighting, photography and editing, with an ending that takes your breath.

Third Prize goes to “Dura Lex” by AnkeBlondé from Belgium.

tells the story of a young woman, who is hiding an illegal immigrant. A very good example how a tragic issue can be told by means of an entertaining story-telling. Besides, the film has an ending that asks the audience to imagine how the story might go on. Thus, a second film starts in the audience’s mind.

The Jury Prize goes to:

 “The Will” by Allal El Alaoui from Morocco

The Jury wants to specially mention The Will from Marocco as a film that tells an archaic story, from a filmmaker that has developed a strong aesthetic style.

 “Cold January” by Romany Saad from Egypt

The Jury wants to specially mention Cold January from Egypt as a film that shows the events around Tahrir Square in Cairo at the time when Mubarak stepped down, seen through the innocent eyes of two children. A film that is heart-warming and that makes you smile.

The jury members :

Herbert Gehr- Producer: Germany

Oula izziden –Script writer & Professor: Egypt

Adnan schamat –Actor: Syria

Awatif Naiem – Theatre Director: Iraq
 

The Documentary Film Competition

First Prize goes to “Dust. The Great Asbestos Trial” by NiccolòBruna and Andrea Pranstraller from Italy, Belgium and Switzerland.

Second Prize goes to “Katka” by Helena Trestikova from the Czech Republic

Third Prize goes to “Happiness…promised land” by Laurent Hasse from France.

Jury Prizes goes to:

 “Cultures of Resistance” by Lara Lee from Congo, Palestine, Iran, Nigeria, Burma, Colombia, Rwanda, Syria, Liberia, Lebanon, Brazil, USA.

 “Italy: Love it or Leave it” by Luca Ragazzi& Gustav Hofer from Italy/Germany.

Face the Wall” by Stefan Weinert From Germany/Luxembourg.

The jury members :

Fulvia Alberti- Producer & Filmmaker: France

Yad Deen - Producer & Filmmaker: UK

Sadik M Sha’aban – Filmmaker: Iraq

 “

The Human ImageCompetition

First Prize goes to “The well – Water Voices from Ethiopia” by Paolo Barberi and Riccardo Russo from Italy

First prize for outstanding storytelling, camerawork and music score, for a film with extraordinary sensibility for the topic of water as a vital resource in Africa, the ancient people of Ethiopia who administer it, and the deeply involving overall atmosphere. This film is at the same time very cinematic and very authentic.

Second Prize goes to “The virgin, the copts and me” by Namir Abdel Messeeh from France.

Second prize for outstanding cross-over storytelling and a refreshing sense of humor. While touching deep issues of personal redemption, family, credence and religious belief, the film tells its story in a truly remarkable, ironic and often humorous way, capturing both the pull of religion and the magic of cinema itself.

Third Prize goes to “Foreign” by Miriam Fassbender from Germany.

Third prize for outstanding storytelling, camerawork, a great sensibility and ability to keep close to the protagonists, and great music that has an organic relation to the story. While telling its story almost at skin level of the protagonists, the film gives a new meaning to “fly on the wall” storytelling perspective.

Jury Prize goes to:

“Other Europe” by Rosella Schillaci from Italy.

Special prize for outstanding storytelling of a poorly known aspect of European immigration politics. The film manages to give us disturbing insights into what happens to African migrants once they are granted political refugee status in Europe, demistifying and de-constructing the myth of “Fortress Europe”.

 “Five stars existence” by Sonja Lindén from Sweden/Finland.

Special prize for poetic camerawork with beautifully composed cinematography and lingering images that create a rare cinematic poem.

 

Arab Women Filmmakers Competition

First Prize goes to “The Road to Paradise” by UdaBenyamina from Morocco/France.

First prize for outstandingstory, script, directing, acting, camerawork and original songs (for the Arab translation: not music, songs!). Our prize goes to the director and to all the actors of the film, who create a rare jewel of cinema that is sensible and at the same time powerful - a special mention goes to young actress Sanna Marouk who plays “Sarah”

Second Prize goes to “Dawn” by Nadine Salib from Egypt.

Second prize for this young filmmaker who with her first film tells an intense, intelligent, beautifully filmed and elegantly edited story about herself. The film creates an intimate relation with the audience without ever becoming exhibtionist and in only seven minutes the director tells exactly what she wants.

Third Prize goes to “Beiroot” by ChloéMazlo from Lebanon/France

Third prize for outstanding new ways of cinematic narration, adapting simple and traditional material (paper etc) to the screen and telling a complex and deep story of finding her identity through an initiation journey back to the country of her parents and ancestors. The film conveys difficult and even grave events of history and personal life in an intuitive, auto-ironic, often funny and always entertaining way.

Jury Prize goes to: “The Last Hour” by RouaNazarAlazzawi from Iraq.

Special prize of the jury for this emerging Iraqi talent, a female director who manages to tell a story of childhood and ordinary life that is interrupted by the ordeal of agression and destruction. We want to give this prize to Roua Nazar Alazzawi to invite her to continue her work as a filmmaker of a new Iraqi generation that hopefully will have a chance to emerge in the coming years

Jury Prize for best Actor goes to: CHANTAL ZAILAA for her performance in “Teta” by MervaFaddoul from Lebanon.

Anna Maria Saadplays “Sarah” in the film TETA, directed by Merva Faddoul (2011, Lebanon). Miss Saad’s natural and almost laconic interpretation is never too much and always within tune of her character. She is able to convince audiences in the Middle East and abroad, proving that real emotions are created with small things instead of great gestures.

The Jury members

Racha . H Sharbatgy   –Filmmaker:  Syria

Dirk van den Berg- Producer & Filmmaker: Germany

Beri Shalmashi –Filmmaker: The Netherlands

Sana’a Ali Abbas-Cinematographer: Iraq

 

New Horizons Film Competition (Iraqi Filmmakers)

First Prize goes to: “Another Side” by BqirJassimAlrubaie.

Second Prize goes to: “Thesis” by AtherAbdulhusien.

Third Prize goes to: “A wish” by MazinMunthir.

Jury Prize goes to:

“Bicycle” by RazgarHusien.

“Grill” by SarbastRedha.

Prize for Best Director goes to: “Side Effect” by Hassan Quasim.

Prize for Best Scenario goes to: “Interview” directed by Asaad Al Hilaly.

Prize for Best Cinematography goes to: The Pomegranate blood” by Owat Othman.

Prize of Appreciation goes to:

“The Human” by MashellaMuhammadi.

“Girl” by BinzShekhany.

“Allies behind our house” by ShelenSaady.

The jury members :

Tarik Aljoboury - Producer & Filmmaker: Iraq

Thair Ali– Film Professor: Iraq

Azzam Salih– Filmmaker: Iraq

Maher Majeed – Film Professor: Iraq