28-11-2014

“Lucifer” by van den Berghe awarded the best film at the Black Nights

    In the Crosswind by Martti Helde In the Crosswind by Martti Helde

    The winner of the Grand Prix of the 18th edition of the Black Nights Film Festival, now with the FIAPF-accredited non-specialized international competition, is “Lucifer” by the Belgian director Gust van den Berghe.

    The Grand Prix includes a grant of 10 000 euros by the City of Tallinn. The Black Nights lifetime achievement award was given to Polish actress Maja Komorowska.
     
    The awards were announced tonight at the closing ceremony of the Black Nights Film Festival at the Nordea Concert Hall in Tallinn. The Grand Prix winner was awarded for its ability to reveal the fundamental things in human life yet go beyond the pedestrian to a more spiritual plane.

    The prize for the Best Cinematographer was awarded to Erik Põllumaa for “In the Crosswind” (Estonia), directed by Martti Helde for its compelling and innovative approach to filming one of the most bitter times in Estonian history and its aftermath.

    Jury prize for Best Director went to Marat Sarulu for “Move” (Kyrgyzstan) for working against cinematic conventions by telling a story that not only compels but engages in remarkable social ways.

    The jury awarded with Special Mention the film “Angels of Revolution” (Russia) by Alexey Fedorchenko for its creative mixture of realism and surrealism, and the very specific way it cinematically narrates the story.

    Jury prize for Best Actor was awarded to Eddie Redmayne in the film “The Theory of Everything” (UK), directed by James Marsh for his tour de force representation of the integrity of the human spirit as well as the human mind. The Best Actress went to Kalki Koechlin for her role in “Margarita, with a Straw” (India), directed by Shonali Bose and Nilesh Maniyar for its unmitigated approach to how physically challenged individuals can overcome all obstacles and learn to be at peace with one’s personal worth.

    Kati Outinen (Finland), Andrei Proshkin (Russia), Benson Taylor (Great Britain), Tomasz Wasilewski (Poland), Mark Axelrod (USA) and Elina Reinold (Estonia) judged the films in the international competition.
     
    Tridens jury awarded “Life In A Fishbowl” (Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic) by Baldvin Zophoníasson as Best Debut Film of the Nordic Baltic Region, describing it as an excellent depiction of the lives of three characters in a refreshing humane way without moral judgment. The award includes a grant of 5000 euros donated by Tridens. The Special Award went to “Name Me“ (Russia) by Nigina Sayfullaeva, a nuanced, complex portrait of a father-daughter relationship. The award for the Best Cinematographer was given to Fredrik Wenzel for the impressive use of landscapes to express the inner stillness world of the main character in “The Quiet Roar” (Sweden, Norway).

    The Estonian Film Award went to “In the Crosswind” by Martti Helde, a deeply moving reflection of memory and trauma enhanced by excellent cinematography.
     
    “Mommy” by Xavier Dolan (Canada) won the award for Best Movie in the North American competition of independent feature films for being a technical masterpiece, a generational echo and a declaration of love to those numerous independent and courageous women, who fight every day for their children and their lives. “It is a film about tolerance, a message of hope conveyed by the outstanding performance of the three actors and the mesmerizing mise-en-scene of Dolan.”
     
    FIPRESCI jury judged the films in the international competition and gave the award to “Today” (Iran) by Reza Mirkarimi for the way it manages to achieve big dramatic and political resonance out of a deceitfully simple story.
     
    FICC (International Film Clubs) Don Quixote Award for best film went to “In The Crosswind” by Martti Helde. The jury comments: “The film exposes a new way of making a movie on a topic that caused so much pain to one nation. The dignity and hope exposed in the text is moving and the film could help healing the wounds of history.”
     
    NETPAC Award went to “Move” by Marat Sarulu for the evocative visualization of its Central Asian landscape shifting from an idyllic rural locale to a drab industrial wasteland, captured in a meditative tale about losing home and family.
     
    Prize for the best movie depicting Christian values by the Ecumenical Jury was awarded to “Today“ by Reza Mirkarimi.
     
    Audience award (2000 euros from the City of Tallinn) was given to “What We Do in the Shadows” by Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi (New Zealand).
     
    The international short film festival Sleepwalkers Grand Prix was awarded to Ivan Pavljutsenko for “Ivan’s Day” (Estonia).

    The jury of Animated Dreams awarded the Grand Prix to "Worst-case Scenario" (Estonia) by Kristjan Holm, a film with original storytelling, presenting a strong political message with a great sense of humour. The Grand Prix was selected by international jury Maroš Brojo (Slovakia), Kaspar Jancis (Estonia) and Hefang Wei (China/France).

    Just Film Festival 2014 winner is "X+Y" (UK) by Morgan Matthews, special mention "52 Tuesdays".

    The International Film Producers’ Association has designated Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival as a non-specialized competitive festival. Black Nights Film Festival is the 15th international film festival to be inducted to that category by FIAPF. The most influential film festival of the European North Eastern region takes place from 14th to 30th November. 


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