26-09-2017

FESTIVALS: A Gentle Creature Wins BIAFF 2017

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    A Gentle Creature by Sergei Loznitsa A Gentle Creature by Sergei Loznitsa

    BATUMI: A Gentle Creature directed by Sergei Loznitsa was awarded Grand Prix at the 12th edition of the Batumi International Arthouse Film Festival, which took place from 17 to 24 September 2017.

    Taste of Cement by Ziad Kalthoum, a coproduction between Germany, Lebanon, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Qatar, won the documentary international competition, while the Chinese film Gentle Night, directed by Qiu Yang, was awarded best short film.

    Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Gia Kancheili and Vakhtang Kikabidze received BIAFF Lifetime Achievement Awards for Contribution to World Cinema.

    The Batumi International Arthouse Film Festival is organised by Batumi Art house ARGANI.

    FULL LIST OF WINNERS:

    Feature Film Competition:

    Grand Prix: A Gentle Creature / Krotkaya (France, Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, Latvia)
    Directed by Sergei Loznitsa
    Produced by Slot Machine
    Coproduced by ARTE France Cinéma, Graniet Film BV, LOOKS Film & TV Produktionen,Solar Media Entertainment, Studio Uljana Kim, Wild at Heart, Film Angels
    Supported by the National Film Center of Latvia, the The Riga Film Fund, the Lithuanian Film Centre

    Best Director: Yesim Ustaoglu for Claire Obscure (Turkey, Germany, Poland, France)
    Directed by Yeşim Ustaoğlu
    Produced by Ustaoglu Production, unafilm, Aeroplan, Slot Machine

    Best Actress: Ezem Ucun for Claire Obscure
    Directed by Yeşim Ustaoğlu Yesim Ustaoglu

    Best Actor: Merab Ninidze for Jupiter’s Moon (Hungary, Germany)
    Directed by Kornél  Mundruczó

    Special Mentions:

    for the acting Ensemble in Party (UK)
    Directed by Sally Potter  

    and also for Dede (Georgia, UK)
    Directed by Mariam Khatchvani
    Produced by 20 Steps
    Coproduced by Film and Music Entertainment, MP Film Production, Montauk Film Production, and JaJa Film Productions.
    Supported by the Doha Film Institute and the Georgian National Film Centre

    Documentary Competition:

    Best Documentary: Taste of Cement (Germany, Lebanon, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Qatar)
    Directed by Ziad Kalthoum

    Special Mentions:

    City of Sun (Georgia, USA, Qatar, Netherlands)
    Directed by Rati Oneli

    Liberation Day (Norway, Latvia)
    Directed by Uģis Olte, Morten Traavik

    Short Film Competition:

    Best Short Film: Gentle Night (China)
    Directed by Qiu Yang

    Jury Special Mentions:

    Ana (Georgia)
    Directed by Margo Zubashvili

    Three Steps (Georgia)
    Directed by Soso Bliadze, Georgia, 2017

    Valparaiso (Italy)
    Directed by Carlo Sironi

    BIAFF Lifetime Achievement Awards for Contribution to World Cinema:
    Mohsen Makhmalbaf (Iran/UK)
    Gia Kancheili (Georgia)
    Vakhtang Kikabidze (Georgia)