Molodist International Film Festival Announces Winners
The 53rd Molodist International Film Festival in Kyiv has announced the films that have won awards. The list of winners in various nominations is published on the festival's Facebook page.
The Grand Prix went to the film Honeymoon by Zhanna Ozirna.
‘Fascinating rays of light penetrating a small apartment. Extraordinary actors who reveal deep human feelings, and at the same time, the sounds coming from behind the frame. A poignant, sensitive love story set against the backdrop of terrifying explosions,’ said this year's jury chairman, director Mohammad Rasulof about the film.
The film won the Scythian Deer and a cash prize of $5,000.
The prize from the National Union of Film Critics of Ukraine went to the film Additional Scenes by Roman Khimei and Yarema Malashchuk.
‘A meta-film that blurs the boundaries between documentary and fiction cinema and reflects on where the actor ends and the hero begins. Its topical form and drama highlight the connection between war and civilian life and the disturbing existence on the edge of reality,’ the jury commented on the award.
A special award was also presented by the National Union of Film Critics. It was awarded to the film Sony DCR-TRV265E Digital8 Camcorder by Genyk Zayats.
‘For its experimental and rebellious form, which is based on reflections on the essence of video and camera and an accurate cultural observation of the evolution of Ukrainian society from the early 2000s to the present day,’ the festival organisers said.
The winner of the national short film competition was the film Storks Always Come Home by Gala Kozyutynska.
‘This heartfelt film about return, memory and connection with home touched the hearts of both the audience and the jury,’ Molodist said.
The short films also received special awards: ‘Additional Scenes by Roman Khimei and Yarema Malashchuk and Territory of Childhood by Maryna Shkrabaliuk.
The main award of the Teen Screen programme went to The Winners, directed by Zoleen Yousef (Germany).
The following films received special mentions in this programme: ‘Little Joe and the Old Man by Patrice Sauvé (Canada) and Gina by Ulrike Kofler (Austria).
‘These films were awarded for their vivid and sensual stories that touch on the most important topics for today's teenagers,’ the organisers of Molodist say.
The winner of the documentary competition is Flowers of Ukraine by Adelina Borets (Poland, Ukraine). The Molodist organisers say that this documentary is an ‘insightful look at the struggle to preserve cultural heritage and collective memory’.
The following films also received special mentions in this nomination: ‘Against the Wind by Vanya Turner (Greece) and What Did You Dream Last Night, Parajanov? by Faraz Fesharaki (Germany).
The Silence of the Oysters, directed by Marcos Pimentel from Brazil, won the Audience Award. The Molodist team presented the director with the Scythian Deer statuette.
The main awards of the Molodist Film Festival student competition went to: ‘Like a Butterfly’ by Iris Gershon Nagar (Israel) and “Basia: Three Short Stories” by Mateusz Petrak (Poland).
Special awards were given to: ‘The River Fish Anthology by Veera Laminpaa (Finland) and The Chaos Left Behind by Nikos Kolioukos (Greece).
As The Gaze previously reported, this year's festival programme included 123 films from 44 countries.