Last night, at the closing ceremony held at the Belgrade Youth Center, the awards for best films and authors of March Festival, of one of the oldest European festivals, were handed out. The competition program included 77 films in the following categories: experimental film and video art, animated film, short feature film, documentary film up to and over 50 minutes and international short film.
The films were selected by a selection committee composed of: Dragana Latinović, director and producer; Darko Ković, cinematographer, editor, director and producer; Igor M. Toholj, film and TV editor, author of documentaries and experimental films and Ivan Velisavljević, playwright and film critic.
The jury of the 69th March Festival, which decided on the awards, consisted of: jury president Lordan Zafranović, director and screenwriter – Croatia, Heinz Hermans, professor of short film dramaturgy – Germany, Milan Nikodijević, director, screenwriter and producer – Serbia, Gianfilipo Pedote, producer and screenwriter – Italy and Dragomir Zupanc, film and TV director – Serbia.
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS OF THE 69TH MARCH FESTIVAL
BEST SCREENPLAY
Film: Voltaire’s Smile or a Film Letter to a French Friend
Directed by: Nikola Stojanović
Country: Serbia
Rationale: Testamentary film of one of the most important supporters of the New Film from the 1960s. Editor, filmmaker, director of documentaries, experimental and feature films, volunteer assistant to Chabrol, Godard, Truffaut, writes a confessional lament to his friend, the French writer Patrick Besson. Nikola Stojanović did not live to see the premiere of his film. The director’s son, editor Srdjan Stojanovic, completed his father’s epistle work.
Srdjan Stojanović received the award on behalf of his father, Nikola Stojanović. The award was presented by Dejan Dabić, artistic director of the March Festival.
BEST ANIMATION (To be awarded later)
Film: The Fall of the Ibis King
Directed by Mikai Geronimo, Josh O’Caoimh
Country: Ireland
Rationale: A magical journey through emotions with originally created characters and beautiful color and light arrangements.
The award went to Mikai Geronimo, Giorgia McKenna, Josh O’Caoimh, Charles-Henri Sanson.
BEST CAMERA (To be awarded)
Film: Warsha
Directed by: Dania Bdeir
Country: France, Lebanon
Rationale: A person who soars to the heights of newly built skyscrapers becomes a terrestrial cosmonaut. A crane operator in a cabin a hundred meters above the ground leaves gravity and mental load behind. In a cramped space, psychedelic scenes become as real as in the stories of the Strugacki brothers. The camera in this film does not deal at all with the dominant position of the crane, the panorama, the powerful construction. The man is in the focus, the crane operator and his cry for liberation from the shackles of religious and social dogma.
The award was given to Shadi Chaaban, director of photography.
BEST EDITING AWARD
Film: Duga Resa
Directed by: Škart
Country: Serbia
Explanation: The group Škart, a staple of the local art scene, with a specific design and narration, chose an editor and a filmmaker to organize their ideas into a film story. Vladimir Šojatapplied his experience and knowledge to revive the ideas of knitting and fringe decoration in an invisible, yet creative world, woven of dedication and imagination.
The award was given to Vladimir Šojat, editor. The award was presented by Nenad Popović, a member of the Board of the March Festival.
BEST SOUND / MUSIC
Movie: Postcard
Directed by: Hana Rastoder
Country: Serbia
Rationale: This short documentary is a kind of video essay, a grown-up girl’s letter about unfulfilled and unspoken love, which would be incomparably poorer without the thoughtful use of sound expressed in the chapel song sung in Istanbul on the Bosphorus. Without sound effects, which would only ruin the achieved atmosphere, the song sung by the author herself raises this story to a completely new level, which leaves no one indifferent.
The award was given to Hana Rastoder, director, and Peter Zirbs, sound designer, who received the award. The award was presented by Aleksandra Mitrić Štifanić, a member of the Board of the March Festival.
BEST DIRECTION
Film: North Pole
Directed by Marija Apčevska
Country: Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary
Rationale: The North Pole is a minimalist work which used the magic of film as a medium and thus, perhaps, surpassed the intentions of the authors themselves. This achievement is proof that the film is a miracle. All praise should go to the young actors.
The award was given to Marija Apčevska. The award was received on behalf of the director by Miloš Ljubomirović, co-producer of the film, and presented by Darko Ković, a member of the selection committee of the 69th March Festival.
BEST FILMS OF THE 69TH MARCH FESTIVAL BY CATEGORY
EXPERIMENTAL FILM / VIDEO ART
Film: Inside
Directed by: Jelena Prljević
Rationale: For the poetic and metaphorical way in which film revives solid matter and gives it breath, through the lightness of light and shadow, in the hidden heart of the building: the one that holds it and makes it last through time.
The award was received by Jelena Prljević, the film’s director, and presented by Gianfilipo Pedote, a member of the jury of the 69th March Festival.
ANIMATED FILM
Film: Lines
Directed by Ivan Stojković
Rationale: The film has a very convincing aesthetics and special characters, as well as an interesting approach to combining photo elements with the so-called “cut out” animation.
The award was received by Milan Milosavljević, the film’s producer, and presented by Heinz Hermans, a member of the jury of the 69th March Festival.
SHORT FILM
Film: Olga
Directed by Vladimir Djordjevic
Rationale: Because of the delicacy, simplicity and effectiveness with which the film makes us feel the difficulty in overcoming ancient prejudices in a small village. Prejudices that often bring misery and suffering to the whole community.
The award was received by Vladimir Djordjevic, the film’s director, and presented by Dragomir Zupanc, a member of the jury of the 69th March Festival.
DOCUMENTARY FILM SHORTER THAN 50 MINUTES
Film: Anatomy of Hypomania
Directed by Mina Vavan
Rationale: This documentary follows a very special and interesting man, in a very personal and intimate way, and manages to bring the audience closer to him.
The award was received by Mina Vavan, the film’s director, and presented by Milan Nikodijevic, a member of the jury of the 69th March Festival.
DOCUMENTARY LONGER THAN 50 MINUTES
Film: ŽŽŽ (Journal of Želimir Žilnik)
Directed by: Janko Baljak
Explanation: Although it seems that everything is known about the life and work of one of the great screen artist, Želimir Žilnik, every new film about him brings something new. It is the same with the work of Janko Baljak, which reminds us of a better cinematic past, but also directs us to the future to which Žilnik is always turned. A production-intesive film in which the director and director of photography managed to stay on the trail of Žilnik’s recognizable poetics.
The award was received by Janko Baljak, the film’s director, and presented by Lordan Zafranović, the president of the jury of the 69th March Festival.
INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
Film: Marko
Directed by Marko Šantić
Country: Croatia, Serbia, France, Slovenia
Rationale: The cinematography of the former Yugoslavia fell apart with one tragic war. The first to establish bridges between the newly formed states were the filmmakers. This film is a synthesis of almost thirty years of cinematographic cooperation in the so-called region. With its humane message and top realization, the film Marko opens new spaces for cinematographic cooperation in the former Yugoslavia.
The award was received by Sladjana Petrović Varagić, co-producer of the film, and presented by Dejan Dabić, artistic director of the 69th March Festival.
GRAND PRIX
Film: Intercom 15
Directed by Andrei Epure
Country: Romania
Rationale: For the raw and precise way in which the film emotionally describes, through several essential shots, the inconsistency in the relationship of the community faced with a tragic event. A small gallery of characters paints an urban miniature dominated by gray tones, with a sense of shame and indifference.
The prize will be awarded later.
All photos: Stanislav Milojković