Award Winners 2008

The 18th Films from the South festival 9 – 19 October 2008:
This year’s winning films have been selected

The Silver Mirror for the best film in the Main Competition:
This year’s Silver Mirror for the best film in the Main Competition goes to the Iranian film Buddha Collapsed out of Shame, directed byHana Makhmalbaf.

The jury has judged the ten selected candidates with the mandate of choosing the film that has the best qualities with respect to representing films from the south towards a Norwegian cinema audience. The jury: Hanne Palmquist; CEO of Nordisk Film & TV Fond, Kohinor Nordberg; artist, Sæmund Fiskvik; record producer.

The jury states:
The winning film tells a metaphorical story with a documentary approach, about how universal human cruelty manifests itself in the world of children. With the world’s worst battleground as a backdrop, the film portrays an indomitable will to grow up as an enlightened person.
And from tragedy, terror and evil, an irrepressible and unforgettable face is rising, who with the resourcefulness of the Norwegian fairytale character Ash Lad finds her way with the help of four eggs and her mother’s lipstick.
- A film that gives more hope for Afghanistan than ten thousands of peacekeeping NATO soldiers.

Hana Makhmalbaf from Iran was one of the main guests at Films from the South and she was present during the closing ceremony. The Silver Mirror is Films from the South’s own award and is presented to the best film in the main programme. The prize money of NOK 100,000 goes to a Norwegian distribution deal for the film

The jury for the Silver Mirror Award wants to give a special mention to Kiyoshi Kurosawa from Japan for his socially aware film Tokyo Sonata.
As a director he is constantly able to surprise his audience and with a convincing talent he masters a wide range of differing film genres. In this sensitive – but at times also tragicomic – ensemble film we follow a hopelessly dysfunctional family that totally breaks down, but from the ruins of the past they manage to forge a new life - together.
We have deep respect for the master Kurosawa – and look very much forward to his next film

Silver Mirror Honorary Award
This year´s Silver Mirror Honorary Award goes to Films from the Souths guest of honor: Raoul Peck. What characterises Peck as a filmmaker, from his debut to his most recent work, is a genuine interest in global political issues, and how that affect the human condition. Raoul Peck has a special gift in portraying and revealing the social and political patterns in society.

Raoul Peck says in a statement:
"It was an extraordinary journey. I met some passionate and inspired colleagues and fellow filmmakers,a warm and dynamic team from Film from the South and above all, a curious, attentionate and dedicated public. I was able to share my experiences with you, in a very open, tolerant, and sincere manner, as some of you were able to share theirs with me.
I am confident that the diversity of movies screened here, from so varied horizons, has left each one of us with an even more open and wise vision of the world. As for me, while it was already a great privilege to be invited here, it was even a greater honor to receive the Silver Mirror Honorary Award from the Films from the South Festival. Especially because this award came from people that I learnt to know and to respect."


The FIPRESCI Award for the best film in New Directions:
This year’s FIPRESCI Award goes to the Chinese film 24 City, written and directed by Jia Zhang Ke.

The jury statement reads:
"We were never in doubt. This year’s winner was in a totally different league than its competitors. The film’s point of departure is the Chinese state-owned factory 420, which is to be demolished to make room for a modern apartment complex. Through both fictional and real interviews with factory workers and through beautiful and telling photos from both past and present, Jia Zhang Ke slowly but surely paints a complex portrait of the old Communist China on its way to a market economy, and the societal changes this entails, for better or worse.
The film is both interesting and informative while also succeeding in moving the audience. The genre blend of documentary and fiction, and the way that the director uses this to tell the story of an entire generation, emphasise the fact that Jia Zhang Ke is among the most exciting filmmakers at present.”.

The FIPRESCI Award is an international film critics award and the winner is guaranteed an "S" support for DVD distribution and release. Platekompaniet will distribute the winner. This year’s FIPRESCI jury consisted of Dagbladet’s film critic Vegard Larsen from Norway, the Macedonian film critic and journalist Marina Kostova and the French producer, director and writer Hubert Niogret.


The Doc:Sør Award for the best film in the documentary competition:
For the first time this year, Films from the South presents an award for best documentary, Dok:Sør 2008. It goes to the film War Child, about the former child soldier Emmanuel Jal from Sudan, directed by Christian Karim Chroborg.

The jury states:
"Our criteria for judging the ten films we have seen are emphasising films that transcend the TV language, that have a clear dramaturgy and a distinct grasp of the direction.
The winner is one of three films that have music as a basic element. It sheds light on and provides insight into a conflict that the UN has called one of the world’s worst ongoing humanitarian crises and we follow the journey of a young person from utter darkness to a new life with a justified hope and faith in the future. Furthermore, the film points outside its own story by exploring universal human subjects like family and belonging. It has a distinct directorial grasp and a sober narrative voice and expression."

The winner of the Dok Sør Award will receive Norwegian distribution deal through Sherpa Distribution. The Dok Sør jury consists of Lars Nilssen, author and director of short films and documentaries, Ida Berntsen, publisher of documentary literature at Cappelen, and Toril Simonsen, in charge of short films and documentaries at the Norwegian Film Institute’s Foreign Department.

The Oslo Kino Release Award:
The much talked about animation film Waltz with Bashir by Ari Folman from Israel won The Oslo Kino Release Award, which is presented for the first time. The distributor of Waltz with Bashir is Arthaus.

Oslo Kino’s statement:
"Oslo Kino wants to give our first release award to a film that in a groundbreaking manner explores the traumas of war. The use of animation in telling a documentary story creates both distance and proximity to these traumas. A stunning and poetic film that we look forward to screen in our theatres."

The award consists of NOK 50,000 and shall be spent supporting the release of the film in Oslo. This prize goes to a film in the Special Screenings at Films from the South, a special competition section for films that have already been taken by a Norwegian distributor.

The Audience Award:
Waltz with Bashir by Ari Folman was also the audience favourite and thus receives the Audience Award. The winner in this category will be acquired for screening at the TV channel NRK and will be aired at NRK2 in the following year. The award consists of NOK 75,000.