Men Don’t Cry directed by Alen Drljević won the Prize for Best Fiction Film, andMeteors directed by Gürcan Keltek won the Prize for the Best Documentary Film at the 19th Bratislava IFF 2017.
The Bratislava IFF Award for Artistic Excellence in World Cinema was bestowed upon one of the most distinctive European actors and a unique director Jean-Marc Barr.
The commemorative tile on the Film Walk of Fame for 2017 was dedicated to acclaimed Slovak actress Božidara Turzonovová for his lifelong contribution to Slovak cinema.
Awards of the 19th Bratislava IFF 2017
FICTION COMPETITION
Prize for the Best Fiction Film
Men Don’t Cry / Muškarci ne plaču
(directed by Alen Drljević, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia, Germany, 2017)
The theme of this year’s edition of the Bratislava International Film Festival was the art of film acting. The jury was unanimous in its choice for Best Film with a film where the ensemble of actors displayed such an intense emotional and inspirational level of acting in dealing with a tragic historical event. We also found it important to emphasize that the film’s main message of reconciliation was so necessary in today’s current political climate.
Prize for the Best Director
Soleen Yusef for House without Roof / Haus ohne Dach
(Germany, Irak, Qatar, 2016)
Best Director goes to a new talent, a woman, who had the courage to explore with a sincere sensitivity the men in a very patriarchal society, who also chose to film in a dangerous part of the world, in a nation that has yet to be created, Kurdistan, and who displayed a masterful quality of directing considering that this was her film school graduation debut.
Prize for the Best Actress
Laetitia Dosch for Montparnasse Bienvenüe / Jeune Femme
(directed by Léonor Serraille, France, Belgium, 2017)
This actress carried the whole film, from start to finish, with such an honest, authentic and rich performance as she portrayed a woman who in weakness eventually found a strength that inspired all of us in the jury.
Prize for the Best Actor
Navid Mohammadzadeh for No Date, No Signature / Bedoune Tarikh, Bedoune Emza
(directed by Vahid Jalilvand, Iran, 2017)
Best Actor goes to a gentleman who displayed such an outstanding range of emotions, who was honest and convincing at every moment of his character’s evolution in dealing with a man who is condemned to tragedy.
FIPRESCI Jury Award
No Date, No Signature / Bedoune Tarikh, Bedoune Emza
(directed by Vahid Jalilvand, Iran, 2017)
A convincing example of Iranian cinema dedicated to the ethical labyrinths of modern life.
Student Jury Award
Montparnasse Bienvenüe /Jeune Femme
(directed by Léonor Serraille, France, Belgium, 2017)
An authentic and creatively rendered look at the viability of a modern young woman. A convincingly mastered range of her frame of mind during her struggle with herself and the world, performed by Laetitia Dosch.
DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Prize for the Best Documentary Film
Meteors / Meteorlar
(directed by Gürcan Keltek, Netherland, Turkey, 2017)
For his strong, sharp, poetic and humanist risk taken. For the intense fragility of his cinematographic choices
SHORTS COMPETITION
Prize for the Best Short Film
Islands / Les Iles
(directed by Yann Gonzalez, France, 2017)
For inviting the audience to an aesthetic orgy where weirdness meets acceptance.
Special Mention in Shorts Competition
Amateurs / Amateurs
(directed by Naveen Padmanabha, India, 2016)
A funny space serenade that makes us feel connected in this disconnected world.