Doris Dörrie Fukushima, mon amour is an absolute work of art, it is poetic and reminds us impressively that life is as unique as a dream. Light-hearted, delicate, elegant, with highly skilled black and white photography, telling the story of two women from divers cultural backgrounds and how this helps them unite and chase away the ghosts that haunt them from the past. It teaches us how to cope with mistakes you make in life, by accepting them in order to look optimistically into the future.
Renars Vimba We were particularly impressed by a film that managed to create powerful and expressive images in spite of its spare dialogue and understated performances. Thanks to a convincing portrayal of the female protagonist, we were able to accompany her on a journey that movingly depicted the search for personal self-determination, strength and responsibility. In an inspirational fashion, this film production captures the decisive process of personal growth experienced by young people on their way to becoming adults.
Toby Fell-Holden In an ostensibly classic tale of a friendship between two girls who come from different cultures, this film succeeds in astounding the viewer through its sophisticated dramaturgy. The story holds a mirror up to a society still plagued by persistent clichés, a mirror that in the end also forces the audience to face their own prejudices. Provocative and full of strong imagery, this production also manages at the same time to make our current challenges clear.
Winner
All nominees
JackedJacked
Rene van Pannevis Rene Pannevis (Director), Jennifer Eriksson (Producer)
SpoetnikSpoetnik
Noël Loozen
The Ballad of Immortal JoeThe Ballad of Immortal Joe
Hector Herrera
That DayThat Day
Stephanie Ard
Crystal LakeCrystal Lake
Jennifer Reeder
A Night in TokorikiO noapte in Tokoriki
Roxana Stroe
EdenEl Edén
Andrés Ramírez Pulido
SensizSensiz
Nariman Aliev
MushkieMushkie
Aleeza Chanowitz
Refugee BluesRefugee Blues
Stephan Bookas, Tristan Daws
Berlin MetanoiaBerlin Metanoia
Erik Schmitt
Blind VayshaBlind Vaysha
Theodore Ushev
CarouselCarousel
Kal Veber
Kroppen är en ensam platsKroppen är en ensam plats
Jayaraj This exceptional movie touched us all with its irresistible images of nature, laid-back music and amazingly gifted actors. The unique way of filming certain details blew us away. We think it's important that such a sad and serious topic be tackled in a movie, though the film also managed to capture the humour and joy of life.
Winner
All nominees
RaraRara
Pepa San Martín
Young WrestlersGenç Pehlivanlar
Mete Gümürhan
ZudZud
Marta Minorowicz
The World of UsUrideul
Yoon Ga-eun
6.7
Little Men
Ira Sachs
6.2
Ted Sieger's Molly Monster - Der KinofilmTed Sieger's Molly Monster — Der Kinofilm
Matthias Bruhn, Michael Ekbladh, Ted Sieger
Siv sover vilseSiv sover vilse
Catti Edfeldt, Lena Hanno
6.6
Louis & Luca - The Big Cheese RaceSolan og Ludvig: Herfra til Flåklypa
Rasmus A. Sivertsen
RaufRauf
Baris Kaya, Soner Caner
Miss ImpossibleJamais contente
Emilie Deleuze
Blue BicycleMavi Bisiklet
Ümit Köreken
Fortune Favors the Brave: Girls Home AloneEnte gut!
Mariano Biasin We thought this very humorous short film was interesting and funny. The actors were good and made us laugh. The message of the film reinforced our feeling that there's no reason to rush when it comes to the first time.
Winner
All nominees
SemeleSemeli
Myrsini Aristidou
Aurelia y PedroAurelia y Pedro
Omar Robles, José Permar
Kill Your DinnerKill Your Dinner
Bryn Chainey
Le renard minusculeLe renard minuscule
Sylwia Szkiladz, Aline Quertain
Lili Loves FoodLili Loves Food
Siri Melchior
Lili Brushes Her TheethLili Brushes Her Theeth
Siri Melchior
Lili Has a GuestLili Has a Guest
Siri Melchior
Little DollLittle Doll
Kate Dolan
NeiwaNeiwa
Abraham Cruz Herrera, Javier Vázquez Cervantes
NinaNina
Emmanuel Elliah, Maria Körkel
NinnocNinnoc
Niki Padidar
Jonas and the SeaZeezucht
Marlies van der Wel
Chopping OnionsChopping Onions
Adinah Dancyger
Cats & DogsCats & Dogs
Gerd Gockell, Jesús Pérez
On the RoofEn la azotea
Damià Serra Cauchetiez
Simon's Cat 'Off to the Vet'Simon's Cat 'Off to the Vet'
Roberto Doveris Mindful observation and pause for reflection.With unflinching directness tempered by tenderness, this film depicts a young woman in all her vulnerability, in her feeling out her own way towards sexual expression and in her loneliness. This many-layered production, in which everyday moments of both surrealism and authenticity partake in a fascinating interaction, not only managed to impress us from an artistic point of view - indeed, above all it touched us on a personal level and turned our attention inwards.
Kroppen är en ensam platsKroppen är en ensam plats
Ida Lindgren Through the combination of aesthetically pleasing and at the same time off-putting images with an intimate text collage representing multiple perspectives, the elements of this film join in a fascinating manner to form an experimental whole that gives expression to the emotions present for individuals struggling with eating disorders. This exploration of a subject of such great importance impressed us immensely with its poetic approach.
Emilie Deleuze Using a lot of humour, this film tells an extraordinary story which we were able to relate too well. The film is brought to life by the phenomenal acting talent on display. The soundtrack is so compelling that we would have loved nothing more than to jump up and start dancing.
Niki Padidar This short film sets itself apart from the others by describing a rather sad subject in a humorous way from the perspective of a child. The film uses beautiful examples to illustrate how each individual is different but nevertheless has a role to play within the community.
Gianfranco Rosi Fuocoammare interweaves the destinies of African refugees with the life of an Italian fishing family on the island of Lampedusa. Through poetically meaningful images, Rosi illuminates these separate worlds, connecting them through the character of a doctor, and through the motif of the sea, which nourishes some and kills others. A film that crafts a new perspective of the catastrophe, a film that refuses to allow the status quo to go unquestioned.
Estephan Wagner, Moritz Siebert, Abou Bakar Sidibé Les Sauteurs depicts the plight of African refugees from a bold new perspective. Entrusting the camera to their co-director Abou Bakar Sidibé, a young Malien hoping to enter Europe across the notorious fences of Melilla, directors Moritz Siebert and Estephan Wagner create an intimate portrait of a community in harsh conditions. The film encourages us to look beyond countless dots on a computer monitor to see individuals who suffer, hope and endure. Tied with Barakah yoqabil Barakah (2016).
Winner
Barakah Meets BarakahBarakah yoqabil Barakah
Mahmoud Sabbagh Baraqah Meets Baraqah is a classic 'boys meets girl' story transposed to a refreshing and challenging context. It proposes a reflection on freedom and the role of the women in Saudi society, on the expression of self in spite of cultural impositions. The film uses humour and charm to render its political message about youth seeking freedom accessible. Tied with Les sauteurs (2016).
Bouli Lanners Two outcast lovers on the run. Two hitmen on their trail. Many gunshots. And it all oddly leads to a powerful plea for humanity. With gorgeously photographed lonely landscapes and endearingly hopeful characters, this playfully apocalyptic western paints a desolate road toward salvation, but the journey is worth the wait and the work because, as one character beautifully states, "There is more to life than breathing." Bouli Lanners' Les premiers, les derniers urges us to breathe and travel together.
Eliza Petkova We were moved by this smart allegory about shifting cultural changes and the collision of new and old values in small town Europe. With a great eye for detail, the naturalism of this film combined with a compelling story of a young woman searching for her own place in the world, and her achievement of that freedom, is brilliantly executed both in performance and direction.
Kroppen är en ensam platsKroppen är en ensam plats
Ida Lindgren We were all struck by a unique piece of cinema that described a complex condition in a completely original form. Using a beautiful palette of colours, and brilliant writing in the form of voice over, with a bold and innovative point of view, this short manages to describe in a visceral and emotionally disturbing way a young woman's struggle with an eating disorder.
Mete Gümürhan This film throws you directly into a boy's world. The camera takes us on a journey where we see them grapple with the joy and agony of growing up. Without being preachy or condescending, the director shows us a beautiful yet realistic side of a wrestling academy complete with bloody noses, pain, tears and the joy of a perfect slam on the mat. As we start to identify with each of the characters and experience their highs and lows we start rooting for all of them to succeed.
Omar Robles, José Permar Two things stand out in this film: the special bond between a mother and son and the beauty of the remote environment in which they live. We see their day-to-day: the herding of goats and the preparing of food in their mountainside hut. But the directors' real achievement is to show us the communion between mother and son, and to move us with the love between them.
Roberto Doveris We were strongly pulled towards a movie that sank into our subconscious. The director managed in a profound and extremely cinematic way to convey the sexual awakening of a young woman against a background of family under duress. The central performance is at once strikingly brave and also wonderfully vulnerable. The whole film announces a filmmaker not afraid of extending the boundaries of cinematic language and storytelling. This film is an unforgettable sui generis.
Pepa San Martín From its opening shot we get an accurate and thoroughly enjoyable glimpse into an adolescent's life as she grapples with the everyday problems of growing up. Each scene in this powerful film is carefully constructed with complete economy of movement and script. The characters and relationships are etched flawlessly depicting a modern reality that both reflects the time we live in as well as makes us question the very concept of a perfect family. The acting, the script and above all the direction keep us totally engrossed in this beautiful tale of loyalty, despair, hope and ultimately love in its many forms.
Roxana Stroe For its idiosyncratic tone of voice and superb craft and storytelling, this film manages to playfully depict a heartfelt but urgent message. With humorous mise-en-scene, no dialogue and an ironic use of music the film tells a brilliantly engaging story about unacceptable love in rural Europe and its repercussions.
Myrsini Aristidou The director's spare, unadorned style is in perfect step with the story, allowing the emotional undercurrents to slowly work their way to the surface. Quiet looks, small smiles, build to a common bond between father and daughter. This is simply about a girl who wants to see her dad.