Marko Skop "For exploring themes of humanity, dignity, addiction and redemption in a naturalistic, deceptively simple and non-exploitative manner, FIPRESCI is pleased to present the prize in the Discovery programme to Marko Skop's haunting debut feature Eva Nová."
May Allah Bless France!Qu'Allah bénisse la France!
Abd Al Malik "The FIPRESCI jury is pleased to grant the Discovery prize for a story of a youth displaced in their own country, struggling to find the balance between chaos and serenity, on the strength of art, music and human spirit. While the startling cinematography is purely black and white, the director Abd Al Malik managed to show the different shades of grey in his daring debut May Allah Bless France! Félicitations."
Claudia Sainte-Luce "Claudia Sainte-Luce shows a precocious, playful and poignant grasp of the fluid nature of family and the capability of the human heart under the most dire conditions for generosity, empathy and tenderness, in her vibrant debut The Amazing Catfish."
Mikael Marcimain "With an intense sense of cinema reminiscent of the American thrillers of the 1970s, Mikael Marcimain's debut feature achieves a portrait of an obscure world involving women's rights and political corruption. Marcimain deals with his sensitive subject with immense ease and craftsmanship. Because of these accomplishments the FIPRESCI Award for Best Film in the Discovery programme goes to Mikael Marcimain's Call Girl."
Axel Petersén "An assured, darkly humorous portrait of an affluent class in hedonistic self-denial, Avalon marks the arrival of a promising new voice in Swedish filmmaking."
Laxmikant Shetgaonkar Shetgaonkar, immersed in the culture of the region, tells his tale with grace and attentiveness, taking the villages traditions and beliefs seriously, while casting a jaundiced eye on those who exploit them.
