Grand Prize Astra Film
offered by the National Centre of Cinematography
Cabal in Kabul by Dan Alexe, Belgia
JURY'S MOTIVATION
The two juries of the Festival appreciated unanimously the humanistic value of the movie. The documentaristical approach of the journalist that knew how to shoot the significant things in real time, to create in details two powerful portraits and to keep the balance between the serious problems of life in the dramatic context they live in, and the involuntary humor, makes it deserve the great prize of the 9 th edition of ASTRA FILM FEST.
International Section Award
offered by the Romanian Television
Pryrechny, the Town That No Loger Exist by Torre Grottjord, Norway
JURY'S MOTIVATION
This is a subtly shot portrait of loneliness among the few elderly remnants of a deserted mining town in Russia. The intimacy of the film is enriched by the historical context and the personal memories of the characters. The film is well paced and evokes the contemplative passage of time.
The International Section Award
offered by the Raţiu Charitable Family Foundation
On a Tightrope by Petr Lom, Canada / Norway
JURY'S MOTIVATION
The jury unanimously decided to give the prize to the film that, in a very poetic and cinematically appealing style, successfully brings to the surface some of the world’s hot issues; confrontations between different traditions and regimes; oppressions of religious feelings and freedom of choice in life. With so much sophistication, depth and understanding for the intimate stories of those who have to navigate between two different paths in life, the personal stories become universal. Balancing between two worlds and two opposite calls in life, the filmmaker transposes the issues of the film into a global metaphor. With the precise research, which has been done, the filmmaker has succeeded in coming very close to his characters and in gaining their trust, so that the presence of the camera is almost invisible.
Special Jury Commendation
Making Rain by Frode Storaas & Liivo Niglas, Estonia/ Norway/ Mozambique
Every Good Marriage Begin With Tears by Simon Chambers, U.K.
JURY'S MOTIVATION
Making Rain by Frode Storaas & Liivo Niglas, Estonia/ Norway/ Mozambique
Beyond its deep careful description of a ritual, the film allows the spectator to discover another level lying beneath, the competition between genders. The film is re-enforced by its brilliant making and respectful approach.
Every Good Marriage Begin With Tears by Simon Chambers, U.K.
This film is a highly dramatic and extremely intimate story of love, duty, honour and rebellion by two young British Asian sisters as their marriages are arranged and held in Pakistan. Superbly shot and directed under extremely difficult conditions it deals with the topical issues of migration, generational conflict, Islamophobia, and arranged marriages in the modern world.
Europe Section Award
offered by The Foundation Deventer Roemenie and Filmhuis de Keizer, the Netherlands
Our Street by Marcin Latallo, France
JURY'S MOTIVATION
For a lovingly made, long term project full of memorable characters and graphic situations. Marcin Latallo brilliantly weaves a history of a family together with the history of their city. Our Street focuses on the ups and downs of everyday life portraying a working class dynasty sucked under the historical tide.
Europe Section Award
offered by Duna TV
Two Sisters by Jasna Krajinovic, Belgium
JURY'S MOTIVATION
This is a powerful character study of an intense and complex relationship. The filmmaker uses the camera to explore and provoke her characters into revealing some of their deeper motivations. She leaves us with a memorable portrait of love in a contaminated landscape.
EU Award
offered by the European Commission Representation in Romania
My Home by Debora Scaperrotta, Italy, 64 min
JURY'S MOTIVATION
For the extraordinarily attentive way in which the documentarist listened to and observed her children. This is a difficult field in which to make a new film. Deborah Scarperrotta avoided the traps of sentimentality and sensationalism and gave us genuine moments of discovery.
Romania Section Award
offered by the Romanian Cultural Institute
Bar de Zi and Others Stories by
JURY'S MOTIVATION
The award goes to the film that shows a courageous artistic approach to contemplate on human destiny being determined by the society, the politics and the living conditions of the main characters. Very properly chosen, the dynamic photography and the great sense of rhythm, lifts up the filmmakers cinema-verite treatment of the narrative. It triggers a better understanding of “the others”, of the neighbours who live next door and are most of the time treated as invisibles. The refined manner of the editing creates a strong feeling of inner suspense with a great sense for detail, not being afraid of sometimes having very long static shots. This talented filmmaker establishes successfully very specific moods that keep the audiences’ attention to the very end.
Romania Section Award
offered by British Council Romania
Stam - We are Staying by Anne Schiltz & Charlotte Gregoire, Luxembourg
JURY'S MOTIVATION
A deeply sensitive film of two Transylvanian women, one a Gypsy and one a Saxon, shot by two anthropologists. While technically of a high professional standard, it has portrays a rare and magic intimacy between subjects and the filmmakers that can comes from a deep and prolonged mutual empathy. As a viewer we are lead deeper and deeper into the inner spiritual world of their anxieties and longings for personal identity, cultural belonging, economic survival, love, marriage and motherhood, as they struggle in their everyday lives and confront life’s conflicts, that many of us are too inhibited to share with strangers - a superbly executed triumph of feminine affection. This will always remain a valuable and sensitive document of young women’s lives in Romania at the beginning of the twentieth century
Special Jury Commendation
Beyond the Forest de Gerald by Igor Hauzenberger, Austria
Obcina by Bjorn Reinhardt, Germany
JURY'S MOTIVATION
A visually magnificent evocation of shepherd life in the high Carpathian pastures by a young amateur filmmaker, that that portrays a year and a half in the life of an elderly shepherd who stubbornly stays on the mountain tops throughout the winter snows and looses his fingers to frostbite. It is a beautifully paced minimalist film, which refuses to use filmic artifice to detract from the natural drama of a struggle against the elements and inner personal trauma.
Student Film Award
offered by the National Centre of Cinematography
Unkosher Truth by Chana Zalis, Israel
JURY'S MOTIVATION
The director tackles a painful and personal subject with honesty, wisdom and a great sense of humour. She uses a seemingly simple situation to create a rich and layered film with universal resonance….an unkosher truth.
Award for Student Film
offered by Sony
After the War by Srdjan Keca, Serbia
JURY'S MOTIVATION
For the delicate way in which the filmmaker creates the world of a no-man’s land between three borders. This is a poignant and poetic cinematic vision from a director of talent at the very start of his career.
Special jury commentation
Independence by Rastko Petrovic, Serbia, 25 min
JURY'S MOTIVATION