(A scene from “Tess”)
The Durban International Film Festival announced its award-winners on June
25) at the closing ceremony of the festival’s 37th edition at the
Playhouse prior to the screening of the closing film, The Space in
Between – Marina Abramovic and Brazil.
The award for the Best Feature Film went to The Violin Player directed by Bauddhayan Mukherji. The jury’s citation said: “A seductive and
mysterious tale of a violin player’s mundane life and an interesting take on
how chance encounters are almost predestined. By successfully weaving offbeat
editing, brave cinematography, simple screenplay, honest direction and a lot of
surprising elements, the film shows us that art, no matter how unimportant it
may seem, can change peoples lives. “
Best South African Feature Film: Tess (a 2013 Durban
FilmMart project), directed by Meg Rickards, which the jury described as “a measured
and uncompromising debut feature.”
Best Documentary: Martha and Niki directed by Tora Mkandawire
Martens, which the jury describes as “visual feast that skillfully
intertwines a profound reflection on (an) art form with the inner journey of
two compelling characters.”
The jury made a special mention of Action Commandante, also
a former Durban FilmMart project, by Nadine Cloete, for “its exceptional
quality and commitment to its subject matter.”
Best SA Documentary: The Journeymen, directed by Sean Metelerkamp. The citation from the jurors said “The
Journeymen takes an unflinching look at who we are by holding up the
proverbial mirror to South African society. The honesty, bravery and commitment
of the film crew results in a mosaic picture of our country with warts and all.
This is strong and uncompromising cinema that is simultaneously disturbing and
life-affirming.”
Best Short Film: Grandma's Day
(Dzie'n Babci) directed by Milosz Sakowski. The jury also made
special mention in this category of the film Ave Maria directed by Basil
Khalil.
Best African Short Film (supported by the
Gauteng Film Commission): New Eyes directed by Hiwot Admasu.
Best South African Short Film: (supported
by the Gauteng Film Commission) eKhaya (Home), directed by Shubham Mehta.
The shorts jury also made special mention of two other
films in this category – Amagugu directed by Ndududo Shandu and Discovery
of Fire directed by Gerhard Pretorius.
Best Actor: Mohsen Namjoo for
his performance in Radio Dream directed by Babak Jalali.
Best Actress: Christia Visser for
her role as Tess in Tess directed by Meg Rickards.
The awards for Best Direction went to Ciro
Guerra for Embrace Of The Serpent, Best Cinematography to Chris
Lotz for The Endless River and Best Screenplay went to Ciro Guerra
and Thoedor Koch-Grunberg for Embrace of The Serpent.
A new award, the Best
Editing, sponsored by SAGE (South Africa Guild of Editors), went to to Tess
which was edited by Linda Man. The award for Artistic Bravery was
given to Neon Bull directed by Gabriel Mascaro for its unique portrayal
of a little-known community of Brazilian Rodeo workers.
The Amnesty
International Durban Human Rights Award for the film that best reflects
human rights issues which comes with a cash prize donated by the Artists for
the Human Rights Trust went to Noma, directed by Pablo Pineda.
The international jury this year was made up of four
jurors: Bianca Balbuena, an award-winning producer from the Philippines; Fibby Kioria, the programme director of Maisha
Foundation, an initiative founded by Mira Nair to empower visionary
filmmakers in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda; Sherif Awad, a film critic who currently works for the Luxor
African Film Festival, and Trevor Steele Taylor, a veteran of festivals in
South Africa, having programmed for the Cape Town International Film Festival,
the Weekly Mail & Guardian Film Festival and DIFF and is the curator for
film for the National Arts Festival.
The South African
feature film jury consisted of film-makers Jahmil Qubeka and Melissa Parry
while the documentary jurors were film-makers Rehad Desai, Omelga Mthiyane and
Riaan Hendricks, and the short film jurors were film-makers Neil Coppen and
Sumayya Rawat.
The Amnesty Jury
consisted of Coral Vinsen, Nonhlanha Mkhize, Betty Rawheath and Mark Povall.
The audience choice
awards for DIFF and for the Wavescape Film Festival will be announced shortly.
For more
information visit www.durbanfilmfest.co.za
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