This is not a funeral, this is a resurrection, Golden Puffin wins RIFF's top prize
RIFF, the Reykjavík International Film Festival, reached a climax tonight when the awards ceremony took place in an innovative way online following the premiere of the festival's final film, Against the Current, directed by Óskar Páll Sveinsson.
This is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection won the Golden Puffin, the festival's top prize this year. The film is directed by Lemohang Jeremiah Moses, a screenwriter, director and artist from Lesotho. The film won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the Portland Film Festival, and the Grand Prize at the Taipei Film Festival.
The jury's opinion states:
"A journey to a mysterious and remote place where an eighty-year-old protagonist fights for nature to remain untouched until it is destroyed by modernity. She sees the fight as her last crusade in a life that is quickly cut short. Mary Twala's impressive performance, the film's wonderful soundtrack and Pierre de Villiers' amazing cinematography create a unique film that is like no other. The subject is also very relevant to our time, where rural areas are disappearing into industrial areas and the undertone is the value of traditions and nature in today's world."
In the Vision category, the film Einmanaklettur / Piedra Sola, directed by Alejandro Telémaco Tarraf, won. Honorable mention from the jury. The jury consisted of filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat, Jan Naszwewski, CEO of New Europe Film Sales, and filmmaker Ísold Uggadóttir.
In the Icelandic short film category, the main prize went to Já-Fólkið, directed by Gísli Darri. The jury's honorable mention went to Animalia, directed by Rúnar Ingi. The award-winning film in the Icelandic student short film category is Raunir Bella by Andri Má Enoksson and Anna Knight.
The pictures say this:
Já-Fólkið is a quality short film with good humor and fun characters. The director has a bold vision for the subject and manages to convey it in this great short film.
Bella's Truth is a fun short film, well shot and well acted with a comedic script that has a dark undertone. The story has a beginning and an end, and the director does a great job with the film.
Animalia is surprising and magical. The director manages to create a memorable film with great acting that creates awe-inspiring tension in the minds of the audience.
The jury consisted of Þóra Sigríður Ingólfsdóttir, director of the Icelandic Film Museum, filmmaker Júlíus Kemp, and Carlos Madrid, director of the Cinema Jove festival.
In the international short film category, the film Reki / Drifting won. directed by Hanxiong Bo The jury's comments said that the film offers a unique insight into a young man's search for his inner man, and at the same time his passion for a special driving technique. The director sheds light on a complex family history, and the question of what masculinity really is. The setting is visual and the approach is both intimate and investigative.
The jury consisted of filmmaker Cristèle Alves Meira, José F. Rodriguez, filmmaker and senior advisor at Points North Institute, and Christof Wehmeier, promotion director of the Icelandic Film Centre.
The jury's Honorable Mention went to the short film Between You and Milagros / Entre Tú Y Milagros, directed by Mariana Saffon. The jury's review says that the film shows "a meaningful, deep and beautiful relationship between mother and daughter, presented on screen in an electric way." The film's final scene is amazing and the silence in it says everything that needs to be said.
Oppression songs / Songs Of Repression directed by Estephan Wagner, Marianne Hougen-Moraga was chosen as the best film in the category Another Future. The jury's Honorable Mention was awarded to the film The Earth Is Blue As An Orange, directed by Iryna Tsilyk. The jury consisted of Mágret Jónasdóttir, producer, Sami filmmaker Sunna Nousuniemi and Simon Brook, film producer.
About Songs of Oppression: A unique and unexpected journey, an exceptionally well-made film that deals with horrific memories from a beautiful place. The film takes us from God's love all the way to Hell in a very moving way. The director, with care and respect for his subject, manages to capture the personal experience of each character individually.
About The Earth is Blue as Orange says; A moving story full of hope, empathy and compassion. The film shows that dreams can come true even in difficult times and that films can bring us hope. Here, filmmaking actually brings hope to a family and brings them even closer together in particularly challenging times.
RIFF sends its heartfelt congratulations to all winners and thanks the jury for their work well done on behalf of the festival.
The RIFF organizers are also extremely grateful for all the films that participated this year, the filmmakers, the sponsors, and everyone who attended the festival.
