REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL JURY

This year the International Jury viewed 75 films from 36 countries. The
following films were awarded by the jury.

GRAND PRIX, Statuette "Kiss" and
5000 e
Michael Bates, THE PROJECTIONIST, Australia 2002. Using a novel technique, Michael Bates has created both haunting and beautiful images. He has combined sound and image to form an organic unity
that created a new visual experience for us all. This film is both audacious
in its scope and perfect in its execution.

SPECIAL PRIZE OF THE JURY, Statuette "Kiss" and 1500 e
Alexei Shipulin, KAZAN-MOSCOW-KAZAN, Russia 2002
The Special Prize of the Jury goes to KAZAN-MOSCOW-KAZAN for offering an
amazing insight into the feminine wit and courage in coming to terms with a
world suddenly changed out of recognition.

BEST ANIMATION, Statuette "Kiss" and 1500 e
Suzie Templeton, DOG, UK 2001
Suzie Templeton has created an intensely moving story about the relationship
between a father and son. It is a plea for communication that transcends the
materials of its making.

BEST FICTION, Statuette "Kiss" and 1500 e
Royston Tan , 15, Singapore 2002

The jury awards "15" for sharing the painful reality of growing up in
difficult times. A touchingly told story of young minds reacting to the
bewildering absurdity of an achievement-oriented world.

BEST DOCUMENTARY, Statuette "Kiss" and 1500 e
Mehdi Naderi, DOKHTARAN-E-AFTAB, Iran 2002
Best Documentary Prize for the moving and expressive image of the free human
will, revealed even in oppressive circumstances.

PRIX UIP TAMPERE, Short Film Nominee for the European Film Awards and 2000 e
Terje Ragnes, REDD BARNA, Norway 2002
A confrontation between innocence, vulnerability and cynical exploitation.
The film subverts our notions of these virtues and vices ­ exposing in the
process much of the hypocrisy and lazy assumptions which underpin the
relationship between the north and the south. A very modern satire that
bites as hard as it provokes laughter and the imagination.

DIPLOMAS OF MERIT
Laila Marrakchi, 200 DIRHAMS, France 2002
The magical introduction of riches into a poor North African village unleashes dreams of freedom and a better life, alongside envy, greed and despair. A striking fable that shows the future is unknown but it can be challenged and altered through choice and circumstances ­ not by submitting fatalistically.
Riho Unt, HING SEES, Estonia 2002
Realising the full potential of its medium "Hing Sees", through the eyes of
a child, questions the brutality of war and the notion of the heroic. An
inventive and deeply moving film.
Kalyan Sagar, CONDEMNING THE RECENT COMMUNAL CARNAGE, India 2002
Kalyan Sagar has managed in his short piece to create strikingly powerful
imagery using the inherent qualities of the video medium, while at the same
time having the courage to say what needs to be said in response to the
atrocities committed in Gujirat.
Jean-Louis Gonnet, COMME UN SEUL HOMME, France 2001
A film which gives the spectator the opportunity to face the nature of mass
subconscious that may lead to much more dangerous conflicts than the ones
taking place in the sports arenas.

International Jury: Viktoria Belopolskaya, Elizabeth Marschan, Phil Mulloy,Sehjo Singh and Onyekachi Wanbu

REPORT OF THE FINNISH JURY

Up to 30 minutes
MAIN PRIZE
Statuette Kiss and 5000 e (Finnkino)
Selma Vilhunen , MY LITTLE ELEPHANTS, Finland 2002
A portrait of a woman who shepherds cows, sheep, cats, dogs and men with
great tenderness. It conveys a message of humanity.

SPECIAL PRIZE, 1500 e (Kodak)
Kaisa Penttilä, AIR MAIL, Finland 2002
A coming-of-age story. The protagonist takes his time to realise that
sometimes happiness may be closer than one thinks.

Over 30 minutes
MAIN PRIZE
Statuette Kiss and 5000 e (Yle)
Alexis Kouros&Kari Tervo, WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER,Finland 2002
While it may not be the truth, the film does tell a story from a certain
perspective. A story of a divorce that turned into international politics,
the film allows the viewer a chance to experience the father's love for his
lost daughter through its acute sensations. A film about human emotions,
prejudices and the gap between cultures.

SPECIAL PRIZE
1500 e (Kodak)
Tahvo Hirvonen, WANDERER OF A LONELY STAR, Finland 2003
The power of this film is based on trust. It brings the viewer astonishingly
close to the legend called Arto Melleri. The poet has allowed a friend film
him over a period of years. The outcome is a work that evokes a variety of
emotions.

JAMESON SHORT FILM AWARD
6000 e (John Jameson & Son Ltd.)
Aiju Salminen, Aino Ovaskainen, Christer Lindströ, TREEVIL, Finland 2002
An intelligent, fun, surprising film. There is a purpose in everything. Or
is there?

RESOURCE PRIZE
3400 e (Digital Film Finland & Finnlab)
Marita Hällfors, for best photography in THE FACE OF DEATH, Finland 2002, by
Kiti Luostarinen. A respectful and highly sensitive portrayal of people who are about to die. The poetic imagery supports the story, never turning into an end in itself. The visual narrative is based on the impermanence of everything. Even the
brightest bloom will fade in time.

DIPLOMAS OF MERIT
1.Jonathan Davies, FISH, Finland 2002
For once, the viewer gets to be a fish and look at the world from a fresh
perspective.
2. Mika Ronkainen, SCREAMING MEN, Finland 2003
A film that promotes the export of Finnish culture of screaming.
3. Kiti Luostarinen, THE FACE OF DEATH, Finland 2002. The director refuses to let herself off easy when getting close to her subject. The film puts the viewer on the spot, too, forcing us to consider our lifestyles. Should we
say the beautiful words now instead of waiting for the day of reckoning?

Finnish Jury: Markku Peltola, Kaisa Rastimo and Hannu Salonen

REPORT OF THE RISTO JARVA JURY
RISTO JARVA PRIZE
10 000 e (Finnish Film Founation)
Veli Granö, MEET YOU IN FINLAND, ANGEL, Finland 2002
The high level of the Finnish competition overwhelmed the jury of the Risto
Jarva Prize. So many skilful animated films and documentaries were competing
head to head for the prize. The winner of the Risto Jarva Prize is a film about very ordinary human longing portrayed through the extraordinary situation of its main characters. The jury admired the virtuoso narration of the film, and the
director's ability to beautifully reconstruct the unique experiences of the main characters.

Risto Jarva Jury: Esa Illi, Anu Kuivalainen and Aretta Vähälä.

REPORT OF THE MICROMOVIESJURY
The overall quality of this year's micromovies is proof of an understanding
of the new medium. However, the jury could not really distinguish any "new
film language" in this year's programme.

MAIN PRIZE
10 000 e EX AEQUO
Tero Jartti, INDIAN HEAD DRESS, Finland 2002
Ali Tscharm, CIRCLE OF LIFE, Finland 2002
We decided to give two prizes and two mentions to films selected from the
total of 63 works. Several traditional and some totally new genres could be found. Because of this wide variety, the jury deemed it only fair to plit the prize between two films: an animated film and a live action film. Apart from the two winners, two special mentions were given to demonstrate two very interesting notions of possible future developments of the micromovie format.

The film Indian Head Dress by Tero Jartti revealed how a traditional, cinematic approach, simple storytelling and a tightly structured composition easily lend themselves to this new restricted format.
In the film Circle of Life by Ali Tscharmi, the method of looping was used
not only as a purely technical possibility but to really underline the cyclical nature of life. Even scaling this clip down to the size of a thumbnail does not do any harm to the work. The jury especially enjoyed the feature of showing the cycle backwards.

VISIO MAGAZINE SPECIAL PRIZE, 500 e
The Prize goes to Sachito vs. The Mutant Penguins by Teemu Kivikangas, the only entry in the game format. Its story is naive and simplistic, but it is also a fresh contrast to the usual violence in the game environment.

DIPLOMAS OF MERIT
City Obscura by Jason Wishnow proposes an interesting idea: using numerous mobile devices to create one movie as a kind of 'split screen' experience.
You've got v-mail! by Aaron Koenig is toying with the future possibilities
of the emerging technologies in presenting an instant 'real-tv' where the
mobile phone is the camera and the video mailbox is the cutting room at the
same time.

Micromovies Jury: Jan Holthusen, Matti Laipio and Tuomo Tammenpää.

THE REPORT OF THE JUNIOR JURY
Jonathan Davies, FISH, Finland 2002
The Junior Jury watched the Finnish Competition of up to 30 minutes series.
The film Fish (Finland 2002), directed by Jonathan Davies, is a visually beautiful and extraordinary short film. The touching and funny story gave new insights into the issues of loneliness and dependence, and stood up for the rights of the underdogs.

Junior Jury: Maija Härmä, Joonas Inha, Venla Pesonen, Tuomas Raikamo ja
Maija Virtanen.

PUBLIC AWARD - FINNISH
Tahvo Hirvonen , WANDERER OF A LONELY STAR, Finland 2003

PUBLIC AWARD - INTERNATIONAL
Terje Ragnes, REDD BARNA, Norway 2002