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All good things come to an end: Tampere International Short Film Festival 2004 is over. Between 3rd and 7th March the short film lovers from all around the world came together to view international quality short films in Tampere.

The Grand Prix at Tampere 34th International Short Film Festival was awarded to Jens Jonsson for his film HEADWAY (2003), described by the jury as "a disarmingly simple but poignant creation told with the greatest of economy of screen language" . In the series of films under 30 minutes of the Finnish Competition, the main prize was given to RHYTHM (2003) by Sami Hyrynkangas and in the series of over 30 minute films the main prize winner was Erja Dammert's WAR CHILDREN (2003), described by the jury as "touching but non-sentimental". The Risto Jarva Prize (10,000 euro), was shared between two films. The winners were FATHER TO SON (2004) by Visa Koiso-Kanttila and LOST AND FOUND (2003) by Kanerva Cederström. A complete list of the prize winners can be found here.

Tampere Film Festival which has established its position not only as a significant cultural event in Finland but also as the oldest and largest short film festival in Northern Europe attracted more international guests and Finnish film professionals than ever before. Ticket sales and festival visitor numbers also went up from last year. Almost 27,500 people attended more than 120 festival screenings. There were up to 600 films shown from 40 countries.

As usual, the festival programme consisted of the traditional international and Finnish short film competitions and the special programmes. In 2004, the special programmes highlighted Austrian experimental film, documentaries from Thailand and films by Afghan women. Special screenings were also devoted to music videos and documentaries, Case Reports from Denmark and the works of Jacques Tati and Georges Méliès.

To celebrate the Children’s and Youth Film Theme Year, Tampere Film Festival and Pirkanmaa Film Centre co-organised Videotivoli, a children’s and youth film and media education event, on March 1–7, 2004.

As well as film screenings, Tampere Film Festival offered seminars, exhibitions, concerts and club nights – and above all: chances for audiences and filmmakers to meet.

Tampere 35th International Short Film Festival will be held on March 9–13, 2005.

News

Prize winners 2004

Pictures from Tampere Film Festival


Films selected for the competitions 2004