PRESS RELEASE MARCH 13, 2005
For release at 11.00 am
Tampere Film Festival Grand Prix to Pjotr Sapegin
The Grand Prix at Tampere 35th International Short Film Festival has
been awarded to the Norwegian Pjotr Sapegin for his film GJENNOM MINE
TYKKE BRILLER (THROUGH MY THICK GLASSES, 2004). The jury characterised
the clay animation as “skillful and imaginative, a work of art and
humanity” and remarked that it “portrays the human nature
in a poetic and loving way”.
In the International Competition, the prize for Best Fiction was awarded
to the film JEUL-GEO-WUN WORI-JIB (HOME SWEET HOME, 2004), directed by
the Korean Hye-Jung Um. The Best Animation was awarded to the Canadian
Chris Landreth for his Academy Award winning film RYAN (2004), while the
Best Documentary went to UNDRESSING MY MOTHER (2003), directed by Ken
Wardrop from Ireland. The jury also decided to award the film with the
Prix UIP Tampere. A Special Mention in the International Competition was
given to GUARD DOG (2004) by Bill Plympton.
The International Competition included 35 short films from 78 countries,
selected from the 2,300 entries. The International Jury consisted of Claudia
Gladziejewski (Germany), programme director at Bayerischer Rundfunk, director
Angela M. Murray (UK), director Reijo Nikkilä (Finland) and Graciella
Quiñones (Cuba) who is in charge of international relations at
Havana’s ICAIC Film Institute.
The Finnish Competition featured 37 films, selected from the 360 entries.
In the category of films under 30 minutes, the Main Prize went to the
experimental OPTINEN ÄÄNI (OPTICAL SOUND, 2005) directed by
Mika Taanila and, in the category of films longer than 30 minutes, to
the internationally acclaimed MELANCHOLIAN 3 HUONETTA (THE 3 ROOMS OF
MELANCHOLIA, 2004), directed by Pirjo Honkasalo. In the short category,
a Special Prize was given to SYNTYMÄPÄIVÄ (THE BIRTHDAY,
2004) by Kari Juusonen and a Special Mention to PERKELE (2004) by Arto
Tuohimaa. In the longer category, a Special Prize was awarded to PAIMENET
(THE SHEPHERDS, 2004) by Veikko Aaltonen, while a Special Mention was
given to CAASHA (2004) by Lotta Kupiainen. The Jameson Short Film Award,
given at Tampere for the fifth time, went to YÖVUORO (NIGHTSHIFT,
2004), directed by Simo Koivunen, Samppa Kukkonen and Sara Wahl. The Finnlab
and Digital Film Finland Resource Award went to Vesa Taipaleenmäki
for the photography in VARIS (CROW, 2004). The winners were chosen by
a three-member jury consisting of directors Milla Moilanen and Mari Soppela
and Finnkino programme director Kaj Itämäki.
The Prize of the Youth Jury was awarded to the documentary SUURIN NIISTÄ
ON RAKKAUS (THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE, 2004) by Tiia Jaakkola. The
Risto Jarva Prize – the largest of the prizes, in pecuniary terms
– went to HILJAINEN TILA (ABOUT A FARM, 2005), directed by Mervi
Junkkonen. The Risto Jarva Jury consisted of directors Visa Koiso-Kanttila
and Auli Mantila, alongside The Finnish Film Foundation information officeer
Satu Elo. Two audience awards were also given; in the International Competition,
the audience favoured the film FLATLIFE (2004) by Jonas Geirnaert, while
in the Finnish Competition, the award went to ARVON VELI (PRECIOUS BROTHER,
2004) by Mika Lehtinen.
The number of visitors at this 35th anniversary Film Festival increased
again from last year. There were more accredited guests than ever before.
Out of the 800 guests, roughly 200 came from abroad. Especially popular
were screenings combining music and motion picture, such as the silent
film classic Battleship Potemkin, accompanied by the Cleaning Women, and
the rock movie all-nighter ROKK – Let’s Festival. The Cuba
programme and Barry Purves’s animations proved capable of attracting
large audiences to short film screenings.
As per usual, selected highlights from Tampere Film Festival will be shown
on March 19 at the Kiasma Theate in Helsinki. The Tampere 36th International
Short Film Festival will be held on March 8-12, 2006.