8.3.2009

GRAND PRIX OF TAMPERE FILM FESTIVAL TO PARAGUAY

The Grand Prix of Tampere Film Festival's International Competition was awarded to Pablo Lamar's fictional film Ahendu nde sapukai (2008). The film made history by being the first Paraguayan film to participate in the International Competition. The Jury described the film as "a meditation on life, death and sorrow in one beautifully composed frame".

The Best Animation award was snatched by British Laurie Hill's Photograph of Jesus (2008). The animation tells of a search for impossible photographs. Iranian Massoud Bakhsh's Arayeshgar e Bagh dad (2008), a story about a Baghdad barber, was awarded as the Best Fiction. Andreas Gräfenstein and Fabian Daubin's Was Übrig Bleibt (2008) won the Best Documentary category. Polish Pawel Ferdek's documentary Szklana pulapka (2008) received the Tampere EFA nomination, which means that it will be competing for the title of the best European short film.

The International Jury awarded three Diplomas of Merit. The awarded films were Momoko Seto's animation Planet A (2008), Finnish Iris Olsson's documentary Between Dreams (2009), and Iranian Mahmoud Falavarjan's fiction Zeestan (2007). The Jury members were Maike Mia Höhne (Germany), Ngo Phuong Lan (Vietnam), Kristiina Pervilä (Finland), William Sloan (United States), and Montserrat Guiu Valss (Spain). Alexei Alexeev's animation KJFG No. 5 received the Audience Award.

The main prize of the LAB10 competition was won by the Swedish animation Sagan om den lille dockpojken (2008), directed by Johannes Nyholm. The Jury characterised the film as humane and ironic, and in touch with familiar hardships of life. The Jury consisted of Sávio Leite from Brazil and Toni Lähteinen and Jenni Ukkonen from Finland. The winner of the Audience Award was also Johannes Nyholm's Dockpojken (2008).

The main prize of the Finnish Competition's under 30 minutes category was awarded to Panu Heikkilä's fiction Luola (Cave, 2008). The Jury said of the film: "Featuring the best acting in the Festival, the structure and tone of this moral tale reminded us of the best classic Russian literature." Jan Ijäs's Ghosts (2008), a documentary about a reception centre, won the Special Prize. The Resource Award for best cinematography was awarded to Hannes Vartiainen and Pekka Veikkolainen's documentary Hanasaari A (2009). The Turun Anikistit association's animation English Lessons (2009), received a Diploma of Merit. The film was directed by CHRZU, Tommi Juutilainen, Lauri Järvenpää, Samppa Kukkonen, Reetta Neittaanmäki, Lotta Rapeli, Niina Suominen, and Sara Wahl.

The main prize in the over 30 minutes category went to Annika Grof's documentary Liikkumavara (Within Limits, 2009). The Jury described the film as being touching regardless of the topic. The Special Prize was also awarded to a documentary, Kansakunnan olohuone (The Living Room of the Nation, 2009). Tuomas Milonoff and Jon Sundell's fiction Monte Rosso (2008) received a Diploma of Merit. The members of the Jury of the Finnish Competition were Anni-Kristiina Juuso and Teemu Mäki from Finland, and Shane Smith from Canada.

The Risto Jarva Jury awarded Hanasaari A, directed by Hannes Vartiainen and Pekka Veikkolainen. The Jury said of the film: "The film is a gentle farewell to an era. It combines live footage, photographs and animation in an accomplished manner, creating a visually fantastic and touching depiction of the changing cityscape. The tearing ruthlessness of time is crystallised in images of a demolition machines's jaws sinking into the brick walls of the old power plant." The Jury members were Kiti Luostarinen, Matti Paunio, and Otto Suuronen.

Juho Kuosmanen's fiction Kaupunkilaisia (Citizens, 2008) won the Prize of the Youth Jury. The Student Award went to Iris Olsson's Between Dreams (2009). The Audience Award went to Annika Groff´s Liikkumavara.

The audience interest in Tampere Film Festival remained high: there were over 800 accredited guests and members of the press, including some 140 international guests. Ten screenings had sold out by Sunday, including, in addition to competition screenings, Terra Femina 3, Valentin Vaala 100 Years, Pavel Koutský's animations and the Carte Blanche screening assembled by Marja Pallassalo.

As usual, the best films of Tampere Film Festival will be screened in the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki on 14 March at 6 pm. Tampere Film Festival would like to thank its sponsors, the filmmakers, guests, audience, and all participants. The Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2010 from 10 March to 14 March.

MORE INFORMATION

Jukka-Pekka Laakso, Festival Director
tel. +358 40 703 8599
festdirector@tamperefilmfestival.fi

Riina Mikkonen, Press Coordinator
tel. +358 3 213 0034 or +358 40 532 2912
riina.mikkonen@tamperefilmfestival.fi

Sanna Kyllönen, Press Coordinator
tel. +358 3 213 0034 or +358 40 067 7667
sanna.kyllonen@tamperefilmfestival.fi

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