THE GRAND PRIX OF TAMPERE FILM FESTIVAL TO UNITED KINGDOM

The Mass of Men (2012), a fiction from United Kingdom, has won the Grand Prix at Tampere Film Festival International Competition. Directed by Gabriel Gauchet, the film tells the story of a 55-year-old Richard, who is late for his appointment at the employment office. According to the jury, ”The filmmaker skillfully leads the viewer through a constantly developing narrative asking them to question their own preconceptions as the full story is gradually revealed.”

In the Best Fiction category, the winner was Argentinian Asesinato en Junìn (Murder in Junín, 2012) by Andrew Sala. The Finnish Häivähdys elämää (Gates of Life, 2012) gained the title of Best Documentary. In the film by Hannes Vartiainen and Pekka Veikkolainen, paths of unknown travellers are intervowen at a railway station. The German Sonntag 3 (Sunday 3, 2012), directed by Jochen Kuhn, won the category prize for Best Animation. The rendition of Sunday walks was also merited with the EFA nomination, meaning it will be competing for the title of the best European short film at the European Film Academy Awards. In addition, the jury gave a diploma of merit to Anar miveh behesht as (Pomegranate Fruit Paradise, 2012), an Iranian fiction by Teymour Ghader.

The members of the International Jury were Nick Deocampo (The Philippines), Line Klungseth Johansen (Norway), Ivana Laučíková (Slovakia), Ulla Simonen (Finland), and Rich Warren (United Kingdom).

The audience award for Best International Film was handed out to Matka (Mother, 2012) by Polish Lukasz Ostalski.

In the National Competition, Hänen tilanne (When One Stops, 2012) by Jenni Rahkonen won the category of Under 30 Minutes. The jury stated that the film ”makes a transcendent statement about humanity, loss and the coping mechanisms of mourning. A bittersweet portrait of grief was consistently surprising about where it was going and how it was getting there.”

Special Prize for Film Under 30 Minutes was given to Hiljaisen talven lapsi (The Child of Silent Winter, a documentary by Iiris Härmä. The film follows Katja, who is only 24 years old and yet already retired.

As for the Over 30 Minutes category, the winner was the documentary Laulu koti-ikävästä (Finnish Blood Swedish Heart, 2012) by Mika Ronkainen. The film uncoils the emotions of Finnish immigrants through the relationship of a father and a son. The jury described the film: ”Giving eloquent and sensitive voice to a particularly Finnish immigrant story, this unorthodox road movie not only tells us something we haven’t heard before and boasts captivating central characters.”

Over 30 Minutes Special Prize was dealt to Häätanssi (Dance of Outlaws, 2012) by Mohamed El Aboudi. The documentary depicts a young Moroccan woman, a rape victim who is refused an official identification.

Sitting in the seats of the National Jury this year were John Anderson (United States), Mikko Kuutti (Finland), and Iris Olsson (Finland).

The Risto Jarva Award was divided between two documentary films: the winners were 6954 kilometriä kotiin (6954 Kilometres Home, 2012) by Juan Reina, and Laulu koti-ikävästä (Finnish Blood Swedish Heart, 2012) by Mika Ronkainen. According to the jury, ”Both of the films address the viewers strongly through emotions. They succeed in touching us without being sentimental. Humor, even absurd humor, brings lightness to the films.” The decision was carried out by Liisa Akimof, Antti Heikki Pesonen and Marjo Pipinen.

The Youth Jury Award went to Ajatuksia kuolevaisuudesta (Thoughts About Dying, 2012) by Jani Ilomäki. A Diploma of Merit was given to Vesa Kuosmanen's documentary Somma Sommarum (2012). The Youth Jury consisted of high school students Johannes Blom, Wille Luosa, Leo Mörö and Veera Penttilä.

The winner of the student prize was Aamulla viemme lapset metsään (Out into the Woods, 2012) by Jussi Lehtomäki. The winner was chosen by Tampere Film Festival. The National Competition Audience Award was handed out to Mika Ronkainen's Laulu koti-ikävästä (Finnish Blood Swedish Heart, 2012)

Altogether eleven screenings were sold out by Sunday morning. The competitions attracted a large audience as well as Zaida Bergroth's retrospective screenings which were sold out. Old film classics were audience favourites, too: two screenings of Finnish Film Archive were sold out, and the unique show Retour de flamme, hosted by Serge Bromberg, swept the audience off at Tullikamari.

Tampere 44th International Short Film Festival takes place on March 5th - 9th, 2014.