AWARD OF INTERNATIONAL FILM CRITICS
Awarded by The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI)
FIPRESCI JURY
Hugo Emmerzael, Netherlands
Viktor Palák, Czech Republic
Ana Sturm, Slovenia
The August Virgin / La virgen de agosto
Directed by: Jonás Trueba
Spain, 2019
The award goes to a modest, unpretentious film skilfully opening a number of issues and tackling a range of emotions while maintaining an inspiringly positive worldview.
THE ECUMENICAL JURY AWARD
THE ECUMENICAL JURY
Alyda Faber, Canada
Martin Horálek, Czech Republic
Peter Sheehan, Australia
Lara / Lara
Directed by: Jan-Ole Gerster
Germany, 2019
A well-acted and intelligently directed film of a depressed mother's psychological humiliation of her composermusician son. The interactions of mother and son dramatically and dynamically capture their alienation, and shows signs of movement toward positive resolution.
Ecumenical Jury Commendation
Let There Be Light / Nech je svetlo
Directed by: Marko Škop
Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, 2019
This film is structured around a mesh of wrong-doings that implicate a family, a traditional village community, and its cultural and religious practices. In a stimulating and arresting way, it compels the viewer to reexamine moral responsibilities in a context of complex entanglements of violence.
FEDEORA AWARD
Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean for the best film from East of the West – Competition section.
FEDEORA JURY
Maja Bogojević, Monte Negro
Pavlina Jeleva, Bulgaria
Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi, Italy
Passed by Censor / Görülmüştür
Directed by: Serhat Karaaslan
Turkey, Germany, France, 2018
For the empathetic approach to the exploration of universal topics such as oppressive regimes and censorship, and for playing with the ambiguity of how obsessive creativity may impact social reality.
FEDEORA JURY Special Mention
Aga's House / Shpia e Agës
Directed by: Lendita Zeqiraj Cosovo, Croatia, France, Albania 2018
For daring and nuanced filmmaking which conveys a complex and touching women's story seen through a child's eyes.
EUROPA CINEMAS LABEL AWARD
For the best European film in the Official Selection – Competition and in the East of the West – Competition.
EUROPA CINEMAS LABEL JURY
Maarten Alexander, Belgium
Carinzia Camilleri, Malta
Éva Demeter, Hungary
Denis Samardžić, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Scandinavian Silence / Skandinaavia vaikus
Directed by: Martti Helde
Estonia, France, Belgium, 2019
The Europa Cinemas Label of the 54th Karlovy Vary Film Festival is awarded to a film by a young Estonian director who engages its audience through an exceptional cinematic journey. The story of a troubled sibling relationship unfolds via different variations of silence. The viewer is not only engaged throughout the story by impressive camera work and outstanding music but also by a pure cinematic approach, a powerful script and an original narrative. Therefore, the jury decided unanimously to award the Europa Cinemas Label to the film Scandinavian Silence by director Martti Helde, part of the East of the West Competition. We look forward to see this amazing film reach audiences all over Europe.