VLAFF Announces the Winners of its Three Inaugural Competitions!
The winners of the Al Jazeera Documentary Award, Short Film Award and Youth Choice Award were announced during VLAFF's closing ceremony on September 10, 2011.
WINNER, AL JAZEERA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION. $3,500 and Diploma.
O SAMBA QUE MORA EM MIM, Brazil. Director: Georgia Guerra-Peixe
"The film that takes us to a place so exceptional that it exists in between musical notes, the inner place where samba lives. We are pleased to award the Aljazeera Documentary award to O SAMBA QUE MORA EM MIM, directed by Geórgia Guerra-Peixe for her unique exploration into the spirit of a people. Set in the Mangueira Hill favela in Rio de Janeiro during the pre-carnival period, Geórgia Guerra-Peixe not only takes her audience into the favela’s homes but with her craft she captures the way of being of a people."
JURY PRIZE, AL JAZEERA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION. Diploma.
SOY LIBRE, Cuba. Director: Andrea Roggon.
"We are pleased to award 'Soy Libre', directed by Andrea Roggon, the Jury Prize for its genre pushing innovation and strong approach to the subject matter. 'Soy Libre' is a creatively compelling exploration of the theme of freedom within Cuba, from the perspective of several citizens of Havana."
WINNER, SHORT FILM COMPETITION. $500 and Diploma.
EN AGUAS QUIETAS,Mexico. Director: Astrid Rondero.
"In Still Waters is a masterfully written, directed and acted film in which all components complement one another and form a harmonious whole. The terse dialogue, beautiful photography, well-chosen music and befitting locations converge seamlessly to tell an apparently simple, yet multi-layered, intense and complex love story. In Still Waters is a gem".
HONORARY MENTION, SHORT FILM COMPETITION. Diploma
LOS TELEFERICOS,Argentina. Director: Federico Actis.
"The jury has decided to give an honorary mention to a film that tells a story of love between a young man and his ailing grandfather that encapsulates every aspect of good filmmaking, with complex, yet funny characterizations, and beautiful visuals, showing us that the best stories can be told in a span of 14 minutes: Los Telefericos by Federico Actis, Argentina."
YOUTH CHOICE AWARD. $1,000 and Diploma
POST MORTEM, Chile. Director: Pablo Larrain.
"The movie that deserves the Youth Award is a movie that vividly and morbidly portrays a love story during the Chilean coup in 1973. Its social and historical significance, as well as its cinematography and outstanding acting lead us to choose Pablo Larrain's Post Mortem".
Congratulations to all of the winners!