2023 Awards
BEST FILM
MIDWIVES
by director Lea Fehner
A very new and deep eye on the maternity, discovering many secrets which we don’t talk very often about. The director disappears behind the camera leaving people free to express their feelings in many intimate moments. The film digs in the soul of the people deep inside.
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
LEGUA
by Filipa Reis, João Miller Guerra
The core of the film is the ability to put together a documentary and fictional eye as well as the sensibility to describe women characters of 3 different generations.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD
Ita Zbroniek-Zajt
for WOMAN ON THE ROOF
The a very precisely designed visual style the movie express the deep identity of an elderly woman who begins her travel to death.
BEST SCRIPT AWARD
Austeja Urbajte
for REMEMBER TO BLINK
The script is simple, subtle, deep and clear and combines different cultures and languages. The story is focused on two women. One is not a mother but has a strong maternity sensibility which the other woman, the adopted mother, does not have, but is full of prejudice. The film has a cruel eye on the French bourgeoisie.
SPECIAL MENTION for the actor
Ivan Barnev
for his role in the film VASIL
The actor confidently creates a full-blooded, alive, warm and emotional character of an immigrant from Eastern Europe who tries to adapt in the Western society.
He has the sensibility to give to his character to break lots of the prejudice and to make the audience to empathize with the hero. He brings light in every scene and creates a strong identity always with moments of doubt.
Audience Award
Vasil
by Avelina Prat
Best European Actor Award SNGCI
Angela Bundalovic
for Copenhagen does not exist
by Martin Skovbjerg
Special Fipresci Award
Copenhagen Does Not Exist
by Martin Skovbjerg
Cineuropa Award
Vasil
by Avelina Prat
Mario Verdone Award 2023
Giacomo Abbruzzese
for DISCO BOY
“For the ability to combine expressive rigor and ideal freedom in the narrative of the bewilderment and rebirth of a hero of our time, suspended between the reconstruction of his own identity and the need to find a place in the world. Giacomo Abbruzzese has produced a work in which the personal style and the power of vision has confirmed the originality of his talent.”
EMIDIO GRECO
Le variabili dipendenti
by Lorenzo Tardella
for its ability to frame and tell the sentimental and relational short circuits of his own generation, with all the contradictions, hopes, and emotional impulses that determine them, in a precise and non-trivial way. Included is the excellent direction of the two young protagonists, both extremely talented, engaged in complex roles that develop on multiple levels, and above all for a conscious and very personal direction that suggests a bright career and future for its young author.
PUGLIA SHOW – Best Short Film
PARAMORE
by Andrea Lamedica and Francesco Mastroleo
For the ability to tell the story of two teenagers in search of their own identity with a fresh and spontaneously stylistic approach, using incisive and promising faces.
PUGLIA SHOW – Special Mention
LA MIA ESCORT
by Alessandro Porzio
For the director’s ability to tell a complete and vibrant story, and for skillfully directing the actors who have created an imagery that is credible and permeated with disconcerting humanity.
Rai Cinema Channel Prize
SUMMERTIME
Director: Sara Scalera
distributed by Zen Movie
A coming-of-age story that delicately recounts many youthful emotions such as joy, fear, anger….
Every image emanates truth, thanks in part to two young actors who are so talented that they make us believe it is all real!
Unisalento Award
TART
di Federico Emilio Cornacchia
The film deals with the theme of toxic masculinity within the family environment in an original way. Through engaging narrative with well-paced rhythm, it immerses the viewer into an emotional journey within the fragility of the human psyche. We appreciated the special attention given to acting and photography, with the use of frames aimed at outlining the suffocating space of the action.
ROTARY CLUB LECCE Award
GO, FRIEND, GO
by Gabriele Licchelli, Francesco Lorusso
and Andrea Settembrini
For the ability to approach the drama of thousands of people seeking to reach Europe, fleeing wars, misery and environmental disasters, while holding on to the dignity of a gaze that never loses sight of their humanity, courage, needs and the dreams that propel them.
