21/05/2011

Austrian director Karl Markovics’s debut feature Breathing [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (news) has been awarded the Europa Cinemas Label at the 64th Cannes Film Festival. The prize is awarded by a jury of four exhibitors to the Best European Film at the 43rd Directors’ Fortnight.

Produced by EPO Filmproduktion, Breathing is being sold internationally by Films Distribution.

The jury made the following statement: "Karl Markovics has delivered a very strong debut feature. The story of a young man released from prison who learns how to lead a new life resonates with a number of youth-related themes in films presented at Cannes this year: how to become an adult, how to deal with one’s parents, school, love. Markovics places more emphasis on the story than on aesthetics – even if the photography is superb. The film is a sombre story but positive, full of life, bolstered by excellent actors. We very much hope that the Label will help the film to touch as wide a public as possible."

The Cinéfondation also announced its list of prize-winners, which comprises works produced by film schools. Presided over by Michel Gondry, the jury awarded first prize to The Letter (La lettre) by Doroteya Droumeva (dffb, Germany), second prize to Drari by Kamal Lazraq (La Fémis, France) and third prize to Ya-Gan-Bi-Hang by Son Tae-gyum (Chung-Ang University, South Korea).

(Translated from French)