27/10/2014 - The Ukrainian film has won the top prize at Toruń, while the Silver Angel went to Force Majeure and Waterline won the From Poland competition

The Tribe by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy

The Golden Angel, the top prize at the International Film Festival Tofifest in Toruń, has been awarded to The Tribe [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Ukrainian director Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy (which has already won other prizes, including at the Cannes Critics’ Week); it was considered by the Polish gathering’s jury to be a “silent and striking cry out against inhumanity”. The Silver Angel went to another title that was unveiled at Cannes: Force Majeure (Turist) [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ruben Östlund
film profile] by Sweden’s Ruben Ostlund. Furthermore, George Ovashvili’s Corn Island [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: George Ovashvili
film profile] picked up a Special Mention, and the competitive From Poland section saw Waterline by Michal Otlowski crowned as victor.

It was not only within the awards list that Ukraine drew people’s attention, as the country was also the subject of a debate (entitled "Ukraine – The Future of Culture") that was held as part of Tofifest 2014. As the speakers pointed out (particularly director Olena Fetisova, producer Volodomyr Kozyr and activist from the Babylon ’13 group Larysa Artiugina), Ukrainian culture is sorely lacking, amongst other things, a well-organised system of public funding support and strong national institutions, particularly in the film industry. 

Ukraine’s culture sector is therefore relying on Poland, as well as on other European countries, to support it during the process of creating operating principles on the European level. This is because it has a great deal of potential: “Ukraine is like a good bottle of champagne that has been ageing in the cellar for a considerable length of time. What we need to do now is to uncork it, and a fine bouquet will be released. That’s the point our culture is at. We are going to conquer Europe. All we need is a little time and... some peace,” concluded Olena Fetisova.

(Translated from French)