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AWARDS Czech Republic

One World honours human rights documentaries and crowns The Deminer

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- The Swedish documentary by Hogir Hirori and Shinwar Kamal was named Best Film at the Prague-based gathering, which wrapped yesterday

One World honours human rights documentaries and crowns The Deminer
Director Hogir Hirori collecting his Best Film Award for The Deminer (© Lukáš Bíba)

One World (5-14 March), a human rights documentary film festival in Prague, handed out its awards at the ceremony held to mark the end of its 2018 edition. The selection of the international competition section revolved around current topics such as migration as well as testimonies from war zones and more personal portraits. The jury decided to bestow the Best Film Award upon the Swedish film The Deminer [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
, about Fakir Berwari, a man who has dedicated his life to defusing homemade explosives. “Our choice for Best Film is an exceptional force combining precious personal archives with contemporary scenes. This is not only a powerful story about war, but one about family, memory and loss,” commented the jury in praise of the portrait directed by Hogir Hirori and Shinwar Kamal. Talal Derki received the Best Director Award for Of Fathers and Sons [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
, an in-depth study of child radicalisation within the family of a member of the jihadist Al-Nusra Front. The international jury decided to give a Special Mention to Laura Bari for Primas, calling her “a creative and vibrant voice in a remarkable and urgent film that compels us to look beyond victimhood to the beautiful and inspired ways in which girls and women can survive and thrive after experiencing sexual violence”.

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The Václav Havel jury was tasked with evaluating titles in the Right to Know section, spotlighting stories of serious human rights violation. German director Marcel Mettelsiefen took home the main prize for his portrayal of a Free Syrian Army commander’s family in war-torn Aleppo, Watani – My Homeland. “This film demonstrates that in our world, every single person – and most of all, every child – deserves love and peace. We completely understand the feelings of the protagonists as we are compelled to ask ourselves: would we be able to save our own family or our own country under similar circumstances?” explained the jury. Swiss filmmaker Barbet Schroeder received a Special Mention for The Venerable W. [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Barbet Schroeder
film profile
]
, exploring the searingly topical issue of the Rohingya in Myanmar.

Domestic offerings had their own category, the Czech Competition, which also showcased internationally award-winning titles. “In a refreshingly direct, fast-paced, young and equally adult way, the film depicts the modern varieties of propagation and parenthood. Full of humour and with passionate editing, the film unveils the daily life and intimate perspectives of a diverse range of protagonists,” said the jury to justify awarding Jana Počtová’s film Non-Parent [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, which ponders the question of whether or not to become a parent and non-traditional forms of (non-)parenthood. Klára Tasovská and Lukáš Kokeš received a Special Mention for their collective portrait of a young generation that has to enter adulthood, Nothing Like Before. A student jury got the chance to voice their opinion, deciding to give the Best Film limelight to Peace to You All by Slovak director Juraj Mravec, about ordinary people in the midst of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Matthew Heineman’s documentary City of Ghosts came in in first place in the audience poll, thus bagging the Audience Award, while the domestic documentary When the War Comes [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
by Jan Gebert was the runner-up.

The festival will now switch to its travelling mode, bringing films and accompanying events to 36 Czech towns between March and April.

Here is the full list of winners:

Best Film in the International Competition
The Deminer [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
– Hogir Hirori and Shinwar Kamal (Sweden)

Best Director in the International Competition
Talal Derki – Of Fathers and Sons [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
(Germany/Lebanon/Qatar/Syria)
Special Mention
Laura Bari – Primas (Canada/Argentina)

Václav Havel Jury
Watani – My Homeland – Marcel Mettelsiefen (UK)
Special Mention
The Venerable W. [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Barbet Schroeder
film profile
]
– Barbet Schroeder (France/Switzerland)

Czech Competition
Non-Parent [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
– Jana Počtová (Czech Republic)
Special Mention
Nothing Like Before – Klára Tasovská and Lukáš Kokeš (Czech Republic)

Student Jury Award
Peace to You All – Juraj Mravec (Slovakia)

Avast Foundation Audience Award
City of Ghosts – Matthew Heineman (USA)

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