email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

FESTIVALS Estonia

Hunger strikes gold at Black Nights

by 

The top award of the 12th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), the Grand Prix for Best Eurasian Film (€10,000), was presented last Saturday to the Irish/UK film Hunger [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Laura Hastings-Smith Rob…
interview: Steve McQueen
film profile
]
by Steve McQueen. The jury awarded the prison drama “for its powerful cinematic language and confident and passionate narrative.”

The award for Best Director went to Michael Winterbottom for Genova [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
(UK), and Russian actress Aleksandra Tiuftej won in her category for the film Mukha.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

The male trio in Mika Kaurismäki’s chamber piece Three Wise Men [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
(Finland) Kari Heiskanen, Petti Sveholm and Timo Torikka – shared the Best Actor Award, while the Special Jury prize went to the award-winning animated documentary Waltz with Bashir [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
(Israel).

The Italian film Il Divo [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nicola Giuliano
interview: Paolo Sorrentino
interview: Philippe Desandre
film profile
]
won Best Cinematography (Luca Bigazzi) and two Special Mentions were given out by the Eurasia jury to The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
(Bulgaria) and Two Legged Horse [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
(Iran).

The Tridens Baltic Feature Film Award (given out for the first time) went to the documentary film Three Men and a Fish Pond by renowned Latvian filmmaker Laila Pakalnina. The up-and-coming Maris Maskalans, who co-directed with Pakalnina, also won Best Cinematographer.

The Best Estonian Film Award (Scottish Leader Film Award) rewarded the animation film Life without Gabriella Ferri by Priit and Olga Pärn; The FIPRESCI jury (awarded for the first time at PÖFF) chose as their favourite film Estonia’s Kings of Time by Mait Laas.

The Audience Award went to the Venice Golden Lion winnerThe Wrestler and the jury of International Federation of Film Clubs (FICC) gave their award to Bulgaria’s The World is Big….

Lastly, Swedish star Max von Sydow was bestowed a Lifetime Achievement Award.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy