24/05/2012 - Spanish filmmaker Antonio Méndez Esparza's feature debut wins at the Critics' Week. The Visionary Prize goes to Sofia's Last Ambulance.

Led by director Bertrand Bonello, the jury for the 51st Critics' Week in Cannes has awarded its 2012 Grand Prize to Aquí y allá [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Pedro Hernández
film profile] by Spanish filmmaker Antonio Méndez Esparza (read the review). This calm, profound, and delicate first feature was shot in Mexico (the film was co-produced by Mexico and the United States) and is sold internationally by French agency Alpha Violet.

The brand new Visionary Prize, whose jury was led by director Céline Sciamma, was awarded to the documentary Sofia's Last Ambulance [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Bulgarian filmmaker Ilian Metev (read the review - co-produced by Germany, Croatia, and Bulgaria).

Finally, the SACD (Society of Authors, Directors and Composers) Prize went to Israeli-French co-production God's Neighbours [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (review) while Argentinian feature Los Salvajes by Alejandro Fadel won ACIS/CCAS Distribution Support.

2012 winners

Feature films

Grand Prize:
Aquí y allá - Antonio Méndez Esparza (ES/MX/US)

Visionary Prize:
Sofia's Last Ambulance - Ilian Metev (DE/HR/BG))

SACD Prize:
God's Neighbours - Meni Yaesh (IL/FR)

ACID/CCAS Distribution Support:
Los Salvajes - Alejandro Fadel (AR)

Short films

Discovery Award:
A Sunday Morning - Damien Manivel (FR)

Special Mention:
O Duplo - Juliana Rojas (BR)

Canal+ Award:
Circle Line - Shin Suwon (KR)

(Translated from French)