24/07/2017 - Aki Kaurismäki and Hong Sang-soo also among festival’s favourites

The two biggest winners of the 2017 Jerusalem Film Festival (13-22 July) are Matan Yair’s Scaffolding [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Matan Yair
film profile], which won the Israeli competition for Best Film, Best Actor (Asher Lax) and a Special Mention for Best Cinematography; and Doubtful [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Eliran Elya, winner of Best First Film, Best Cinematography, and a Special Mention for Best Actor (16-year-old Adar Hazazi, in his breakthrough performance).

Hong Sang-soo’s On the Beach at Night Alone received the award for Best International film, while a Special Mention went to Valeska Grisebach’s Western [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jonas Dornbach
interview: Valeska Grisebach
interview: Valeska Grisebach
film profile], and Mohammad Rasoulof’s A Man of Integrity. The Other Side of Hope [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Aki Kaurismäki
film profile] by Aki Kaurismäki bagged the main award in the In the Spirit of Freedom Competition. Israeli-Arabic film Holy Air [+see also:
trailer
film profile], by Shady Srour, received the top prize from the FIPRESCI jury.

Here is the complete list of winners:

International Competition

Best Film
On the Beach at Night Alone – Hang Sang-soo (South Korea)

International First Features Competition

FIPRESCI Award for Best First Feature
Tehran Taboo [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ali Soozandeh
film profile] – Ali Soozandeh (Iran)

International In the Spirit of Freedom Competition

In the Spirit of Freedom Award - Best Feature Film
The Other Side of Hope [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Aki Kaurismäki
film profile] – Aki Kaurismäki (Finland)

In the Spirit of Freedom Award - Best Documentary
City of Ghosts – Matthew Heineman (USA)

Honorary Mention
The Venerable W. [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Barbet Schroeder
film profile] - Barbet Schroeder (France/Switzerland)

Israeli Competition

Best Film
Scaffolding [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Matan Yair
film profile] – Matan Yair (Israel/Poland)

Best First Film
Doubtful [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Eliran Elya

Best Script
Longing – Savi Gabizon

Best Actor
Asher Lax – Scaffolding

Best Actress
Samira Saraya – Death of a Poetess

Best Cinematography
Doubtful – Shai Goldman

Best Editing
Michal Openheim – The Cakemaker [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ofir Raul Graizer
film profile] (Israel/Germany)

Best Score
Daphna Keenan – Family

The Audience Favourite Award
Longing – Savi Gabizon

FIPRESCI Award for Best Israeli First Feature
Holy Air [+see also:
trailer
film profile] - Shady Srour

Israeli Documentary Competition

Best Documentary
Conventional Sins – Anat Yuta Zuria, Shira Clara Winther

Best Direction of a Documentary
In Her Footsteps – Rana Abu Fraiha

Honorary Mentions
Born in Deir Yassin - Neta Shoshani
A13901 - Tal Haim Yofee