05/09/2003 - The first work by Salvatore Mereu has won the CULT prize. The jury led by Ozpetek has also awarded a Special Mention to Ana y los otros

The 18th edition of the International Critics’ Week has opted for a Sardinian flavour. The film Ballo a tre passi by the Italian Salvatore Mereu, filmed in the local dialect of the island and shown with Italian subtitles, has been awarded the Cult prize for the best first work ($10,000) for the following reasons: "for the strength with which the director represents the different lives on the island, also managing to give a universal value to a local reality".

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The jury was made up of the director Ferzan Ozpetek, the actress Valeria Golino and the critic Eva Zaoralova. It also gave a Special Mention to the film Ana y los otros by the Argentinean Celina Murga, "for the stylistic rigour with which the director expresses the feelings and the loneliness of the protagonist." The award ceremony will be taking place in the Sala Visconti in the Hotel Des Bains tonight at 19:00.

(Translated from Italian)