ARRAS 2025 Arras Days / Awards
Kathy Moves triumphs at Arras Days
- The project by French filmmaker Marie Vernalde has scooped the Arras Film Festival's main development grant; The Forbidden Fruit by Slovenia's Urška Djukić was also recognised
After an intense day of pitching, the jury (consisting of Simone Baumann, Miroljub Vuckovic and Bruno Deloye) of the 14th Arras Days (see the report), which provides the Development Grant handed out as part of the 26th Arras Film Festival, singled out two projects as the victors.
The main grant (€7,500, offered by the Arras Film Festival) went to Kathy Moves, the debut feature-length project by France’s Marie Vernalde. The screenplay, written by the director, is centred on Kathy, whose whole life is driven by one sole resolution: to claim the child support she’s owed. With kids to feed and rent to pay, she won’t give up. But her ex has moved on, started a new life with new priorities, and refuses to pay up. Evicted from her home, Kathy takes refuge in a shelter and starts the difficult journey towards independence.
The second development grant (€5,000, provided by the City of Arras) went to The Forbidden Fruit, which will be the second feature by Slovenia's Urška Djukić (who turned heads in Berlin's Perspectives strand with Little Trouble Girls [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Urška Djukić
film profile]). The screenplay is centred on Veronika. Pregnant and accused of witchcraft, she seeks refuge in a Carthusian monastery, where Prior Arnold offers her shelter. Her healing skills soon prove invaluable, but her wild, curious nature unsettles the monks as Count Herman of Celje threatens to destroy anyone who dares protect her.
The award winners are as follows:
Main grant
Kathy Moves - Marie Vernalde (France)
Production: Folle Allure Films
Second grant
The Forbidden Fruit - Urška Djukić (Slovenia)
(Translated from French)
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