Romanian glory in Copenhagen
by Annika Pham
Saturday 27th August closing night gala ceremony of the 2nd Copenhagen International Film Festival (18-28 August) was a celebration of Romanian cinema as two of its filmmakers Radu Mihaileanu and Cristi Puiu were handed out two major Golden Swan Awards each by an international jury comprising UK filmmaker Nicolas Roeg, Danish director Susanne Bier, German actor Udo Kier, Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur and Canadian actress Arsinee Khanjian.
The Paris-based Mihaileanu was awarded the Golden Swan for Best film and Best Script for Live And Become [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Denis Carot
interview: Didar Domehri
interview: Radu Mihaileanu
film profile] (Read also Cineuropa's Filmfocus), the story of Ethiopian Jews rescued from Sudan by the Israelis in 1984. The French/Israeli/Italian/Belgian co-production was the opening film of the Panorama Section at the last Berlin Film Festival.
Cristi Puiu’s The Death Of Mr Lazarescu [+see also:
trailer
film profile] continues its successful Festival run after its world premiere in Cannes at Certain Regard, and added to its already long list of international awards the Grand Prix du Jury and the Best Actor Award for Ioan Fiscuteanu.
The Norwegian Bent Hamer also left the Danish capital with two Golden Swans for his Norwegian/German/USA/Danish co-production Factotum [+see also:
trailer
film profile], already shown at this year’s Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. Hamer was voted Best Director and US star Lili Taylor Best Actress.
Richard Hobert’s Swedish drama Harry’s Daughters starring Lena Endre and Amanda Ooms was the Audience favourite film and Gyula Pados was voted Best Cinematographer for the Hungarian/German/British film Fateless [+see also:
trailer
film profile].
The Best Female Director Award was given by a jury of prominent Danish women to Yasmine Kassari for her Belgian/Moroccan film The Sleeping Child; veteran filmmakers Costa-Gavras and Nicolas Roeg were awarded Lifetime Achievement awards, and Nils Malmros and Emir Kusturica Honorary Awards.
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