Unspooling within the 17th Les Arcs Film Festival’s Industry Village, the Co-Production Village and Talent Village have now announced their winners.

Awarded by a jury composed of Csaba Bereczki, Aranka Matits and Flavia Zanon to one of the 18 projects in development within the Co-Production Village, and endowed with 20,000 euros, the Eurimages Co-production Development Prize has been won by One Hand Jesus, the 3rd feature film project by Romania’s Bogdan Mirică (discovered in Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section in 2016 via Dogs [+lee también:
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entrevista: Bogdan Mirica
ficha de la película]). Written by the director himself, the story follows an old priest with Alzheimer’s who takes his grandson on a wild road trip to confront a shepherd whom he believes is a child killer, forcing them both to question what’s real, what’s remembered, and what’s best left buried.… Production comes courtesy of Ioana Lascăr and Radu Stancu on behalf of deFilm.

The jury explained: “We would like to present the Eurimages Award to a project that invites us to look with curiosity at a society that feels distant yet compelling, and tells a story that feels both deeply personal and rooted in its culture. We were drawn to this tender exploration of old age and illness, and appreciate how it brings humour to a topic that is - in real life - often unbearably heavy.”

Decided upon by Rémi Burah, the ArteKino International Prize (endowed with 6,000 euros) was awarded to Hard Copy, German director Marleen Valien’s second feature film project, produced by Felix Schreiber on behalf of Sommerhaus Filmproduktion. Penned by the director in league with Max Rauer, the story revolves around a girl who meets a printer: a millennial fairy tale where the printer is the prince. In the jury’s words: “This project stands out for its conceptual audacity and unique tone. By transforming an absurd situation into an affecting dramatic comedy, it offers a perspective that is both surreal and deeply relevant on the loneliness of our time and the search for identity. Driven by the courageous artistic vision of a young director, this project promises to be a beautifully original, funny, and heartfelt film.”

The jury (Jérôme Parlange, Johanna Nahon and Angeliki Vergou) behind the Ciclic Talent Village Prize (endowed with 5,000 euros) singled out Daughters of the Burning Heart as their champion, a first feature film project by Romanian director Xandra Popescu (produced by Clara Puhlmann on behalf of Germany’s Angst & Drang), while a Special Mention went to Irish director Ruairí Bradley’s Jomo (produced by British firm Noir Studio).

Last but not least, the Producers Network from Cannes’ Marché du Film handed out two free passes for its upcoming edition: one to Polish producer Maria Golos (Rozbrat Films), who was presenting Maciej Jankowski’s project Confirmation in the Co-Production Village, and another to British producer Shereen Ali (Story Horse Pictures), who was attending with Lisa Clarkson’s project, In The Name of Pleasure.

The full list of awards is as follows:

Co-Production Village

Eurimages Co-Production Development Prize
One Hand Jesus - Bogdan Mirică (Romania)
Production: Ioana Lascăr, Radu Stancu (deFilm)

ArteKino International Prize
Hard Copy - Marleen Valien (Germany)
Production: Sommerhaus Filmproduktion

Talent Village

Ciclic Talent Village Prize
Daughters of the Burning Heart - Xandra Popescu (Romania)
Production: Angst & Drang

Special Mention
Jomo - Ruairí Bradley (Ireland)
Production: Noir Studio