The 31st edition of European Film Festival Palić came to an end with the award ceremony that took place on the northern Serbian resort town’s iconic summer stage, located in the middle of the park, on Saturday 26 July, followed by the screening of the closing film, Quentin Dupieux’s The Second Act [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film], which was showcased out of competition. The awards were first revealed to the interested public at the last press conference at noon on the same day. During the seven-day period (20-26 July), films from 17 different selections were screened on five screens in four venues located in Palić and the nearby city of Subotica.

The international jury of the Official Selection competition programme, composed of German producer Bettina Brokemper, Lithuanian actress, filmmaker and cultural promoter Liana Ruokytė-Jonson and Serbian filmmaker Bojan Vuletić, gave the Golden Tower for Best Film to the Serbian title 78 Days [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Emilija Gašić
fiche film] directed by Emilija Gašić. In their statement, they wrote: “In this story, global politics have a big impact on the life of three sisters that have to deal with the absence of their father and world politics crashing in on them. Amazingly directed, acted, shot, and edited, this film touches you through its humour, making you laugh and cry at the same time.” The same film was also awarded by festival visitors with the Gorki List Audience Award.

The Palić Tower for Best Director went to Rúnar Rúnarsson for his film When the Light Breaks [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Rúnar Rúnarsson
fiche film]. The jury praised Rúnarsson’s directing for its minimalistic style and great precision, making for “a very intimate film that portrays the loss of love in a tender and touching way." The Special Mention was awarded to The Magnet Man [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Gust Van den Berghe
fiche film] directed by Gust Van den Berghe.

The jury of the Parallels and Encounters competition, consisting of Serbian filmmaker Natalija Avramović, Spanish sales agent David Castellanos and producer Constantinos Nikiforou from Cyprus, also gave out some awards. George Sikharulidze’s debut Panopticon [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : George Sikharulidze
fiche film] was deemed the best film in competition, while Pavo Marinković’s Bosnian Pot [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film] was also singled out with a Special Mention given for the filmmaker’s work on the script.

The FIPRESCI jury (Bettina Hirsch from Germany, Pierre-Yves Roger from France and Stojan Sinadinov from North Macedonia) also had the task to give one more award for best film in the official selection. Their award went to Magnus von Horn’s The Girl with the Needle [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Magnus von Horn
fiche film].

See the full list of awards winners:

Official Selection

Golden Tower for best film
78 Days [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Emilija Gašić
fiche film] – Emilija Gašić (Serbia)

Palić Tower for best director
Rúnar Rúnarsson – When the Light Breaks [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Rúnar Rúnarsson
fiche film] (Iceland/France/Croatia/Netherlands)

Special Mention
The Magnet Man [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Gust Van den Berghe
fiche film] – Gust Van den Berghe (Belgium/Netherlands/Luxembourg)

Parallels and Encounters

Best Film
Panopticon [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : George Sikharulidze
fiche film] – George Sikharulidze (Georgia/France/Italy/Romania)

Special Mention
Bosnian Pot [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film] – Pavo Marinković (Croatia/Austria/Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Other awards

Gorki List Audience Award
78 Days – Emilija Gašić

FIPRESCI jury award for Best Film
The Girl with the Needle [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Magnus von Horn
fiche film] – Magnus von Horn (Denmark/Sweden/Poland)