A real goldmine for lovers of independent film, the Black Movie Festival in Geneva beautifully concluded its 25th edition with an estimated 31,000 attendees overall. Among the many invited guests was Taiwanese filmmaker Tsai Ming-Liang. The films Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Elene Naveriani
scheda film] by Switzerland-based Georgian filmmaker Elene Naveriani, Critical Zone [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] by Iranian director Ali Ahmadzadeh (winner of the Golden Leopard at the latest Locarno Film Festival), and Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Radu Jude
scheda film] by Radu Jude also drew large crowds.

Regarding the winning films, the Critics’ Prize (which comes with 5,000 francs) went to The Mother of All Lies by Moroccan director Asmae El Moudir. The decision of the jury, composed of Ian Mantgani (Ireland), Laura Pertuy (France) and Irina Trocan (Romania) was unanimous. The jury explained that “with the power of its shots and the original way it recreates events that were once intentionally stifled, this film creates a very embodied space between members of a family and their neighbours, where words are freed and memories come back to the surface.” In The Mother of All Lies, the young filmmaker courageously attacks the webs of lies suffocating her family. The jury decided to give a Special Mention to Toll [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] by Brazil’s Carolina Markowicz, “a film that paints with intelligence, sensuality and empathy the peculiarities of life on the outskirts, faced with the societal pressures in place in Brazil.” In Toll, the director shows with empathy a character both fragile and determined who fights to defend their community and its values.

The Young Adults’ Prize, worth 1,000 francs, went meanwhile to Mambar Pierrette [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Rosine Mbakam
scheda film] by Cameroonian director Rosine Mbakam. The jury described it as "a poetic film whose gentleness and fluid rhythm touched us. This fiction film, which we could put in the category of cinéma vérité, tells a very harsh story with a lot of tenderness. It is carried by an endearing central character." A Special Mention was given to The Cemetery of Cinema [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Thierno Souleymane Diallo
scheda film] by Guinean filmmaker Thierno Souleymane Diallo. The Black Movie for Kids Payot Prize, worth 1,000 francs, went to the short film My Name Is Edgar and I Have a Cow by Slovakia’s Filip Diviak.

The full list of winners:

Critics’ Prize
The Mother of All Lies - Asmae El Moudir (Morocco/Qatar/Saudi Arabia/Egypt)
Special Mention
Toll [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Carolina Markowicz (Brazil/Portugal)

Young Adults’ Prize
Mambar Pierrette [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Rosine Mbakam
scheda film] - Rosine Mbakam (Belgium)
Special Mention
The Cemetery of Cinema [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Thierno Souleymane Diallo
scheda film] - Thierno Souleymane Diallo (France/Senegal/Guinea/Saudi Arabia)

The Black Movie for Kids Payot Prize
My Name Is Edgar and I Have a Cow - Filip Diviak (Slovakia)