Motherland triumphs at CPH:DOX
- The documentary by Alexander Mihalkovich and Hanna Badziaka has scooped the DOX:AWARD at the 20th edition of the Danish gathering
The 20th edition of CPH:DOX recently concluded in Copenhagen after unspooling from 15-26 March. It wrapped with an awards ceremony where the top prize, the DOX:AWARD, was given to Motherland [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Alexander Mihalkovich and Hanna Badziaka, from Belarus. The film addresses the prevalent issues of corruption and a harsh military environment that compel the youth to pick a side. It is a timely and dark portrayal of the current situation in Belarus.
“This was such a cinematic and meaningful film, which took its time unfurling the complexity of living within an oppressive and unjust system. It poses questions about the idea of an individual choice within a cornered society. The title of the film is a way to give back the power to the women who are at the forefront of this fight,” said the jury, comprising Gugi Gumilang, executive director of Indonesia’s In-Docs/Docs by the Sea; Mathilde Henrot, co-founder of Festival Scope; Ania Trzebiatowska, programmer at the Sundance Film Festival; Georgian filmmaker Salomé Jashi; and Danish filmmaker Lea Glob. The jury also gave a Special Mention to On the Edge [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Nicolas Peduzzi, which they said gripped them and took them on a journey through the labyrinth of a human mind.
The F:ACT AWARD was given to Seven Winters in Tehran [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Steffi Niederzoll, which, according to the jury, is “artfully crafted – from the visual language to the editing style, we are impressed by the filmmaker’s creative vision and ability to execute. It’s emotional but never sensational. It tells a tragic story, yet allows us to witness the warmth and resilience of human nature.” The section’s Special Mention was given to The Hostage Takers by Puk Damsgaard and Søren Klovborg, for “its journalistic vigorousness, and portrayal of both victims and perpetrators”.
In the NORDIC:DOX Competition, the winner was Mrs. Hansen & the Bad Companions by Jella Bethman, who paints a vivid and ultimately life-affirming portrait of “bad company” in a film that gives space to some of the people who don’t fit into society’s conformist puzzle of norms and frames. The Special Mention was bestowed upon Lynx Man [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Juha Suonpää
film profile] by Juha Suonpää, for its “use of innovative visual language, ethereal sound and, of course, its spectacular lead subject; it pushes the boundaries of films that consider humanity's relationship with the sacredness of nature”.
The NEXT:WAVE Award went to Queendom [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Agniia Galdanova, a “powerful and intimate coming-of-age story about an outsider within her family and her country, [told] with exquisite gentleness and outstanding visual beauty”. The Special Mention was bestowed upon The Last Year of Darkness by Benjamin Mullinkosson: the jury was “captivated by the sensorial depiction of contemporary urban China and a crew of expressive, underground youths hellbent on refusing to be swallowed up by the machines of modernisation”.
The POLITIKEN:DOX Award was presented to Apolonia, Apolonia [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lea Glob
film profile] by Lea Glob, a film “that is clever, feminist, touching and sprawling documentary filmmaking at its very best”, while the Special Mention went to The Mountains [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Christian Einshøj, in which the director talks about himself and his own family, as well as about their collective trauma surrounding the death of his brother.
Finally, in the NEW:VISION competition, the main award went to An Asian Ghost Story by Bo Wang, a tale about the presences haunting a city, and reflecting its complex cultural, economic and sociopolitical histories, while the two Special Mentions in this section were given to The Secret Garden by Nour Ouayda and to Pacific Club by Valentin Noujaïm.
Here is the complete list of award winners:
DOX:AWARD
Motherland [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Alexander Mihalkovich, Hanna Badziaka (Sweden/Ukraine/Norway)
Special Mention
On the Edge [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Nicolas Peduzzi (France)
F:ACT AWARD
Seven Winters in Tehran [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Steffi Niederzoll (Germany/France)
Special Mention
The Hostage Takers - Puk Damsgaard, Søren Klovborg (Denmark)
NORDIC:DOX
Mrs. Hansen & the Bad Companions - Jella Bethman (Denmark)
Special Mention
Lynx Man [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Juha Suonpää
film profile] - Juha Suonpää (Finland)
NEXT:WAVE
Queendom [+see also:
film review
film profile] - Agniia Galdanova (USA/France)
Special Mention
The Last Year of Darkness - Benjamin Mullinkosson (China/USA)
POLITIKEN:DOX
Apolonia, Apolonia [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lea Glob
film profile] - Lea Glob (Denmark)
Special Mention
The Mountains [+see also:
film review
film profile] - Christian Einshøj (Denmark)
NEW:VISION
An Asian Ghost Story - Bo Wang (Netherlands/Hong Kong)
Special Mentions
The Secret Garden - Nour Ouayda (Lebanon)
Pacific Club - Valentin Noujaïm (France/Qatar)
Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.
