The 25th Lecce European Film Festival crowns Three Days of Fish

Three Days of Fish [+lire aussi :
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interview : Peter Hoogendoorn
fiche film] has claimed the Golden Olive Tree at the 25th edition of the Lecce European Film Festival, which closed with an awards ceremony on Saturday 16 November. Peter Hoogendoorn’s feature was named Best Film by the jury presided over by Luciana Castellina and further composed of Pascal Diot, Francesco Ranieri Martinotti, Hanna Slak and Heather Stewartfor the following reason: “In addition to the economic and social crisis which is affecting the entire world, we’re seeing a serious psychological crisis which is especially impacting young people […] The film we’re honouring keenly and sensitively captures this reality, without exploring any one particularly dramatic event but instead effortlessly depicting the lives of all modern-day families, where incomprehension goes hand in hand with affection, but also with a desire and, ultimately, an attempt to get back to understanding one another”. The Dutch-Belgian movie also scooped this year’s FIPRESCI Prize, since the film “shot in splendid black and white tackles the vulnerability of human beings and the difficulty of communicating in these modern times”.

The Special Jury Prize was bestowed upon Breathing Underwaterthe debut film on the subject of domestic abuse by Luxembourg screenwriter and director Eric Lamhène: “the film’s protagonist, Emma, learns in an ‘extreme way’ that it takes a lifetime to find out what it means to be a woman, but you do need to be ‘extremist’ if you want to change the world”. The movie also claimed the Cineuropa Prize, awarded by the organisation’s director Valerio Carusowho described it as “a work which combines a refined aesthetic with an intimate yet universal narrative, and which is capable of striking a nerve with viewers at the very deepest level. Through delicate direction and intense performances, the film explores the fragile balance between vulnerability and resilience, demonstrating great sensitivity as it relays the inner journey of those who are fighting to find their place in the world”.

The trophy for Best Cinematography went to Greek movie Wishbone by Penny Panayotopoulou“a film which coherently combines natural-light photography and fluid camera movements to depict the harsh reality of the Greek healthcare system”. The accolade for Best Screenplay went to Drowning Dry [+lire aussi :
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interview : Laurynas Bareiša
fiche film] by Lithuania’s Laurynas Bareiša “for successfully telling the stylistically audacious story of a relaxed family weekend marred by two tragic events, simultaneously deconstructing and reversing the narrative”. The film also earned itself the SNGCI Prize for Best European Actor, thanks to Paulius Markevikius.

Jim’s Story [+lire aussi :
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interview : Arnaud et Jean-Marie Larrieu
fiche film] by Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu was honoured with both the Audience Award and the SNCCI Prize, the latter “for the emotional intensity of a story which broaches the difficult nature of bonds with loved ones when tested by time and deep feelings”. Last but not least, this year’s Mario Verdone Prize, which is now at its 15th edition, was awarded to Gloria! [+lire aussi :
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interview : Margherita Vicario
fiche film] by Margherita Vicario“for the originality of this debut film which is directed confidently and whose images place music centre stage, in a story where classical music dialogues with pop, resulting in a veritable revolutionary anthem”.

The full list of prizes is as follows:

Best Film
Three Days of Fish [+lire aussi :
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interview : Peter Hoogendoorn
fiche film] – Peter Hoogendoorn (the Netherlands/Belgium)

Special Jury Prize
Breathing Underwater – Eric Lamhène (Luxembourg/Belgium)

Best Cinematography
Wishbone – Penny Panayotopoulou (Greece/France/Germany/Cyprus)

Best Screenplay
Drowning Dry [+lire aussi :
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interview : Laurynas Bareiša
fiche film] – Laurynas Bareiša (Lithuania/Latvia)

Other awards

Audience Award
Jim’s Story [+lire aussi :
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interview : Arnaud et Jean-Marie Larrieu
fiche film] – Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu (France)

Cineuropa Prize
Breathing Underwater – Eric Lamhène

SNGCI Award for Best European Actor
Paulius Markevikius – Drowning Dry

FIPRESCI Prize
Three Days of Fish -Peter Hoogendoorn

SNCCI Prize
Jim’s Story – Arnaud and Jean-Marie Larrieu

Puglia Show Prize
Note to Self – Maria Gorgoglione (Italy) (short film)
Special Mention
I, Lina – Luana Fanelli (Italy) (short film)

RAI Cinema Channel Prize
Earth Eclipse – Federico Emilio Cornacchia (Italy) (short film)

Unisalento Prize
The sky is lost – Fabrizio Fusco (Italy) (short film)

Mario Verdone Prize
Gloria! [+lire aussi :
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interview : Margherita Vicario
fiche film] – Margherita Vicario (Italy/Switzerland)
Special Mention
Mimì – Prince of Darkness [+lire aussi :
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Emidio Greco Prize
Miranda’s Mind – Maddalena Crespi (Italy) (short film)

Cinecittà News Special Mention for the Cinema & Reality Section
The Olive Tree and the Baobab – Serena Porta (Italy)

Lecce Rotary Club Prize
Arte vs Guerra – Bansky and C215 in Borodyanka, Ukraine – Michele Pinto (Italy)

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