Winner Season - 13 (December 2022)
Jury Award
Categories Award
Back Stage Award
Front Stage Award
Jury Award
Best Short Film - Jury Award
QUEEN OF PAIN
Film Directed by: Cyril Carbonne (Genre: Short)
"A telephone operator in a suicide prevention center, Charlotte recognizes the voice of an ex-girlfriend, Lucile, whose determination to end her life is confronted with feelings that are soon rekindled by their reunion."
Best Feature Film - Jury Award
Adauchi, the Revenge of Samurai
Film Directed by: Toshi Asaka (Genre: Drama)
"In the Samurai era, Adauchi is the official revenge permitted to Samurai, whose father or lord was murdered. The life of Samurai is pursuing to achieve the best in sword-fighting. This long way is also called Bushido.
Matajuro is one of those Samurai and travels around countries to train his sword. However, he has another purpose for his journey. Finding Samurai who killed his father and sister. One day, he meets Kenjuro who is also pursuing his sword to his limit at a bar. Two of them get along immediately. Their talk goes well with their idea about their swords, but Matajuro finds out that Kenjiro is the one who killed his family.
The next day, it will be time for him to find out the truth and finish his journey.
It's a story introducing the life of Samurai."
Best Music Video - Jury Award
Getting Older
Film Directed by: Nate Ziller (Genre: Short)
"A music video about how it feels to get older."
Best Animation Film - Jury Award
FORTRESS
Film Directed by: ZALESKY'S Slawek Zalewski (Genre: Animation)
"Authoritarian authorities declare a state of siege. A visually impaired old man is appointed commander of the defense. The city becomes a closed fortress. One doctrine applies - there is an enemy all around! The manipulated citizens trust the propaganda, unreservedly and eagerly prepare for defense. As part of mobilization, the regime introduces morning gymnastics. To confuse the enemy, street names are changed. Volunteers appear, ready to die for the cause. The protagonist, torn internally between patriotism and rationalism, wants to escape. The authorities, to emphasize the threat, decide to fire a cannon at the enemy. The city disappears, but everything is under control. The fortress becomes history, and the demons of war never sleep...."
Best Documentary Film - Jury Award
Seven Thousand Souls
Film Directed by: Sanjin Miric (Genre: Documentary)
"Serbia alone had lost a third of its entire population in the Great War, almost half its men.
This film talks about those that never returned home from the two biggest Austria-Hungarian prisoner camps on the territory of today's Czech Republic - Jindřichovice and Broumov.
A film that I owed to my nation. SEVEN THOUSAND SOULS is a documentary - a feature film about the suffering of Serbian and Russian soldiers and interned civilians in Austro-Hungarian camps on the territory of today's Czech Republic, Jindrihovice and Broumov. The camps had about 500 facilities where there were about 60,000 prisoners of war. Extremely difficult working conditions, no food, no shoes and clothes, winter and infectious diseases, all this affected the fact that 7,100 Serbs did not survive the camps. There is a mausoleum in Jindrihovice where the remains are victims of these camps - 7100 Serbs and 189 Russians. It is the second largest Serbian tomb in the world. .........."
Categories Award
Best Short Film - Less than $5000
Hector heat strok
Film Directed by: MICKE (Genre: Short)
"Hector and Marius are at the wedding of their sister Paulette; Hector is worried about his sister's departure from the family home; arrives late at the office and is forced to run to catch up with the procession but a great heat stroke wins him and decides to dive in the Adour
to refresh itself ………!"
Best Short Film - Between $5,000 - $10,000
Surreal Reality
Film Directed by: Dr. Teresa Mular (Genre: Short)
"This documentary focuses on the impact of the COVid19 pandemic on the frontline workers of a community hospital in New York "
Best Short Film - More than $10,000
Archie's Last Drive
Film Directed by: Eben Skilleter (Genre: Short)
"The estranged son of an elderly ex-racing driver must restore his father's long-lost Jaguar so as to also restore their fractured relationship"
Best Feature Film - Less than $5,000
The Long Way Up
Film Directed by: Delante Sealey (Genre: Drama)
"An astronaut returns home from an exploration mission in space after being away for some time. He goes back home to his family only to realize everything isn’t the same. He is feeling empty in his own home and wonders what is going on as he sees his family come apart. He begins to contemplate is it him or did he leave apart of him in space? "
Best Feature Film - More than $10,000
"medèn à gan" NOTHING BEYOND MEASURE
Film Directed by: Alessandro Vantini (Genre: Feature Film)
"A woman and two men. It’s night time. They cut the chain off the gate at the entrance of the theatre, they set the scene with the few objects they have brought with them, among which a camera. They have the task of “celebrating†a tragic ritual. he tragedy is Antigone by Sophocles: the conflict between human and divine laws, the condition of women, the arrogance of power, the incapacity of reconciling one’s own reasons with the reasons of another and mutual respect. rom here we have the title of the film: the ancient Greek saying “medèn à ganâ€, niente oltre misura, nothing beyond measure. The “celebration†and the challenge consist in the fact that three human beings, alone before themselves, with no costumes, masks or any other aids, are sharing among themselves the roles of Sophocles’ work, including the chorus. Cinema has the power of plumbing the origin of every rite in the best manner: self detachment, in order to submit to the energy of comprehension that every character bears within in the situation he has been .........."
Best Film Made by Women Filmmakers.
ANJELA
Film Directed by: Vilma Kartalska (Genre: Short)
"Anjela Pencheva has suffered from Cerebral Palsy since birth, but the difficult diagnosis has never broken her spirit and has turned her into a writer, an actress and a dancer. Through her work and with her computer generated voice, she participates in various initiatives for the rights of the people with disabilities and inspires everyone who has met her."
Best Animation Film
FORTRESS
Film Directed by: ZALESKY'S Slawek Zalewski (Genre: Animation)
"Authoritarian authorities declare a state of siege. A visually impaired old man is appointed commander of the defense. The city becomes a closed fortress. One doctrine applies - there is an enemy all around! The manipulated citizens trust the propaganda, unreservedly and eagerly prepare for defense. As part of mobilization, the regime introduces morning gymnastics. To confuse the enemy, street names are changed. Volunteers appear, ready to die for the cause. The protagonist, torn internally between patriotism and rationalism, wants to escape. The authorities, to emphasize the threat, decide to fire a cannon at the enemy. The city disappears, but everything is under control. The fortress becomes history, and the demons of war never sleep...."
Best Documentary Film
So Far From Hell
Film Directed by: MAXIME SIMONE (Genre: Documentary)
"Si Loin de l'Enfer is a film resulting from the meeting with two descendants of resistance fighters deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, two women from the Pays-Haut in France, on the Belgian and Luxembourg borders.
A biographical journey, between past and present, between lives with such different fates. Crystèle Renaudin, whose grandmother returned from the death camp, punctuates the film with music, her unwavering passion, while Pierre Zani testifies about his mother for the first time in front of a camera.
A journey built over three years, where smiles and lightness rub shoulders with terror and dread, where life comes up against the inconceivable.
A journey where ghosts of the past arise, voices urging us to live."
Best Music Video
A Feast That Never Comes
Film Directed by: Maria Juranic (Genre: Dance, Modern Dance, Contemporary Dance, Music Video)
"Four characters inhabit cycles within cycles of contentment, discontentment, inertia, movement, desire, and betrayal. A story emerges—told through the marriage of music (Ex-Fiancée) and dance (ChrisMastersDance)—functioning as a set of nesting dolls, inviting you to uncover as many layers as you wish. Directed by Maria Juranic."
"Trailer of - A Feast That Never Comes"
Backstage Award
Best Director
Award goes to: "Michael Gavino"
For the Greater Good
Film Directed by: Michael Gavino (Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi)
"When three people are introduced to The Better Earth Program, they learn that one of them must make the ultimate sacrifice. "
Best Women Director
Award goes to: "Oxana Nechaeva"
Amerikan
Film Directed by: Oxana Nechaeva (Genre: Short)
"The life story of two men of different ages, but similar at first glance, fate. Alexander seems to have already lived the fate of Kirill, only in the distant past. Meeting with a casual acquaintance stirred up memories and brought back twenty years ago. Did Alexander want to go back to the past? While playing billiards, they have to find out if they are so similar. And who will be right."
"Trailer of - Amerikan"
Best Cinematographer
Award goes to: "Paul Warner"
Hamlet/Horatio
Film Directed by: Paul Warner (Genre: Documentary, Short)
"The film begins on an empty sound stage with the death of Hamlet. The action transpires in his last moment of awareness as the hero of Shakespeare’s most famous play watches his life flash before him and his soul transcends. Told from the
perspective of Hamlet’s closest friend and confidante, Horatio, who takes on the role of film director in order to fulfill his promise to dying Hamlet to tell the story of Hamlet’s life!"
"Trailer of - Hamlet/Horatio"
Best Editor
Award goes to: "Aundra' Michael Segrest"
The Chief of Nash Valley
Film Directed by: Aundra' Michael Segrest (Genre: Drama)
"The Chief in Nash Valley has been characterized as a spiritual man, but firm when it comes to fighting crime and being respectable, to all persons regardless of race, creed, color, origin, nationality or sex. He conducts and carry himself in a very professional manner. He is married with no children. The chief (Spencer James Johnson) is a bright young man with inspirations to make a difference in law enforcement practices and the community. His life’s track and career ladder were no easy journey. Early on during the chief’s life, he was engaged to Melody Cooper. Melody got on drugs and ran off to Orange County. She was pregnant with his child, which he had no knowledge of.  Melody later died, but she wrote the Chief a letter letting him know he had a daughter. He eventually started a new life and got married. Despite his turbulent journey through life, the chief never lost sight of trying to make a difference in the community."
Best Screenplay
Award goes to: "Jonathan Zarantonello"
Review
Film Written by: Jonathan Zarantonello (Genre: Thriller)
"In a video message, a social media acolyte invites other women to have sex with her boyfriend, but only if they film their review after.
A game of power dynamics intertwines the lives of several amused participants, then the videos leak and those lives are forever changed, destroyed, or ended."
Best Screenplay
Award goes to: "Carmen Silva"
A Hellish Trip
Film Written by: Carmen Silva (Genre: Thriller, Sci-fi, Action, Drama, Gore)
"After their car gets caught in a snowstorm, a group of friends find themselves transported back in time to the Battle of Towton, one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the Wars Of The Roses; and it is Hell indeed"
Best Screenwriter
Award goes to: "Kevin Schewe"
Bad Love Tigers
Film Written by: Kevin Schewe (Genre: Sci-Fi, Historical fiction, Young Adult, Adventure, Time Travel, Aliens, Area 51)
"It is New Year’s Eve, 1974, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the fun-loving and adventurous teens of the Bad Love Gang are ambushed by a Russian KGB agent. This propels them to use the White Hole Project Time Machine to time travel back to World War II. The gang meets with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt who guides them on their mission to protect a mysterious alien spaceship and America’s top-secret Area 51.
On their perilous mission, the gang must deal with Russian, Chinese, and Indian espionage forces who stand in their path. Along the way, the gang encounters danger, intrigue, betrayal, and a little romance. Ultimately, the intrepid Bad Love Gang triumphs over their adversaries to protect the alien spaceship and maintain the security of Area 51. It's Stand by Me Meets Raiders of the Lost Ark."
Best Screenplay Feature
Award goes to: "Paul Corricelli"
The Deputy
Film Directed by: Paul Corricelli (Genre: Drama)
"When the bullied Deputy of a small town is put in charge after the Sheriff's tragic demise, he is pushed to his breaking point by the very people he's sworn to protect and must find it within himself to save the woman he loves from the family and the town that betrayed him. "
Best Production Design
Award goes to: "Sheyda Vatankhah"
The last Paper
Film Directed by: Romain Gierenz (Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Thriller, Horror)
"While the couple Zoé and Ben are staying in a hotel in Paris, their sleep is disturbed by a rustling noise from the next room. At first they think it’s a mouse that’s up to mischief in a paper bag. But they quickly notice that the paper bag itself is making noises and seems to be breathing. Ben tries to be logical about it, but Zoé’s emotions suggest that the bag found its way into her life for a very different reason."
Front Stage Award
Best Performances (Male)
Award goes to: "Phenix Brossard"
APPALACHIA
Film Directed by: Roxana Stroe (Genre: Short)
"Leo, a 17-year-old biker, and Raisa, the daughter of the pastor of a small conservative village in Romania, fall in love at first sight. But communitarianism and religious fanaticism will defeat their relationship."
Best Performances (Female)
Award goes to: "Roxana Stroe"
APPALACHIA
Film Directed by: Roxana Stroe (Genre: Short)
"Leo, a 17-year-old biker, and Raisa, the daughter of the pastor of a small conservative village in Romania, fall in love at first sight. But communitarianism and religious fanaticism will defeat their relationship."