21/09/2016 - The world's oldest festival dedicated to cinematographers has also awarded Belgica and Bang Gang

Finnish cinematographer Jani-Petteri Passi picking up his Golden Camera 300

Finnish cinematographer Jani-Petteri Passi won the Golden Camera 300 for his work on Juho Kuosmanen's Cannes Un Certain Regard winner The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Juho Kuosmanen
film profile] at the 37th edition of the Manaki Brothers International Cinematographers' Film Festival in Bitola (10-17 September), the world's oldest festival of its kind.

The jury, headed by Greek-born DoP Phedon Papamichael, said that the camerawork in the film "creates a genuine and lyrical atmosphere that surrounds the audience and captures the spirit of time and the unique experience of its protagonist”.

Second place, and the Silver Camera 300, went to Ruben Impens for Belgica [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Artemio Benki, Sylvie Leray
interview: Felix Van Groeningen
film profile], directed by Felix van Groeningen, while the Bronze Camera 300 was given to Danish cinematographer Mattias Troelstrup for Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story) [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Eva Husson
film profile] by French director Eva Husson. 

The Small Camera 300 award, for best cinematography in the short-film competition, went to Luca Coassin for Le Park by director Randa Maroufi, from France.

Jury chair Papamichael, who was nominated for an Oscar for Alexander Payne's Nebraska and lensed films such as Walk the Line and 3:10 to Yuma, received the Honorary Golden Camera 300 for his outstanding contribution to world film art, and held a master class for the festival's audience, professionals and participants in the First Films First training programme (read the news). The initiative, which held its second workshop in Bitola, where participants worked on developing the visual style of their debut films, also brought along Oscar-winning production designer Allan Starski (Schindler's List, The Pianist [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), who held a four-hour master class, and legendary director and cinematographer Karpo Godina (DoP on Early Works and Occupation in 26 Pictures), who presented his own work.

The Life Achievement Golden Camera 300 awards were presented to Oscar winner John Seale (The English Patient, Mad Max: Fury Road), who also held a master class, and regular Lars von Trier collaborator Robbie Muller, who was unable to attend due to illness. 

The “Big Star” Award for Exceptional Results in Macedonian Cinematography was given to Irish producer Simon Perry, who kick-started modern Macedonian cinema with Milcho Manchevski's Before the Rain. 

“I’ve produced and co-produced films in a lot of countries, but thanks to Milcho Manchevski, I started to become more and more interested in the films created in this part of the world – an interest that with time became all the more intensive,” said Perry. 

This year, Bitola also hosted the annual General Assembly of IMAGO, the European Federation of Cinematographers. 

Here is the full list of winners:

Golden Camera 300
Jani-Petteri Passi – The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Juho Kuosmanen
film profile]

Silver Camera 300
Ruben Impens – Belgica [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Artemio Benki, Sylvie Leray
interview: Felix Van Groeningen
film profile]

Bronze Camera 300
Mattias Troelstrup – Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story) [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Eva Husson
film profile]

Small Camera 300
Luca Coassin – Le Park

Honorary Golden Camera 300
Phedon Papamichael

Life Achievement Golden Camera 300
John Seale
Robbie Muller

“Big Star” Award for Exceptional Results in Macedonian Cinematography
Simon Perry