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CINÉMAMED 2017

Rayhana and Kaouther Ben Hania come out on top at the 17th Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival

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- I Still Hide to Smoke has taken home the Grand Prix and the Critics’ Award, while Beauty and the Dogs scooped the Special Jury Prize and the Cineuropa Prize

Rayhana and Kaouther Ben Hania come out on top at the 17th Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival
Actress Nadia Kaci and director Rayhana at the 17th Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival (© Anne-Flore Mary/Cinémamed)

Two North African films directed by women dominated proceedings during the closing ceremony of the 17th Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival. This edition was quite rightly organised around a focus on female-driven cinema, both through its programme and through the various talents who were present during the gathering. The five members of the jury, all female directors, producers, screenwriters or actresses, thus opted to reward strong, committed female voices.

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I Still Hide to Smoke [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
by Rayhana is a cinematic chamber piece that unfolds deep within a hammam, far from the accusatory gaze of men, where mothers, lovers, virgins and Islamic fanatics come together; here, butts and burqas converge and come into conflict amidst fits of laughter, tears, tantrums, the Bible and the Koran. The film, whose greatest asset is its excellent cast, headed up by Hiam Abbass and Biyouna, received the Grand Prix as well as the Critics’ Award.

With her third film, Beauty and the Dogs [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kaouther Ben Hania
film profile
]
, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania has made an unforgiving thriller based on a story that appeared in the news, about a young woman who has been raped and who, on top of this, must fight to uphold her rights and her dignity. She is forced to endure a horrific bureaucratic ordeal in a society where it’s the persecutors themselves that make the laws. The film took home the Grand Jury Prize, in addition to the Cineuropa Prize.

Back at Cinémamed with Djam [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
(France/Greece/Turkey), Tony Gatlif won the Audience Award, while his lead actress, Daphné Patakia, scooped a Special Mention. Actor Pio Amato also picked up a Special Mention for A Ciambra [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jonas Carpignano
film profile
]
by Jonas Carpignano, while Gjorce Stavreski snagged yet another Special Mention for his film Secret Ingredient [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Blagoj Veselinov
interview: Gjorce Stavreski
film profile
]
(Macedonia/Greece). Lastly, the Youth Jury Award was bestowed upon More [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
by Onur Saylak (Turkey/Greece).

Here is the full list of winners:

Grand Prix
I Still Hide to Smoke [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
- Rayhana (Algeria/Greece/France)

Special Jury Prize
Beauty and the Dogs [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kaouther Ben Hania
film profile
]
- Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia/France/Sweden/Norway/Lebanon/Qatar/Switzerland)

Special Mentions for Acting
Daphné Patakia - Djam [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
(France/Greece/Turkey)
Pio Amato - A Ciambra [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jonas Carpignano
film profile
]
(Italy/France)

Special Mention for Screenplay
Secret Ingredient [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Blagoj Veselinov
interview: Gjorce Stavreski
film profile
]
- Gjorce Stavreski (Macedonia/Greece)

Cineuropa Prize
Beauty and the Dogs - Kaouther Ben Hania

Critics’ Award
I Still Hide to Smoke - Rayhana

Youth Jury Award
More [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
- Onur Saylak (Turkey/Greece)

Audience Award
Djam - Tony Gatlif

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(Translated from French)

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