19/04/2022 - Alejandro Loayza Grisi’s debut effort has come out on top in Glocal Images, and Yanna Americanou’s drama was deemed Best Cypriot Film at the island’s major film gathering

Director Alejandro Loayza Grisi receiving the Glocal Images Best Film Award

The celebratory 20^th edition of the Cyprus Film Days International Festival wrapped on 16 April with its awards ceremony, which was held at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol. The most important event for fiction film on the island, which ran from 10-16 April in both Limassol and Nicosia, presented Utama [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alejandro Loayza
film profile] by Alejandro Loayza Grisi with the Glocal Images Best Film Award, which is accompanied by a €6,000 prize.

The international jury, presided over by the artistic director of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Karel Och, and including film producer Alise Gelze, festival producer at the Raindance Film Festival David Martinez, Cypriot actress Daphne Alexander and head of the Programming department at the Mastercard OFF CAMERA International Festival of Independent Cinema Greg Stępniak, picked Utama for “its masterful filmmaking combined with great sensitivity, which gives us one of the most beautiful, memorable and rich cinematic experiences one can possibly imagine”. The film also snagged the Audience Award.

The Special Jury Award, which is accompanied by an amount of €3,000, was handed to the Macedonian drama Sisterhood [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dina Duma, Antonia Belazelk…
film profile] by Dina Duma, for “its skilful combination of an atmospheric coming-of-age film and a captivating drama from a first-time filmmaker, who engages the audience in the teen lives of its characters from the very first minute”.

The Best Director Award was given to Serbian helmer Milica Tomović for her film Celts [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Milica Tomovic
film profile], specifically for her “artistic vision of a party gone wrong, presented through a unique and engaging cultural impression built on a brilliant ensemble work”; the trophy is accompanied by €1,000.

Furthermore, for its Honorary Distinctions, the jury picked Broadway [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Christos Massalas (for “creating a modern urban fairy tale with a happy ending, which gives us true healing power through its complex, queer characters”) and Yuni [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Kamila Andini (for “its tender and, at times, funny portrayal of a courageous teenage girl who defies the cultural norms of her home country and the patriarchy itself”).

In the Cypriot Films Competition, .Dog [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Yianna Americanou was the big winner, receiving the Best Cypriot Film Award, accompanied by €4,000, as “its brave aesthetics blend realistic elements and rich symbolism while creating a true ensemble film in which each and every character matters”. Americanou also snagged the Best Cypriot Director Award, accompanied by colour-grading post-production services worth €4,000, sponsored by Authorwave. Furthermore, actor Dimitris Kitsos received an Honorary Distinction for his performance in the film.

For “a complex performance built on trauma, insecurity and the need for love, and for beautifully carrying the film throughout”, Angeliki Papoulia received the Best Actress Award for her turn in Patchwork [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Janine Teerling and Petros …
film profile] by Petros Charalambous. The other Honorary Distinction of the jury went to The Man With the Answers by Stelios Kammitsis, for “the courage to present a gay love story in an entertaining manner while delivering a true crowd pleaser for Cypriot audiences and beyond”.

Finally, acclaimed cinematographer Phedon Papamichael received an Honorary Award in appreciation of his outstanding contribution to cinema. Earlier on Saturday, Papamichael offered a special master class, which was open to the audience.

Here is the complete list of winners at the 20^th Cyprus Film Days:

Glocal Images International Competition

Best Film Award
Utama [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alejandro Loayza
film profile] - Alejandro Loayza Grisi (Bolivia/Uruguay/France)

Special Jury Award
Sisterhood [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Dina Duma, Antonia Belazelk…
film profile] - Dina Duma (North Macedonia/Kosovo/Montenegro)

Best Director
Milica Tomović - Celts [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Milica Tomovic
film profile] (Serbia)

Honorary Distinctions
Broadway [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Christos Massalas (Greece/France/Romania)
Yuni [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Kamila Andini (Indonesia/Singapore/France/Australia)

Cypriot Films Competition

Best Cypriot Film
.Dog [+see also:
film review
film profile] - Yianna Americanou (Cyprus/Greece)

Best Director Award for a Cypriot Film
Yianna Americanou - .Dog

Best Actress Award in a Cypriot Film
Angeliki Papoulia - Patchwork [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Janine Teerling and Petros …
film profile] (Cyprus/Israel/Slovenia)

Honorary Distinctions
Dimitris Kitsos - .Dog
The Man With the Answers - Stelios Kammitsis (Cyprus/Greece/Italy)

Honorary Award
Phedon Papamichael

Audience Award
Utama - Alejandro Loayza Grisi