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 [+lire aussi :
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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 [+lire aussi :
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interview : Dina Duma, Antonia Belazel…
fiche film] 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 [+lire aussi :
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interview : Milica Tomovic
fiche film], 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 [+lire aussi :
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In the Cypriot Films Competition, .Dog [+lire aussi :
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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 [+lire aussi :
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interview : Janine Teerling et Petros …
fiche film] 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 [+lire aussi :
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interview : Alejandro Loayza
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Special Jury Award
Sisterhood [+lire aussi :
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interview : Dina Duma, Antonia Belazel…
fiche film] - Dina Duma (North Macedonia/Kosovo/Montenegro)

Best Director
Milica Tomović - Celts [+lire aussi :
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interview : Milica Tomovic
fiche film] (Serbia)

Honorary Distinctions
Broadway [+lire aussi :
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Yuni [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] - Kamila Andini (Indonesia/Singapore/France/Australia)

Cypriot Films Competition

Best Cypriot Film
.Dog [+lire aussi :
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Best Director Award for a Cypriot Film
Yianna Americanou - .Dog

Best Actress Award in a Cypriot Film
Angeliki Papoulia - Patchwork [+lire aussi :
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interview : Janine Teerling et Petros …
fiche film] (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