MIFF 2011: Star studded closing for Moscow International Film Festival

04-07-2011

MIFF 2011: Star studded closing for Moscow International Film Festival

By Anna Franklin

MOSCOW: The 33 Moscow International Film Festival (23 June-2 July 2011) closed with Helen Mirren accepting the festivl’s Stanislavsky Award for Lifetime Achievement. Mirren whose real name is Yelena Vasilyevna Mironova is half Russian. She accepted the award from Channel One helmer Konstantin Ernst who called Mirren a real queen referring to Mirren’s role as Queen Elizabeth II for which she won the Academy Award. Her film The Debt about the Mossad searching for a Nazi war criminal closed the festival.

Also treading the festival’s signature green carpet at the gala closing ceremony were Andie MacDowell and Russian actresses Renata Litvinova and Alisa Khazanova. Geraldine Chaplin who helmed the jury was literally swept off her feet by the festival as festival director Nikita Mikhalkov carried the diminutive actress from the stage in his arms.
It was a record breaking year for MIFF which screened a total of 380 films and attracted 60 000 viewers, 10 000 more than the previous edition. The top award, the Golden George, went to the Spanish film The Waves directed by Alberto Morais. One of the real discoveries was Russian director Sergei Loban’s Chapiteau Show which won the Special Jury Prize. The four part musical which runs three and a half hours is already being hailed as a cult classic by critics.
It was also a strong year for films and talent from Central Europe with Polish actress Urzula Grabowska on stage to collect best actress award for her role in Joanna directod by Feliks Falk as well as the Russian film critics award. Bulgarian film Sneakers directed by Valeri Yordanov and Ivan Vladimirov received a Special Mention from the main competition jury. Anarchy in Zirmunai director Saulius Drunga, a Lithuania Hungary coproduction won Best Film in the Perspectives competition.

Prize winners of the 33 Moscow International Film Festival

{mosimage}THE 33 MOSCOW FILM FESTIVAL PRIZES
THE MAIN PRIZE “GOLDEN GEORGE” FOR THE BEST FILM
LAS OLAS / The Waves
director Alberto Morais
Spain

{mosimage}THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE “SILVER GEORGE”
CHAPITEAU-SHOW
director Sergei Loban
Russia

THE PRIZE “SILVER GEORGE”FOR THE BEST DIRECTOR
WONG CHING PO
Fuk Sau Che Chi Sei / Revenge: A Love Story
China (Hong Kong)

THE PRIZE “SILVER GEORGE”FOR THE BEST ACTOR
CARLOS ALVAREZ-NOVOA
Las Olas / The Waves
Spain

{mosimage}THE PRIZE “SILVER GEORGE”FOR THE BEST ACTRESS
URSZULA GRABOWSKA
Joanna
Produced by Akson Studio (www.akson-studio.pl) and funded by the Polish Film Institute (www.pisf.pl) and Polish National Culture Center (www.nck.pl).
Poland

SPECIAL MENTION OF MAIN COMPETITION JURY

KECOVE / Sneakers
directors Valeri Yordanov, Ivan Vladimirov
Produced by Gala Film (www.galafilm-bg.com) and funded by MEDIA and the Bulgarian National Film Center (http://www.nfc.bg/).
Bulgaria

THE PRIZE “SILVER GEORGE” FOR THE BEST FILM OF THE "PERSPECTIVES" COMPETITION
ANARCHIJA ŽIRMŪNOSE / Anarchy in Zirmunai
director Saulius Drunga
Lithuania produced by Tremora (www.tremora.com) , Hungary and Katapult Film (www.katapultfilm.hu)

SPECIAL MENTION OF PERSPECTIVES COMPETITION JURY

BUGY / Bugs
director Andrey Bogatyryov
Russia

THE PRIZE “SILVER GEORGE” FOR THE BEST FILM OF THE DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
HELL AND BACK AGAIN
director Danfung Dennis
USA, UK

THE SPECIAL PRIZE FOR AN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD CINEMA
JOHN MALKOVICH
USA

THE SPECIAL PRIZE FOR THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE CAREER OF ACTING AND DEVOTION TO THE PRINCIPLES OF K.STANISLAVSKY'S SCHOOL.
HELEN MIRREN
UK