FNE at KVIFF 2012: Karlovy Vary FF Prize winners

09-07-2012

FNE at KVIFF 2012: Karlovy Vary FF Prize winners

By Anna Franklin

{mosimage}KARLOVY VARY: The 47^th Karlovy Vary IFF (29 June-7 July 2012) awarded its Grand Prix to Norwegian director Martin Lund for his film The Almost Man. The team from the winning film told the audience an almost fairy tale-like story at the closing ceremony about how they had been surprised to be invited, had rushed to finish the film to be on time to be screened in the competition and had arrived at the festival carrying the print of the film in their hands with no expectations of any awards.

{mosimage}But the film about a plain, 30-something average Norwegian guy and his buddies who try to maintain their youthful feelings and friendships also won the best actor award for its hero, Henrik Rafaelsen, in a complex performance full of humour and irony.

There was a wealth of acting talent on display in this year's competition. Rafaelsen shared the award for Best Actor with Polish actor Eryk Lubos for his role in Polish director Jan Jakub Kolski's film To Kill a Beavor.

Special mention for acting also went to the team from the Polish, Czech coproduction, Polski Film directed byMarek Nabjrt. Another Special mention for acting also went to Yannis Papadopoulos for his role in the Greek film Boy Eating the Bird's Food directed by Ektoras Lygizos.

The closing ceremony lived up to the fest's reputation for putting on opening and closing ceremonies with interesting creative concepts. This year's closing ceremony had an Olympic theme as the stage was transformed into an enormous swimming pool with dancers dressed as swimmers. Marek Eben carried out his usual witty duties as master of ceremonies and a Lifetime Achievement Award was given by festival president Jiri Bartoska to Susan Sarandon who attended the closing event.

KVIFF: www.kviff.com

{mosimage}OFFICIAL SELECTION - COMPETITION

Grand Prix - Crystal Globe

The Almost Man / Mer eller mindre mann
Directed by: Martin Lund
Norway, 2012

Special Jury Prize

Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy / Romanzo di una strage
Directed by: Marco Tullio Giordana
Italy, 2012

Best Director Award

Rafaël Ouellet
for the film Camion
Canada, 2012

Best Actress Award

Leila Hatami
for her role in the film The Last Step / Peleh akhar
Directed by: Ali Mosaffa
Iran, 2012

Best Actor Award

Henrik Rafaelsen
for his role in the film The Almost Man / Mer eller mindre mann
Directed by: Martin Lund
Norway, 2012

Eryk Lubos
for his role in the film To Kill a Beaver / Zabić bobra
Directed by: Jan Jakub Kolski

Production: Tramway Film Studio (www.tramway.pl) , SPI Film Studio (www.spifilmstudio.com)

Supported by Polish Film Instutute

Poland, 2012

Special Mention

Polski Film For Best Acting

Production: Negativ (www.negativ.cz), Czech Television (www.ceskatelevise.cz) Krakow Film Commission (www.film-commission.pl)

Co-financed by Polish Film Institute

Pavel Liška
for his role in the film Polski film
Directed by: Marek Najbrt
Czech Republic, Poland, 2012

Tomáš Matonoha
for his role in the film Polski film
Directed by: Marek Najbrt
Czech Republic, Poland, 2012

Marek Daniel
for his role in the film Polski film
Directed by: Marek Najbrt
Czech Republic, Poland, 2012

Josef Polášek
for his role in the film Polski film
Directed by: Marek Najbrt
Czech Republic, Poland, 2012

Yannis Papadopoulos
for his role in the film Boy Eating the Bird´s Food / To agori troi to fagito tou pouliou
Directed by: Ektoras Lygizos
Greece, 2012