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The 13th edition of the International Oriental Film Festival held its prize-giving ceremony on Saturday 28 April in the Michel Simon Hall of the Grütli Cinemas in a festive atmosphere punctuated by various artistic interludes: poems and dances. The distribution of the prizes to the lucky winners was followed by the screening of the film Petits Bonheurs by Moroccan director Mohamed Chrif Tribek.
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DISTRIBUTION OF REWARDS: IRAN IS CLEANING UP
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On this occasion, the juries of the feature film and short film competitions, documentaries and Critics, School and Penitentiary Awards have announced their respective awards. While the filmmakers of Iran took home many prizes, those from Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia and Turkey were highly distinguished. Indeed, while the gold FIFOG for the official feature film competition was awarded to Mahmoud Ghaffari (Iran) for his film No. 17. Soheila; the short film award went to Onur Yagiz (Turkey) for his film Toprak, and the documentary prize went to Mehrdad Oskouei (Iran) for his film Des Rêves sans Etoiles. The Critics' Prize was awarded to Karim Moussaoui (Algeria) for his film En Attendant les Hirondelles.
In the school competition, filmmakers Basma Farhat (Lebanon), Sadam Wahidi (Afghanistan) and Baqeral-Rubaie (Iraq) were awarded gold FIFOGs, respectively, for their films The Shield That I Carry, You are not American and The Violet. In the same category, the following films received special mention: Tata Milouda by Nadja Harek (France), Hakim Mastour's Guest (Switzerland, Tunisia), and Take My Hand by Serge Majdalany (Lebanon).
Finally, while Aya by Moufida Fedhila (Tunisia) won the Gold Fifog of the Champ-Dollon and La Brennaz Penitentiary Institutions Competition, Ramdam by Zangro (France) received a special mention.
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FIFOG CONTINUES IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF GENEVA
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This 13th edition with its public and media success confirms the importance of FIFOG in the cultural landscape of Geneva. Moreover, the festival continues on Sunday with several screenings in the presence of distinguished guests. The public can continue to enjoy films from Iran, Switzerland, Tunisia, Algeria, France, Morocco and Lebanon (Ila Ayn?, Gorges Nasser, (1957) whose fiction film will be projected for the first time in Geneva. After the weekend, the FIFOG will enter several homes for asylum seekers located in the municipalities of Geneva. To end, there will be an appearance with the public, outdoors in the parks of Geneva.
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HONORING WOMEN AND YOUTH
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This year, the FIFOG presented 102 films from 30 countries spanning East to West, intending to bring feminine creativity and youth to the forefront. Placed under the patronage of the Swiss UNESCO Commission, this 13th edition highlights positive messages in films by and about women. Through fiction films and documentaries, directors presented their progressive vision of the world and expressed their hope for a better tomorrow. Images are stronger than words and these creative films are like swallows announcing the blossoms of a new spring. In these times of pessimism and violence, these flowers promise to be remedies to appease angry souls and spirits in fury.
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THE FIFOG AS A MEETING PLACE
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The many debates, exchanges, performances and meetings have contributed to the building of relationships, reduced distances and helped deal with prejudices. More than eighty guests took part in this edition. Some left with new friendships, while others laid the groundwork for future projects with the people they met. For its part, the public contributed to a larger reflection surrounding issues within Eastern societies today. They were able to escape through films that tickled the spirit, and taste the culinary pleasures proposed by the association RMCA which favors the integration of asylum seekers in Geneva.
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WINNERS
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1. FEATURE FILM PRIZES
The jury of the feature film competition is composed of Ghita EL KHAYAT (Honorary President), Salima ABADA, Sarah HAIDAR, Soraya BAGDADI,
The GOLD FIFOG prize is awarded to the film N° 17. SOHEILA by Mahmoud Ghaffari (Iran)."Through this award, we wanted to spotlight the feminine quest, the art of dialogue, the acting; the image."
The SILVER FIFOG prize is awarded to the film ISRAFIL, directed by Ida Panahendeh (Iran)."Through this award, we wanted to spotlight the treatment of the characters, the aesthetic demands, the daring treatment of the filial links, the beauty of the " character " within the landscape.”
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2. CRITICS PRIZES
The jury of the Critics' Prize, composed of Katia MEYLAN, Henda HAOULA and Tewfik HAKEM
The GOLD FIFOG prize of the Critcs is awarded to the film EN ATTENDANT LES HIRONDELLES by Karim Moussaoui (Algeria).
"Through this award, we wanted to highlight his bold scriptwriting, for this look at once remote and involved with an Algeria that is changing, an Algeria turned toward self-searching."The Special Mention has been awarded to the film IPERITA by Mohamed Bouzaggou (Morocco) "For having translated an oppressive and interesting silence into a cinematographic point of view."
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3. DOCUMENTARY PRIZES
The jury of the Documentary Prize, composed of Clara ROUSSEAU, Hélène MILANO and Marie-Laurence ATTIAS
The GOLD FIFOG prize is awarded to the film DES RÊVES SANS ETOILES by Mehrdad Oskouei (Iran). "When freedom emerges in the heads and in the hearts, irreducible despite the harshness of the paths of life. A blast armed with the power of youth despite the violence of confinement. "The SILVER FIFOG prize is awarded to the film YA OMRI (104 WRINKLES), directed by Hady Zaccak (Lebanon).
"Hady follows her grandmother's parchment skin with her camera and succeeds with sensitive touches and fleeting moments in retracing her story, pulling away from death and giving us the secret to her longevity: love."
The Special Mention is awarded to Bahia Bencheik El Fegoun and Meriem Achour Bouakkaz's film H'NA BARRA (NOUS DEHORS) (Algeria), which "veiled, unveiled, the film leads us towards intimacy with depth and sincerity in an attempt at understanding a complex problem."
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4. SHORT FILMS PRIZES
The jury of the short film competition is composed of Marie-Eve MUSY, Mrs. Malak DAHMOUNI and Mrs. Elaheh NOBAKHT.
The GOLD FIFOG prize is awarded to the film TOPRAK by Onur Yagiz (Turkey). "Through this Prize, we wanted to highlight the excellent directing, filled with symbols used to tell the reality of the children of emigrants who find themselves having to assume adult responsibilities too soon. They take over the role of their parents and the break with childhood is abrupt. "The SILVER FIFOG prize is awarded to the film GAZE, directed by Farnoosh Samadi (Iran)."Through this award, we wanted to reward a film strong in emotions. We are highlighting incredible eye-catching games and a natural and powerful performance by the main actress, which allows the viewer to feel the vulnerability of any single woman, evolving in a public space, be it in the East or in the West. "
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5. PENTITENTIARY COMPETITION: CHAMP-DOLLON AND BRENAZ
The Jury for the Prisons of Champ-Dollon and La Brenaz is composed of detainees from the women's section of Champ-Dollon and detainees from the men's section of La Brenaz.
The GOLD FIFOG prize is awarded to the film AYA, directed by Moufida Fedhila (Tunisia)."Through this award, we wanted to praise this film because we were touched by its message, we also wanted to recognize the authenticity of the characters, the innocence of the main actress and the courage of the director."
Special mention to the film RAMDAM, directed by Zangro (France).
"Through this award, we wanted to praise the message surrounding this film, a message that fights prejudice, preaches mutual understanding, all in a humorous way."
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6. SCHOOL COMPETITIONS SCHOOL
COMPETITION ECG HENRY-DUNANT
The jury of the school competition for short films
The GOLD FIFOG Prize is awarded to the film YOU ARE NOT AMERICAN, directed by Sadam Wahidi (Afghanistan).
"Through the GOLD FIFOG, we wanted to recognize the emotional power aroused by the staging of this meeting between a wounded soldier and a child, victims of the barbarity of the war. When the desert left over after the fighting destroys the nourished earth, when violence silences the benevolent word of mothers, when women and childhood are wiped out, then all hope for humanity is lost. "The Special Mention of the Jury was awarded to LE CONVIVE, directed by Hakim Mastour (Switzerland, Tunisia).
"Through this Mention, we wanted to praise the path opened by the youth in Tunisian traditional society: the laughs of liberators in the last scene come to crown the daring ‘coming out’ of the groom to his parents. Having left he laws of the father behind them, husband and lover take off into the world at large to live "A love together".
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SCHOOL COMPETITION CO BUDE
The jury of the short film school competition
The GOLD FIFOG prize is awarded to the film THE VIOLET, directed by Baqeral-Rubaie (Iraq). "Through this award, we wanted to recognize a deep, touching and surprising film, that shows us that, despite the absurdity and brutality of war, the hope, innocence and imagination of children maintains its power and stays alive even beyond death. This film was a great source of inspiration and we are very happy to have discovered it. Congratulations to all the team that made this film.
The Jury Special Mention was awarded to the film TAKE MY HAND, directed by Serge Majdalany (Lebanon).
SCHOOL COMPETITION ECG ELLA MAILLART
The jury of the school competition for short films
The FIFOG D'OR Award is awarded to THE SHIELD THAT I CARRY, directed by Basma Farhat (Lebanon)."Through this award, we wanted to praise a particularly touching film evoking a taboo subject in society within an original staging. We were sensitive to the fact that the author is the subject of her film: a woman who emancipates herself and who assumes her choices beyond prejudices, a courageous woman who dares to confront authority. The film brings hope and is at the center of the films screened at this festival by demonstrating that it is important to choose what we really want, what is important to us. "
The Special Mention of the Jury was awarded to the film TATA MILOUDA, directed by Nadja Harek (France).
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