The film ‘Underdown’, directed by Sarah Kaskas from Lebanon, was awarded the Grand Prix of the festival in a unanimous jury vote at the 21 Mediterranean Film Festival.
The film ‘Hell’, directed by Raul de la Fuente from Spain, won the award for the Best short film.
The jury members Bojana Burnac, Ivana Roscic and Dusan Moravec said in their explanation said that the author of the film ‘Underdown’ bravely and confidently leads the viewers through the streets of the disintegrated and chaotic Beirut, following the shocking life stories of the protagonist and their hope.
“The narrative line of the film gives a parallel view of the destinies of these people, but also of the city. A film in which the city and its inhabitants are like one organism. Equally, this is a film in which excellent dramaturgy, camera and sound are like one organism” they said in the decision.
The jury also awarded two Special mentions – to the film ‘Aether’, directed by Ruken Tekes from Turkey and to the Spanish film ‘City of the Dead’ directed by Miguel Eek.
“Ruken Tekeş masterfully filled the film with meditation on the memory of the world that is disappearing and meditation on the world to come“, the jury members said in their decision.
Describing the film ‘City of the dead’ they pointed out that this is a film whose protagonists capture us with humour woven into the pain and happiness of life and death dance.
Through the skilful rhythm of changes in the film scenes the author holds the viewer's attention without missing a single step in the circle we dance together. The jury for the short documentary competition composed of Tina Smalcelj, Josko Lokas and Goran Bogdan decided that the MFF Best Short award of the festival, sponsored by Podravka, goes to the film ‘Hell’.
“In a touching, often shocking, but still aesthetically very satisfying film, the director shows the hell on earth, also known as the Pademba Road Prison in Sierra Leone. For humanism and courage which he approaches former and current prisoners with and the beauty he finds even in the darkest corners of the world the Jury decided to give the Best Short award to the film ‘Hell’, directed by Raul de la Fuente”, the jury stated and awarded two Special mentions.
Tomislav Topic, the director of the festival, logging off the 21stedition, thanked everyone who supported this festival in its online form.
“I hope that we will meet in normal conditions and in some festival atmosphere next year, at the 22ndMediterranean Film Festival”, Topic said. Twenty films in competition were screened at the 21st Mediterranean Film Festival, which took place from 19 to 22 August in Siroki Brijeg. The festival also screened films in the program ‘In Focus’ and ‘Sarajevo Film Centre’, as well as surprise films created by local authors.
