27th International Film Festival “Message to Man” Wraps Up in Saint Petersburg .
International jury awarded Grand-Prix for Best Film to russian director Lidia Sheinin for her film “HARMONY“. Many festival participants, both award recipients and presenters, voiced their support for Kirill Serebrennikov, who is currently under house arrest.
The festival closed with Sergei Loznitsa’s “A Gentle Creature” introduced by actors Vasilina Makovtseva. Boris Kamorzin, Sergei Russkin, and Sergei Koshonin.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Centaur for Best Documentary Short Film: “THE SOUND OF WINTER” Dir. Tizian Büchi, 27 min., 2016, Belgium/Switzerland.
Centaur for Best Live Action Short Film: “AFTER THE VOLCANO,” dir. Leo Favier, 17 min., 2016, France.
Centaur for Best Animated Film: “WICKED GIRL,” dir. Ayce Kartal, 8 min., 2016, France/Turkey.
Centaur for Best Debut: “FOG”, dir. Adi Voicu, 27 min., 2017, Romania.
Special Jury Prize for “The Filmmakers’ Bravery”: “ONE DAY IN ALEPPO,” dir. Ali Alibrahim, 25 min., 2017, Syria.
“Golden Centaur” Grand-Prix for Best Film: “HARMONY,” dir. Lidia Sheinin, 62 min., 2017, Russia.
NATIONAL COMPETITION
Centaur for Best Film in Domestic Competition: “We’ll Be Alright,” dir. Alexander Kuznetsov.
Jury Prize: “Happy Pills” dir. Alexander Zubovlenko, for “Depicting a Relentless Passion for Life.”
Diploma for A cineverbatim 9,000 km. Long: “Through,” dir. Olga Privolnova.
Diploma for Outstanding Photo Drama: “Monologue,” dir. Otto Lakoba.
Diploma for Original Confrontation of the Opposites: “Butterflies,” dir. Dmitry Kubasov.
EXPERIMENTAL COMPETITION
Centaur for Best Experimental Film: “All Your Phone Numbers Drowned,” dir. Michelle Klöfkorn, Germany/Nigeria, 2017, 13 min.
Diploma for Profoundly Personal Touch: “Mother, Here Are Your Sons,” dir. Simon Rieth, France, 2017, 13 min.
Diploma for Academic Purity: “Wheat,” dir. Jacques Perconte, France, 06 min.
STUDENT JURY awarded their diplomas to “Motherland” dir. Ramona S. Diaz (USA-Philippines) and “The Shepherd”, dir. Joost van der Wiel (The Netherlands), while the Main Prize went to “Stranger in Paradise” dir. Guido Hendrikx (The Netherlands).
FIPRESCI PRIZE (International Federation of Film Critics) awarded to “Stranger in Paradise” dir. Guido Hendrikx (The Netherlands).
RUSSIAN CRITICS JURY awarded their Special Mention to “Harmony” dir. Lidia Sheinin (Russia), and the Main Prize to “Stranger in Paradise” dir. Guido Hendrikx (The Netherlands).
Honorary Festival President MIKHAIL LITVYAKOV PRIZE awarded to screenwriter BORIS DOBRODEEV for his contribution to the development of documentary filmmaking.
Other awards:
Pavel Kogan Special Prize (for Best Russian Documentary Short that keeps alive the legacy of the Leningrad documentary school): not awarded
Dan Revival Projects Special Prize in memory of Danya Gurevich (for Best Cinematography): Sergei Uryvaev, cinematographer and director of “Manikarnika,” Russia, 2017
The Environmental Rights Center Bellona Prize (awarded to the best film that explores the relationship between man and nature): “Rabbit Hunt,” dir. Patrick Bresnan, USA, 2017
The closing ceremony took place at the Akimov Comedy Theatre hosted by actress Taisiya Vilkova.
