Lebanese- French film 'The Insult' by famous director Ziad Doueiri has been announced the winner of 11th Mediterranean Film Festival Split during the closing ceremony at open air cinema Bačvice. 11 long feature films that had been produced in Mediterranean countries competed for the main award 'FMFS hook'. The audience chose the winner, giving it the score of 4.82 points out of 5.00.
'I am very honoured to receive the Audience Award for Best Fillm and I am really sorry that I could not make it to Split because I am currently working on my new project. I am very pleased to know that Croatian audience recognised the message I've been wanting to send and it is probably because we share the similar history, the misunderstanding towards others and fear of others'– said via video message Doueiri from Lebanon, whose film was also an Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Film.
The jury in which took part Tanja Mravak, Silva Ćapin i Petar Orešković announced the winner in short film category 'Ješke', comprising short Croatian films. According to the jury, the best one was the animated film 'Cyclists' by Veljko Popović.
The director won the money prize of 11.000 kn, provided by company 'Uje' from Split.
'We decided to give this prize to the film 'Cyclists' that completely satisfied short film criteria with its idea, theme, techniques and ideas, winning us over along the way' – said the jury, giving the special acknowledgement to the film 'Marija' by Juraj Primorac.
The audience of FMFS chose 'Safe Flight' by Aldo Tardozzi as the best short film – 'Ješka'. The winner in the category of mid-length feature film was 'Our Daily Water' by Vlatka Vorkapić.
The author who designed the awards (the hooks) is Luka Mimica, a sculptor from Split. He used the pines that were destroyed in fires, pointing to the problem shared among the entire Mediterranean.
After announcing the winners, for the first time in Croatia, an intense Danish thriller 'The Guilty' was screened at open air cinema Bačvice, presented by the leading actor Jakob Cedergren. 'The Guilty' had its premiere at Sundance Film Festival where it was announced the winner chosen by the audience. It won the same award at Rotterdam.
Spending time at open air cinema Bačvice goes on even after FMFS and the first opportunity is tomorrow when screening of Mexican 'Time Share' by Sebastián Hofmann will take place. The film won the award for Best Scripture at Sundance.
