History since 1997
John Templeton European Film of the Year
Award winners since 1997:
1997 De Verstekeling/The Stowaway
by Ben van Lieshout, Netherlands, 1997
“Magically and with a subtle sense of humor, the film tells the story of a migration and happy return. The director offers impressive, metaphorical images against resignation and hopelessness.
1998 My name is Joe
by Ken Loach, United Kingdom, 1998
“My name is Joe is described as a love story full of humour, passion and danger. Above all the film is about responsibility.”
Commendation:
Festen, by Thomas Vinterberg, Denmark, 1998
1999 Journey to the Sun
by Yesim Ustaoglu, Turkey/Netherlands/Germany, 1999
“The film is an example of political cinema, carrying within it the full gamut of emotions embedded in poetic images, while at the same time avoiding ideological clichés.”
2000 Nordrand
by Barbara Albert, Austria/Germany/Switzerland, 2000
“The film tells the story of two young women in Vienna, who have lost track of one another after leaving school and meet again by chance in an abortion clinic…Amidst the fragility of the individual life stories, the breakdown of the social environment, moral indifference and psychic impairment, the film follows the search of human beings for caring and trust, understanding and closeness…”
2001 Chico
by Ibolya Fekete, Hungary/Germany/Croatia/Chile, 2001
“…for showing the spiritual dimension of human existence that lasts, while ideologies come and go. – Ibolya Fekete in the end presents an “ideolocigal adventure film” which poses many questions for discussion but does not attempt to provide answers.”
2002 The Man Without a Past
by Aki Kaurismäki, Finland/Germany/France, 2002
“The film tells a story which includes depths of tenderness and moments of humour…He conveys a deep knowledge and understanding of human relationships and their closeness to such biblical themes as death and resurrection, poverty and greed, selfishness and selfgiving.”
2003 The Return
by Andrej Zjvagincev, Russia 2003
 "The Ecumenical Jury found this a powerful film which can be interpreted in psychological, social and archetypical ways. It tells the story of the return of a father, after a 12 year absence, into the lives of two boys. They only recall him from an old photograph tucked into the pages of an illustrated Bible, which opens at the page showing the sacrifice of Isaac by his father Abraham. (...) Setting out on an adventure proves to be a steep learning curve in relationships and the inevitable final tragedy is set against the stunning backdrop of northern Russian lakes in summer."
2004 Yasmin
by Kenny Glenaan, UK/Germany 2004
"Since 9/11, Yasmin has become an icon of many Muslims who are experiencing an awakening and a reconciliation with their cultural heritage and with their faith. The film shows the search for alternatives and personal identity in the confrontation between secular Western culture and radical Islamic ideas."
2005 L'enfant (The Child)
by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Belgium/France 2004
"(The film) tells the story of Bruno, Sonia and their newly-born son Jimmy, who live in socially deprived circumstances and gain their income from her social benefits and Bruno’s petty larceny. In a thoughtless moment Bruno sells the child for adoption. (...) The values highlighted by the jury include Bruno's remorse and growing sense for responsibility, Sonia's forgiveness and their mutual reconciliation."
2006 Grbavica
by Jasmila ˇbanic, Austria/Bosnia-Herzegovina/Germany/Croatia 2006
 "The film captures the real dilemmas of the aftermath of a tragic ethnic conflict; the economic problems facing single parents; the continuing social divisions in a society struggling to come to terms with the past; but overall is the enduring love of a parent for her child and the child for her parent. Without presenting images of past atrocities, Jasmila ˇbanic’s aesthetic strategy succeeds in evoking a traumatising experience through gestures, phy-
sical expressions and moments of
silence."
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(Extraits)
