Awards of the Ecumenical Jury by SIGNIS (OCIC) and INTERFILM since 1994
 

1994 

Award:
Ladoni by Arthur Aristakisjan, Russia 1993
The author has succeeded to question radically the common systems and superficial patterns of life with unconventional and strong metaphor and apocalyptic visions as well as through an internal monologue of true poetic quality. Thus, he suggests first steps to a new vision of man related to Christ.
Commendation:
Janani (Mother) by Sanat Dasgupta, India 1993

Jury: Ambros Eichenberger (Switzerland), Karsten Visarius (Germany), Kveta Samajova (Czech Republic)

1995

Award:
Zahrada (The Garden) by Martin Sulik, Slowenia 1995
In a garden full of secrets the young teacher Jakub is confronted with the mysteries of life – as he takes a spiritual voyage full of wisdom and love. Finally, Jakub realizes that life is not based on material assets and nature cannot be considered an investment opportunity. An outstanding feature film, whose visual language is understandable to all generations. Zahrada bears witness to the continuous precence of “miracle” in today’s world.
Commendation:
A Reszleg (The Section), by Peter Gothar, Hungary 1994

Jury: Latavra Doularidze (Russia), Kai Voigtlaender (Germany), Kveta Samajova (Czech Republic), Jan Elias (Czech Republic)

1996

Award:
Kavkazskij Plennik by Sergej Bodrov, Russia/Kazachstan
For the personal commitment, the courage and artistic qualities by means of which this film is defending human and moral values against violence, war and murder in our contemporary society related especially to the present caucasion conflict.
Commendations:
Un divan à New York, by Chantal Akerman, France/Germany
Mladi Muzi Poznavaji Svet by Radim Spacek, Czeck Republic

Jury: Ambros Eichenberger (Switzerland), Jan Elias (Czech Republic), Michael Otrisal (Czech Republic), Karsten Visarius (Germany)

1997

Award:
Zapomenuté Svetlo (Forgotten Light) by Vladimir Michalek, Czeck Republic
Par sa tentative franche et vraiment humaine de raconter l’histoire d’un homme qui respecte ses principes mêmes dans les difficiles moments de manque de confiance en soi et de tentation en vue de sauver la pureté des valeurs de foi, refusant des compromis boiteux et la collaboration avec les pouvoirs en place.
Commendations:
Jugofilm by Goran Rebic, Austria
Nespatrene by Miroslav Janek, Czech Republic

Jury: Bo Torp Pedersen (Denmark), Guido Convents (Belgium), Michael Otrisal (Czech Republic), Milan Simacek (Czech Republic),
Latavra Doularidze (Russia)

1998

Award:
Comedian Harmonists by Joseph Vilsmaier, Germany/Austria 1997
For its sensitive handling of human beings in an impossible situation and for its exploration of the values of loyalty, courage and forgiveness and for its integrity in dealing with real people and real event.
Commendation:
Je treba zabit Sekala (Sekala Has To Die) by Vladimir Michalek, Czech Republic 1998

Jury: Kate Roux (United Kingdom), Jana Hyklova (Czech Republic), Bo Torp Pedersen (Denmark), Vera Ivanova (Russia), Jan Jandourek (Czech Republic)

1999 

Award:
A Resonable Man by Gavin Hood, South Africa 1998
For the understanding of different religious, cultural and ethnical roots. The film compares traditional values with today’s by the means of reasonable and intuitive behavior. It searches to human solutions to different ways of approaching truth.
Commendations:
Hachaverim shel Yana by Arik Kaplun, Israel 1998
Beautiful People by Jasmin Dizdar, Great Britain 1998

Jury: Lada Arnautovà (Czech Republic), Christoph Fritze (Germany), Franziska Lienert (Switzerland), Milan Simacek (Czech Republic), Anna Petrzelkova (Czech Republic)

2000 

Award:
Duze zwierze (The Big Animal) by Jerzy Stuhr, Poland 1999
The story on a camel left behind by a circus deepens into a multi-level parable of timeless presence. It depicts, with humour, different attitudes towards the strange, and shows that there are values of life beyond mere existence.
Commendations:
Paromitar ek din (House of Memories) by Aparna Sen, Indien 1999
Long Night’s Journey Into Day by Frances Reid, Deborah Hoffmann, USA 1999

Jury: Reinhold Zwick (Germany), Milos Rejchrt (Czech Republic), Alexander Askoldov (Russia), Hans Werner Dannowski (Germany), Jan Elias (Czech Republic)

2001

Award:
Chico by Ibolya Fekete, Hungary/Germany/Croatia/Chile 2000
For a convincing illustration of the way in which the ideal of freedom undergoes continual transformation in history without ever being fully attained. The film shows in a novel way that some wars are drawn into the logic of their development, willingly or unwillingly.
The Ecumenical Jury commends the film for showing the spiritual dimension of human existence that lasts, while ideologies come and go.
Commendation:
Ghost world by Terry Zwigoff USA, Great Britain 2000

Jury: Milos Rejchrt (Czech Republic), Eric Pireyre (France), Heike Kühn (Germany), Bob Fliedr (Czech Republic), Jan Elias (Czech Republic)

2002

Award
Cisza (Silence), by  Michal Rosa, Poland 2001
Commendation:
Filament, by Jinsei Tsuji, Japan 2001

Jury: Julia Helmke (Germany), Michael Otrisal (Czech Rep), Patricia Rohner (France), Matthias Loretan (Switzerland), Jan Lipsansky (Czech Rep), Jan Elias (Czech Rep – secretary of Ecumenical Jury)

2003

Award:
Babusja (Granny), Lidia Bobrova, Russia/France 2003

Jury: Matthias Loretan (Switzerland), Rita Weinert (President, Germany), Jan Elias (Czech Republic), Milos Rejchert (Czech Republic), Claire Openshaw (UK), Piet Halma (Netherlands).

2004

Award:
Cavedweller, Lisa Cholodenko, USA 2004

Jury: Juraj Drobny (Slovakia - chairman), Jan Elias (Czech Republic), Michael Otrisal (Czech Republic), Anita Uzulniece (Latvia), Bojidar Manov (Bulgaria), Hilde Van Liempt (Belgium)

2005

Award:
Kinamand (Chinaman), Henrik Ruben Genz, Denmark/China, 2005

Jury: Margrit Frölich (Germany), Chris Deacy (United Kingdom), Matthias Loretan (Switzerland), Magali Van Reeth (France), Petr Siska (Czech Republic - Chairman of the Jury), Jan Elias (Czech Republic)

2006

Award:
El destino (Destiny), Miguel Pereira, Argentina/Spain, 2005
Commendation:
Shab Bekheir Farmandeh (Goodbye Life), Ensieh Shah-Hosseini, Iran 2006

Jury: Jos Horemans, (Belgium - President), Elena Jecu Dulgheru (Romania), Julia Laggner (Austria), Kai Voigtländer (Germany), Milos Rejchrt (Czech Republic), Jan Elias (Czech Republic)

2007

Award:
Prostyje Vešci (Simple Things), Alexey Popogrebsky, Russia 2006
Commendation:
Dialogue avec mon jardinier (Conversation With My Gardener), Jean Becker, France 2007

Jury: Dietmar Adler (Germany - President), Jan Elias (Czech Republique), Johannes Horstmann (Germany), Denyse Muller (France), Kvetoslava Šamajová (Czech Republique), Teresa R.Tunay (Philippines)

2008

Award:
The Photograph, Nan T. Achnas, Indonesia, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden 2007

Jury: Jan Eliáš (Czech Republic – president of the jury), Monica Lienin (Switzerland), Werner Schneider-Quindeau (Germany), Lucia Cuocci (Italy), Helena Babická (Czech Republic), Karel Deburchgrave (Belgium)