Munich Film Festival, June 25th-July 2nd

One-Future-Prize 2005

The Italian (Italianetz) by Andrej Kravchuk, Russia 2005

Vanya, a Russian orphan, has the chance to be adopted by an Italian couple. Being overwhelmed by promises and gifts by his potential parents, the boy resists the temptations of a future life in Italy. He reminds his roots and, taking the choice to stay in his Russian homeland, all alone starts to search for his true mother. The dangerous path to this object turns out to be a learning process for the six year old boy.

Gone through a difficult childhood Vanya is able to surmount the problems he faces. Apart from his scepticism against the world of the adults he recognises by and by that he can shape his own future. “The Italian” encourages young people to take over responsibility for the future and to set off. At the same time the story demonstrates that the older generation may trust the abilities of the youth.

Authentic youth withstands to be bought as well as to be lured off  its own direction. Thus, all generations in all cultures have a way in common: ONE FUTURE.

Commendation: “Re-Inventing The Taliban” by Sharmeen Obaid, Pakistan/USA 2004

Jury members 2005:

Rev. Eckart Bruchner (President, Germany)
Chris Doherty (USA)
Christine Weissbarth (Austria)
Alexandra Tschegurova (Russia)
Ileana Cosmovici (Italy)
Rita Przygodda (Brasil)
Abbé Dominique Yanogo (Burkina Faso)
Fawzi Soliman (Egypt)