38. Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist
18.-26.10.2008

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Awards of the Ecumenical Jury

The Ecumenical Jury awards the Ecumenical Film Prize to

Un cœur simple (A Simple Heart)
by Marion Laine, France 2008

Statement of the Jury:
“Marion Laine’s debut film is a thoughtful adaptation of Gustave Flaubert’s tale, with refined sentiment and austere beauty. 19th century’s rural French society’s and religion’s status quo imprisons two women. The haughty and self-absorbed widow Mathilde deprives herself of an emotionally rich life. Sandrine Bonnaire as her servant Felicité fully embodies a modest, devoted affection and love but also a strong independent soul that transforms the emotional and spiritual stagnation around her. She is truly a ’Holy Fool’. She can be seen as a ’Job’s daughter’ in her constant self-sacrifice."

In addition, the jury awards a Commendation to

The Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame
by Hana Makhmalbaf, Iran 2007

Statement of the Jury:
“Hana Makhmalbaf immerses her audience in a contemporary Afghan desert world with precise and accurate details. Through a little girl’s eyes, we experience a harsh society where reality and metaphor intermingle, where Taliban-brainwashed boys torment the girl in war games, where little girls are mean towards each other in school. Despite the intolerance, there are many moments of hope, even grace.”

The Jury awarded a Special Prize (to a film of the Short Film Competition) to

C’est Dimanche!
by Samir Guesmi, France 2008

Statement of the Jury:
"A story of Tunisian migrants in France with expectations for family honour and success. It subtly plays with audience anticipation to become a fine moral tale of sound advice, a son’s trust and a father’s love."

Members of the Jury:

Heike Kühn
Film critic, member of INTERFILM, Germany

Peter Malone (President)
Film critic, former president of OCIC and SIGNIS, member of the Cinema Desk of SIGNIS, Australia

Karina Vostriakova
TV journalist, collaborator of the Catholic Media Center in Kyiv, Ukraine