32. World Film Festival Montreal
August 21 - September 1, 2008

www.ffm-montreal.org

The Ecumenical Jury at the 32nd World Film Festival Montréal has chosen as winner of the Ecumenical Film Award

Varg (Wolf)
by Daniel  Alfredson, Sweden/Norway/Finland 2008

Statement of the jury:
"Because of its intricate exploration of conflicting survival needs — ecological, cultural and personal —, and their impact on family and society, our jury selects Daniel Alfredson's VARG (Wolf) for the ecumenical prize. It shows us, with cinematographic artistry, the root values that the minority culture must preserve within a dominant culture. The film suggests a spirituality that strives to hold tradition and change together, even at the cost of sacrificial love."

Synopsis:
The Sami (also known as Lapps) are the indigenous people of northern Sweden; they have their own language, culture, faith and ways. And a large part of this culture involves the herding of reindeer. Klemens is a Sami who would like to keep with the old ways of reindeer herding but is pressured by family and others in the village to sell the herd and let his 18-year-old nephew Nejla go off to school instead of learning how to keep the animals. When Klemens' reindeer herd is attacked by a wolf, he and Nejla go out on their snowmobiles to survey the damage and they soon find the culprit. Klemens sends his nephew home. He would like to kill the wolf, but but prefers doing it alone. Wolves are an endangered species and anyone caught can be jailed for up to four years according to Swedish law. Klemens doesn't want Nejla implicated. So he sets out after the wolf alone, but when he finds the predator he also finds that his nephew has had the same idea. Who will do the deed? And if the crime is eventually uncovered, who will take the blame? A story from the wilderness, where conditions of survival challenge the rules of society. (Festival information)

In addition, the Jury awards a Commendation to the film

El viaje de Teo (Teo's Voyage)
by Walter Doehner, Mexico 2007

Statement of the Jury:
"The Ecumenical Jury gives honorable mention to Walter Doehner, for his film El Viaje de Teo. Through the eyes of  a child, he shows the universal story of the desperate plight of persons driven from their home countries. Despite the trauma and loss of a failed border-crossing, Teo finds kindness, generosity and love among his own people."

Synopsis:
Raised by his uncle in Oaxaca while his father Wenceslao is in jail, 9-year-old Teo sees his life turned upside down when Wenceslao shows up to take him north across the American border. Teo and his dad are led by a negligent pollero. During the night, in the Sasabe desert, they are attacked and robbed. Teo runs away to keep his belongings and loses touch with the group. Chuy, a 12-year-old pollero, meets Teo, helps him out of the desert and to exact a small measure of revenge against the thieves. While Teo waits at the checkpoint in Nogales for his father's certain deportation, a strong friendship develops between the two boys. (Festival information)

The members of the jury are: Marc Bouchard (Canada), Andrew Faiz (Canada),  Maria Laura Paz de Recondo (Argentina), Angela Prudenzi (Italy), Daniela Roventa-Frumusani (Romania) and Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki, jury president (USA).

From left to right::
Marc Bouchard (Canada);
Daniela Roventa-Frumusani (Romania);
Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki (USA), jury president;
Andrew Faiz (Canada);
Maria Laura Paz de Recondo (Argentina);
and Angela Prudenzi (Italy)