23rd International Film Festival Fribourg
14 - 21 March 2009

www.fiff.ch

ECUMENICAL AWARD
by INTERFILM and SIGNIS (www.signis.net)

This award consisting of CHF 5'000 is conferred jointly by two institutions of the churches working in development cooperation, “Action de Carême” (catholique) and “Bread for All” (protestant), to the director whose film best reflects the working criteria of the two institutions in the field of North-South cooperation.

The members of the Ecumenical Jury of the 23rd Fribourg International Film Festival are:
Jean-Michel Duband (Châlon-sur-Saône/France) - President
Nicole Lafaye de Micheaux-Vercueil (Marseille/France)
Charles Ridoré (Fribourg/Switzerland)
Martina Schmidt (Lausanne/Switzerland)

The award goes to

Be calm and count to Seven / Arma bash vat a haft beshmar
by Ramtin Lavafipour, Iran 2008

In a context where survival is at stake, the characters are led to making choices whereby they give primacy to human dignity over law abiding. This is expressed through images and sounds of a poetical strength. Wind, sea and breathlessness are symbolic of the powerful life blow that streams throughout the movie.

A commendation goes to the film

Ramchand Pakistani
by Mehreen Jabbar, Pakistan/United States 2008

The Jury's attention has been captured by the human values which this first fiction movie by Mehreen Jabbar brings forward. It illustrates the strength of hope and human relationship in front of the absurdity of frontiers and conflicts.