19th Film Festival Cottbus
Festival of East European Cinema
10.-15.11.2009

Awards of the Ecumenical Jury

The Ecumenical Jury at the 19th Film Festival Cottbus awards the Ecumenical Film Prize to

Buben Baraban
by Aleksey Misgirev, Russai 2009

for the complex presentation of the struggle for preserving moral values and human dignity in a society apparently having lost spiritual orientation; and for the aesthetic achievements of the film artists, especially the main actress Natalya Negoda, which call for understanding, passion and solidarity.

In addition, the Jury awards a Commendation to the film

The 40th Door
by Elchin Musaoglu, Azerbajdzhan 2009

for the images behind the images which – by a youth protagonist – tell about the problems of today’s Azerbajdzhan and the readiness of people to work for a better future by preserving their values and identity. The film uses biblical metaphors in order to express this hope.

Members of the Jury:
Elena Dulgeru, Romania
Johannes Horstmann, Germany
Krzysztof Oldakowski, Poland
Volker Mihan, Germany