50th International Film Festival
for Children and Youth
30 Mai – 6 June 2010

http://www.zlinfest.cz/en/

ECUMENICAL AWARDS

THE ECUMENICAL JURY organised by INTERFILM, the International Church Film Organisation and SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication and composed by 

Mgr. Zuzana Alcnauerová, Pribelce (Slovakia)
Florin Kevorian, Bucharest (Romania)
Rev. Thomas Schüpbach, Zürich (Switzerland, President).

awards its Prize in the International Competition of Feature Films for Children to

Indián / The Indian
by Ineke Houtman, The Netherlands, 2009

Koos, a little boy of almost eight, has been adopted from Peru as a baby. When his adoptive Dutch mother becomes pregnant, his search for his Indian roots becomes more intensive. The story is told in a way that also a child can understand the feelings of Koos and his aim to become a true Indian and to discover his Indian name that should content qualities or specific characteristics of the owner. Koos evolves a strong faith which shows him that his best friend lives not outside himself but deep inside his soul.

Synopsis (Catalogue): Koos (a little boy of almost eight) very much wants to look like his impressive, typically Dutch father, which is not an easy thing, as Koos has been adopted from Peru and is rather small and of dark complexion. One day, he sees a Peruvian boy playing a strange kind of music outside the supermarket and discovers that he, like the boy, is of Indian origin. From that day on, despite his Dutch parents, he tries his very best to be a true Indian.

The Jury awards its Prize in the International Competition of Feature Films for Youth to

Sebbe / Sebbe
by Babak Najafi, Sweden/Finland 2010

Sebbe is fifteen and lives with his mother in a much too small apartment; he loves her although she has hardly time for him and is not only often away but also drinking. In addition, Sebbe continuously suffers severe mischievous at school by his classmates. All this is shown by the film in a highly innovative and impressive way – mostly exposing in detail the perspective of Sebbe and his emotions, his search for love and his attempt to escape and to find new hope.

Synopsis (Catalogue): Sebbe is fifteen and lives with his mother in an apartment that is much too small. He does his best. He never hits back. Sebbe loves his mother because he can’t do otherwise. Sebbe escapes to the junkyard, and in his hands, dead things come to life. He has the power to create. Here he is free, but alone. His detachment increases at the same pace that his world shrinks, until finally, one day he is completely isolated without anyone except his mother. When she fails him, all else fails. (For more information: www.garagefilm.se)