Awards of the Ecumenical Jury
The Ecumenical Jury awards its Prize to the film:
Don't look in the mirror (Mi nayir hayelun)
by Suren Babayan, Armenia 2009
Full of imagination and artistic metaphoric language, the film presents an existential human journey in search of identity in a confused world - an identity which can be found only by recognizing oneself in other human beings.
Synopsis: One day, an aging, none-too-attractive man, whose artistic ambitions faded long ago, looks in the mirror and sees an entirely different person. His life changes into a bizarre series of comic and tragic episodes. Director Suren Babayan based his movie on the novel by Perch Zeytuntsyan as an original variation on the classic tale of the mirror double.
In addition, the jury awards a Commendation to
How I Ended This Summer (Kak ja provel etim letom)
by Aleksei Popogrebsky, Russia 2010
With laconic but rich and essential images the film, set in an isolated and silent landscape, shows the development of a confrontation among two men with different values and priorities. As the conflict implodes and it seems impossible for them to communicate, a sign of forgiveness opens a possibility of a silent dialogue and of a final reconciliation among the two.
Synopsis: Sergej, an experienced metereoligist, and Pavel, a high school graduate, are looking forward to the end of their service at an isolated polar station. When Pavel receives a message about an accident of Sergej’s family, he conceals it from his partner. But then he learns that the ship meant for picking them up might not come around this year.
The Jury:
Rev. Gevorg Saroyan (president), Armenia
Rev. Marek Lis, Poland
Dr. Gianna Urizio, Italy
From left: Gianna Urizio, Marek Lis, and Gevorg Saroyan
(Extraits)
