AWARDS OF THE ECUMENICAL JURY

The Ecumenical Jury at the 61st  Berlinale, appointed by INTERFILM and SIGNIS, makes awards in the Competition, the Forum and the Panorama. The Forum and the Panorama Prize carry a prize money of € 2500 each, donated by the German Bishops’ Conference, and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD).

COMPETITION

Our Prize in COMPETITION goes to:

JODAEIYE NADER AZ SIMIN (NADER AND SIMIN, A SEPARATION)
By Asghar Farhadi, Iran, 2011

This film dramatizes powerfully conflicts associated with family life and living in Iran. It addresses its subject-matter with equality, respect, and sincerity. Its themes include parent-child relationships, separation, ethical decision-making, justice, and religious commitment. Its power is strengthened by the Director’s invitation to the viewer to engage with suggested solutions. It maintains creatively tension throughout, and never loses the integrity of its individual themes. The film communicates different moral viewpoints effectively in a realistic, and culturally sensitive way.

A commendation in COMPETITION goes to:

THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD
By Joshua Marston, USA/Albania/Denmark/Italy, 2011

This film informs forcibly about a son taking responsibility for his actions in a family caught in a vendetta culture in Albania.

PANORAMA

Our Prize in PANORAMA goes to:

LO ROIM ALAICH (INVISIBLE)
By Michal Aviad, Israel/Germany, 2011

This film deals with women’s rape - a major and frequent social problem of physical and mental trauma. It shows with empathy, and brilliant psychological relevance, the complex feelings and behaviour of two victims who meet by chance. They try to overcome the long-lasting sequelae from which they are suffering. Through the generosity, the energy, and the talents of the Director and her two actresses, this first feature film is based on real facts. It shows the successful fight for women’s rights and dignity.

A commendation in PANORAMA goes to:

BARZAKH
By Mantas Kvedaravicius, Finland/Lithuania, 2011

This film depicts forcefully the rage and despair about the injustices and the abuse of human rights remaining in Chechnya after the Russian withdrawal.

FORUM

Our Prize in FORUM goes to:

EN TERRAINS CONNUS (FAMILIAR GROUND)
By Stéphane Lafleur, Canada, 2011

This film is structurally original in showing how "accidents" can alter human relationships. It is innovative in drawing warm and human comic moments out of an alienated world where relationships are fragile. Its dialogue is sparse and well-controlled, and the soundtrack integrates very effectively with the film's visual imagery.

A commendation in FORUM goes to:

DE ENGEL VAN DOEL (AN ANGEL IN DOEL)
By Tom Fassaert, Netherlands/Belgium, 2011

This documentary shows sympathetically how urban development and globalization affect individuals in an aged community in Antwerp, Belgium.

Members of the Jury: Dietmar Adler (Germany), Gabriele Carunchio (Italy), Julienne N. Munyaneza (United Kingdom), Peter Sheehan (Jury President, Australia), Lothar Strüber (Germany), Jean-Michel Zucker (France)

The Ecumenical Jury at the Award Ceremony, with prize winner Asghar Farhadi
(from left): Dietmar Adler, Julienne N. Munyaneza, Peter Shehan, Asghar Farhadi, Babak Karimi (actor), Lothar Strüber, Gabriele Carunchio (Jean-Michel Zucker missing)