AWARDS OF THE ECUMENICAL JURY

The Ecumenical Jury of SIGNIS and INTERFILM awards prizes in the competion, Panorama and Forum. The Panorama and the Forum prize carry a prize money of 2500.- € each, donated by the Catholic Film Work in Germany and the EKD (Evangelical Church in Germany).

The Ecumenical Jury awards its Prize in the Competition to the film

Gloria
directed by Sebastián Lelio, Chile / Spain 2012

for its refreshing and contagious plea that life is a celebration to which we are all invited, regardless of age or condition, and that its complexities only add to the challenge to live it in full.

The Jury awards a Commendation in the Competition to:

An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker
directed by Danis Tanovic, Bosnia-Herzegovina / France / Slowenia 2013

for spotlighting people who are often invisible, and portraying their dignity, resilience, and invincible will to live.

The Ecumenical Jury awards its Prize in the Panorama to the film

The Act of Killing
directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, Denmark / Norway / GB 2012

This deeply unsettling film exposes the evil mass murders which took place in Indonesia in 1965 and reveals the monstrosity of these crimes. It re-opens a deep wound with the conviction that it is worthwhile to unearth such atrocities.

The Ecumenical Jury awards a Commendation in the Panorama to:

Inch’Allah
directed by Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, Canada / France 2012

for its use of poignant metaphors, images and stories to instill compassion, for foregrounding women’s lives and points of view in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and for showing that certain life situations make it hard not to take sides.

The Ecumenical Jury awards its Prize in the Forum to the film

Krugovi (Circles)
directed by Srdan Golubovic, Serbia / Germany / France / Slowenia / Croatia 2013

for its compelling presentation of the human capacity to overcome seemingly invincible prejudices, and to achieve healing through reconciliation.

The Ecumenical Jury awards a Commendation in the Forum to:

Senzo ni naru (Roots)
directed by Kaoru Ikeya, Japan 2013

for showing a deeply impressive example of the beginning of new life after the Tsunami catastrophe in 2011. The protagonist finds inspiration to rebuild his home in the rich spiritual heritage of Japan.