48th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
 June 28 – July 6, 2013

Festival Website

AWARD OF THE ECUMENICAL JURY

The Ecumenical Jury awards its Prize to the film

BLUEBIRD
by Lance Edmands, USA 2013

Motivation: When a female school bus driver fails to notice a sleeping boy in the back of her bus, this causes a tragedy that overshadows not only her life and family but also the lives of many others in her economically depressed small hometown. Lance Edmands' debut deals with topics like guilt, estrangement and isolation but first and foremost centers around the tragic lack of connection, closeness and the search for a place in this world. "Bluebird" is the most thoughtful and mature, the most atmospheric, superbly restrained, yet deeply emotional work we have ever seen by a first time feature-length film director. (Photo: Film Servis Festival Kalovy Vary)

Director Lance Edmands at the Award Ceremony
(Photo: Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary)

The winner amongst the jury members (from left): Lothar Strüber, Freiburg-Tiengen (Germany), Helena Zvolská-Babická, Celákovice (Czech Republic), Lance Edmands, Marisa Villareale, Saarbrücken (Germany), Jan Regner (SJ), Prag (Czech Republic)