AWARDS Ireland
As If I’m Not There wins FACE
by Naman Ramachandran
18/04/2011 - Irish director Juanita Wilson’s Bosnian war drama As If I Am Not There [trailer] has won the 5th Film Award of the Council of Europe (FACE) for her film at the 30th Istanbul International Film Festival (IIFF).
The Human Rights Jury President Scandar Copti, winner of FACE in 2010 for Ajami [trailer], announced the decision. The citation says, “As If I’m Not There is a film which depicts with great tact, decency and sensitivity the suffering of a woman victim of rape during the war in Bosnia. At the deepest of tragedy, the film leaves an open window on hope and reminds us that women are the future of mankind.”
The Jury also gave Sedat Yilmaz’s Press a Special Mention “for its message upholding freedom of expression and freedom of information, which constitute the very basis of human rights, democracy and the rule of law”.
This year, 10 films were entered in the human rights section.
Wilson won a bronze sculpture and a cash prize of €10,000, partly financed by Eurimages, which was a co-producer on As If I’m Not There along with Octagon Films, Sektor Films Skopje, W2 Filmproduktion und Vertriebs, WMG Film and Wide Eye Films.
The FACE award is an annual collaboration between the Council of Europe and the IIFF.
