Michael triumphs in Zagreb

by Vladan Petkovic

24/10/2011 - Austrian director Markus Schleinzer’s Michael [trailer] won the Golden Pram for best feature film at the ninth Zagreb Film Festival, which took place from October 16-23.

The debut film of one of Austria’s best known casting directors had its world premiere in the Cannes competition this year. Lead actor Michael Fuith was in Zagreb to receive the award from the jury which consisted of cinematographer Peter Suschitzky, director Antonio Piazza and film critic Christopher Goodwin.>BR>
The clinically precise story of a paedophile won in the competition of ten other first or second films, including Steve McQueen’s Shame [trailer], Jeff Nichols’ Take Shelter, Adrian Sitaru’s Best Intentions, Nejc Gazvoda’s A Trip, Eran Kolirin’s Exchange - which won a special mention - and Paddy Considine’s Tyrannosaur (Tyrannosaur ), which took the audience award.

Germany’s Ilker Çatak and Johannes Duncker won the Golden Pram for best short film for When Namibia Was a City.

In the documentary competition, best film went to Poland’s Michał Marczak for At the Edge of Russia, while Croatian film Land Of Knowledge by Saša Ban received a special mention.

In the Checkers programme dedicated to Croatian short student films, best film went to Tin Žanić’s Komba.