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LECCE 2017 Awards

My Happy Family triumphs at Lecce

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- The Georgian film has won the Golden Olive Tree, Best Cinematography and the FIPRESCI Award; The Constitution also scooped three prizes, while the Cineuropa Prize went to When the Day Had No Name

My Happy Family triumphs at Lecce
Actress Ia Shugliashvili, from My Happy Family, with the Golden Olive Tree (© Lecce European Film Festival)

As the 18th Lecce European Film Festival drew to a close on Saturday, following six days of screenings, meetings and master classes, the gathering’s Golden Olive Tree was awarded to Georgia. My Happy Family [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon G…
film profile
]
 by Nana & Simon, whose main character is a mother who breaks the rules of a patriarchal society by deciding to go and live on her own, took home the Best Film Award (which comes with €5,000) and two other prizes: Best Cinematography and the FIPRESCI Award. The jury, chaired by Marion Doring and comprising Lene BørglumTilde CorsiHeather Stewart and Eva Zaoralovà, thought the Georgian film was “a subtle portrait of a middle-aged woman and a mother looking to achieve self-determination”, with cinematography that “complements the storyline, following a concept similar to old paintings, where the details add new dimensions to the characters”. Meanwhile, the FIPRESCI jury, comprising Colette de Castro, Natalia Moussienko and Alberto Alfredo Tristano, opted for Nana & Simon’s film because “with an accomplished and spirited style, it represents the complexity of a whole society, through a female figure with a rich personality and a whole host of contradictions”.

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The Best Screenplay Award went to Rajko Grlić and Ante Tomic for The Constitution [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rajko Grlić
film profile
]
, the Croatian-Czech-Slovenian film directed by Grlić, which was considered “a marvellous example of a complex story that toys with various types of prejudice”. The movie was also awarded by the SNGCI (National Union of Film Journalists) for Best European Actor (Nebojš Glogovac), and by the audience. The Special Jury Prize was bestowed upon A Taste of Ink [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Morgan Simon
film profile
]
by Morgan Simon, “a coming-of-age story that surprises with its unexpected plot twists and its extremely human approach”. The French film also took home the Agiscuola Award, handed out by a jury of 22 children from 11 secondary schools in Lecce.

The Cineuropa Prize was given to When the Day Had No Name [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Teona Strugar Mitevska
film profile
]
 by Teona Strugar Mitevska, “a film that depicts complex social problems through a unique story of young people living on the fringes of society”. The jury, made up of Cécile DespringreGuillame Calop and Asja Krsmanović, handed the accolade to the Macedonian-Belgian-Slovenian title because “through understated and spontaneous dialogue, it reconstructs situations that are simultaneously upsetting and shocking, a typical atmosphere during a day in the provinces, which will be forever altered by an unexpected event”.

Lastly, the Mario Verdone Award went to Worldly Girl [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
interview: Marco Danieli
film profile
]
 by Marco Danieli, “because with confident and finely balanced direction, it transforms the story of a forbidden love into a story of emancipation that flies in the face of prohibition and brainwashing”, and the Emidio Greco Prize (short-film section) was handed to Good News by Giovanni Fumu.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Golden Olive Tree 
My Happy Family [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon G…
film profile
]
 – Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß (Georgia)

Best Screenplay Award
Rajko Grlić, Ante Tomic - The Constitution [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rajko Grlić
film profile
]
 (Croatia/Czech Republic/Slovenia)

Best Cinematography Award
My Happy Family - Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß

Special Jury Prize
A Taste of Ink [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Morgan Simon
film profile
]
- Morgan Simon (France)

Mario Verdone Award
Worldy Girl [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
interview: Marco Danieli
film profile
]
 - Marco Danieli (Italy)

FIPRESCI Award
My Happy Family - Nana Ekvtimishvili, Simon Groß

SNGCI Award for Best European Actor
Nebojš Glogovac - The Constitution

Cineuropa Prize
When the Day Had No Name [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Teona Strugar Mitevska
film profile
]
 - Teona Strugar Mitevska (Macedonia/Belgium/Slovenia)

Audience Award
The Constitution - Rajko Grlić

Emidio Greco Prize
Good News - Giovanni Fumu

Agiscuola Award
A Taste of Ink - Morgan Simon

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(Translated from Italian)

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