13/07/2009

The 44th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival concluded Friday with a raft of awards going to European films.

Frédéric Dumont's Angel at Sea [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] won the Grand Prix. A moving portrait of a boy growing up with a manic-depressive father, the film is a co-production between Dragons Films of Belgium and Palomar of Canada.

German director Andreas Dresen was named Best Director for his comedy Whisky With Vodka [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andreas Dresen
film profile], about an aging actor forced to contend with a new understudy. The film is produced by Senator Film Produktion with Rommel Film, with The Match Factory handling international sales.

Paprika Steen earned the prize for Best Actress with her role in Applause [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Martin Pieter Zandvliet
film profile], in which she plays an actress struggling with alcoholism and seeking to regain custody of her children. The feature debut of Danish director Martin Zandvliet also won the Europa Cinemas Label Award. TrustNordisk is handling international sales.

Olivier Gourmet was named Best Actor for his performance in Angel at Sea — an honor he shared with American actor Paul Giamatti for Cold Souls. The jury awarded a Special Mention to Filip Gabacz for his debut role in Polish film Piggies [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile].

The main prize in the East of the West competition went to Russian film Room and a Half, with Special Mention going to Scratch [+see also:
trailer
film profile], from Polish director Michal Rosa.

Slovak director Marko Skop's film Osadné won the prize for Best Documentary.

Among the non-statutory awards, the Independent Camera Award for best film of the Forum of Independents selection went to Eamon [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Irish director Margaret Corkery. Vinko Bresan's Croatian/Serbian film Will Not Stop There received the FIPRESCI Prize.

The 45th KVIFF will take place July 2-10, 2010.