23/04/2013 - The Polish film in competition in Berlin carries off the Grand Prix, though filmmakers from the Netherlands put on a very good showing

The Festival of Dortmund and Cologne for Women Directors which opened on April 9th with a screening of Ginger & Rosa [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by English director Sally Potter, ended on Sunday with the victory of the Polish film In the Name Of... [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Malgorzata Szumowska
interview: Mateusz Kosciukiewicz
film profile] (photo), by Małgoska Szumowska. This movie on a taboo theme, already appreciated when it was shown in competition in Berlin, won the 25,000 euro Prize for the Best Feature Film for Women Directors, including 10,000 euros for the film's German distributor, Salzgeber, which will launch it on the other side of the Rhine before the end of the year. The jury appreciated its courage, realism and spiritual slant towards "a system which leaves no room for love and sexuality", as well as its profound humanism. 

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

Szumowska's movie beat the seven other films in the international competition, including Children of Sarajevo [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Aida Begić
film profile] byBosnian directorAida Bejic, The Dead and the Living [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Barbara Albert
film profile] by  Barbara Albert of Austria, and the Dutch titles Jackie [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Antoinette Beumer, a road movie featuring Carice and Jelka van Houten as well as the star Holly Hunter who won the hearts and the Prize of the public (1,000 €), and Snackbar [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Meral Uslu, who won an Honourable Mention because "in its rhythm and boisterous energy, and also in its quieter moments", it "lends a voice" to an entire generation of immigrants.

Dutch cinema on the feminine side was also recognized via the Dortmund Honorary Award for Documentary Film (10,000 euros) which went to Heddy Honigmann for her entire contribution to European documentary films.

(Translated from French)