09/09/2016 - VENICE 2016: The jury, comprising those taking part in 28 Times Cinema, has awarded the Danish-Finnish documentary about a group of friends devastated by Syrian repression

The War Show [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andreas Dalsgaard
film profile], the searingly topical documentary by Syrian director Obaidah Zytoon and Danish filmmaker Andreas Dalsgaard, about a group of young friends devastated by Syrian repression, is the winner of the 2016 Venice Days Award. The movie, which opened the 13th edition of the Venice Days, was chosen by the jury chaired by Canadian director Bruce LaBruce and comprising the participants in the 28 Times Cinema programme – 28 young viewers hailing from 28 countries from all around Europe, selected by the theatres of the Europa Cinemas circuit and invited to Venice by the European Parliament’s LUX Prize, in partnership with Cineuropa (read the news). 

The award consists of a cash sum of €20,000, which is split 50/50 between the film’s director and international sales agent, which must commit to using the amount to promote the work. The two other finalists, which had been selected from among the 11 films of 15 nationalities presented in competition in this year’s Venice Days, were the Icelandic movie Heartstone [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
film profile] by Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson and Australia’s Hounds of Love by Ben Young.

Among the parallel prizes handed out to the films in this year’s Venice Days, we should highlight the Europa Cinemas Label for Sámi Blood [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Amanda Kernell
interview: Lars Lindstrom
film profile] by Amanda Kernell, the Fedeora Award for Best Film for The Road to Mandalay [+see also:
trailer
interview: Midi Z
film profile] by Midi Z and the Pasinetti Award for Best Film for Indivisible [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Edoardo de Angelis
film profile] by Edoardo De Angelis. Meanwhile, the Venice Days audience voted Ordinary People by Filipino director Eduardo Roy Jr as its favourite film.

Here is the full list of the 2016 Venice Days awards:

Venice Days Award
The War Show [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andreas Dalsgaard
film profile] - Obaidah Zytoon, Andreas Dalsgaard

Europa Cinemas Label
Sámi Blood [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Amanda Kernell
interview: Lars Lindstrom
film profile] - Amanda Kernell

Fedeora Awards (Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean)

Best Film
The Road to Mandalay [+see also:
trailer
interview: Midi Z
film profile] - Midi Z

Best Debut Director
Amanda Kernell - Sami Blood

Best Actress
Ashleigh Cummings - Hounds of Love

Best European Film
Quit Staring at My Plate [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Hana Jušić
film profile] - Hana Jušić 

Lizzani Award
Worldly Girl [+see also:
film review
trailer
making of
interview: Marco Danieli
film profile] - Marco Danieli

Francesco Pasinetti – SNGCI Awards

Best Film
Indivisible [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Edoardo de Angelis
film profile] - Edoardo De Angelis

Best Actor
Michele Riondino - Worldly Girl

Best Actress
Sara Serraiocco - Worldly Girl

Special Mention
Angela, Marianna Fontana - Indivisible

Queer Lion
Heartstone [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson
film profile] - Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson

BNL Audience Award
Ordinary People - Eduardo Roy Jr

Brian Award
Worldly Girl - Marco Danieli

FEDIC Award
Indivisible - Edoardo De Angelis

Lina Mangiacapre Award
Indivisible - Edoardo De Angelis

Open Award
Pippo Delbono - Vangelo

(Translated from Italian)