email print share on Facebook share on Twitter share on LinkedIn share on reddit pin on Pinterest

LES ARCS 2021 Industry Village / Awards

Les Arcs’ Work in Progress section crowns Opponent its champion

by 

- Milad Alami’s second feature scooped the TitraFilm Prize and Sacha Polak’s Silver Haze bagged a Special Mention, while Stranger in my Own Skin and Nika also walked away with an award

Les Arcs’ Work in Progress section crowns Opponent its champion
Director Milad Alami and producer Annika Rogell with their TitraFilm Prize for Opponent (© Thomy Keat/Les Arcs Film Festival)

Unfolding within the Industry Village organised as part of the 13th Les Arcs Film Festival, the Work in Progress competition, composed of 14 feature films, delivered its verdict by way of three prizes and a Special Mention.

The main jury (including Kathrin Kohlstedde, Kevin Chan and Mimi Plauché) awarded the TitraFilm Prize (consisting of 10,000 euros-worth of image and/or sound post-production services) to Opponent [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Milad Alami
film profile
]
, the second feature film by Sweden’s Milad Alami (discovered in San Sebastian’s New Directors line-up in 2017 via The Charmer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ardalan Esmaili
interview: Milad Alami
film profile
]
). Written by the director himself, the story revolves around Iman (played by Payman Maadi) who is forced to flee Iran with his family in the aftermath of a devastating rumour. As refugees, they end up in a run-down hotel in northern Sweden. Despite feeling powerless, Iman tries to maintain his role as the family patriarch, and in order to heighten their chances of being granted asylum, he breaks a promise to his wife and joins the local wrestling club… Produced by Annika Rogell on behalf of Tangy (Sweden), and co-produced by Norway’s Ape&Bjørn, the feature film enjoys the support of the Swedish Film Institute, the Norwegian Film Institute, Film V and Filmpool Nord.

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

A Special Mention was awarded by this very same jury to Silver Haze [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
by Dutch director Sacha Polak (selected for the Berlinale Forum in 2012 and 2015 by way of Hemel [+see also:
trailer
interview: Sacha Polak
film profile
]
and Zurich [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
, chosen to compete in Sundance and to open the Rotterdam Film Festival in 2019 via Dirty God [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sacha Polak
film profile
]
). Produced by Viking Film (the Netherlands) in co-production with Emu Films (UK), his new film (starring Vicky Night and Esmee Creed-Miles) revolves around 23-year-old Franky who suspects Jane, her mother’s best friend, is guilty of setting fire to the pub she was sleeping in as a child, an event for which she seeks revenge. She subsequently meets Florence, a girl with whom she falls deeply in love, and runs away from home…

The Alphapanda Audience Engagement Award (revolving around films’ digital marketing and handed out by a jury including Didar Domehri, among other names) went to the documentary Peter Doherty: Stranger in my Own Skin [+see also:
film review
film profile
]
, which is the first feature film offered up by French director Katia de Vidas, and is produced by British firm Wendy Production. The film follows the life of British artist, singer and songwriter Peter Doherty as he tries to keep his musical career going while managing his addiction. Torn between his inner needs and the demands of the outside world, he strives to face each and every one of his demons in an attempt to overcome this poorly understood illness.

Last but not least, the new 22D Music Award (consisting of 10,000 euros, to fund the production of an original piece of music, whose jury notably included composer Amine Bouhafa) singled out Nika as its champion, which is the first feature film by Russia’s Vasilisa Kuzmina, produced by her compatriots at Vodorod and Art Pictures Studio.

The award-winners are as follows:

TitraFilm Prize
Opponent [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Milad Alami
film profile
]
- Milad Alami (Sweden/Norway)

Special Mention
Silver Haze [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
- Sacha Polak (the Netherlands/UK)

Alphapanda Audience Engagement Award
Peter Doherty: Stranger in my Own Skin [+see also:
film review
film profile
]
- Katia de Vidas (UK)

22D Music Award
Nika - Vasilisa Kuzmina (Russia)

(The article continues below - Commercial information)

(Translated from French)

Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.

Privacy Policy