The 11^th edition of the Odesa International Film Festival has wrapped in a completely different setting to usual, as this year’s closing ceremony did not happen at the Odessa National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet. However, as every year, it was still hosted by TV presenter, journalist and actress Yanina Sokolova and TV presenter Oleh Panyuta. The hybrid edition of the festival ran from 25 September-3 October, and the team hopes that it will return next year in its regular July slot.

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The festival’s main award, the Grand Prix of the International Competition, determined by audience votes, went to the US flick Dinner in America by Adam Rehmeier. The director said: “Many thanks to everyone involved in organising the festival. For me, this is an extremely touching moment, so I will immediately run to share the news with the filming crew. I am very happy that the film provoked such a reaction from the audience and touched their hearts.”

The International Competition jury, which comprised Canadian composer Howard Shore, Icelandic actress and theatrical director Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir, Portuguese actress Joana Ribeiro, Ukrainian theatre, film and voice actress Larysa Rusnak, and Armenian-born French actor-director Serge Avedikian, handed the Best Film Award to Atlantis [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Valentyn Vasyanovych
scheda film] by Valentyn Vasyanovych. Also, the jury bestowed two Special Mentions upon Servants [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Ivan Ostrochovský
scheda film] by Ivan Ostrochovský and You Will Die at 20 [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Amjad Abu Alala
scheda film] by Amjad Abu Alala, for the movie’s soundtrack. The Best Director Award was conferred upon Belgian helmer Fabrice du Welz for his latest film, Adoration [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Fabrice du Welz
scheda film]. The Best Acting Award went to Lydia Lieberman, Denise Carrizo and Agustina Malale, the ensemble of actresses from Maternal [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Maura Delpero
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In the National Competition, the jury, consisting of Ukrainian director Nariman Aliev, Catalan director Carla Simón, General Delegate of the Venice International Film Critics’ Week Giona Nazzaro and head of IFFR Pro Marit van den Elshout, handed the Golden Duke for Best Ukrainian Feature Film to the documentary Everything Will Not Be Fine [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Helena Maksyom
scheda film] by Adrian Pîrvu and Helena Maksyom, with the directorial duo also receiving the Best Director Award. The Golden Duke for Best Acting was given to Maria Khomutova for her role in the short film Two of Us by Vladislav Vitriv, while Goodbye Golovin, directed by Mathieu Grimard, received the Best Ukrainian Short Film Award. The Audience Choice Award went to Viktor_Robot by Anatoliy Lavrenyshyn, while the FIPRESCI Prize was bestowed upon the documentary Demon by Egor Troyanovskyi.

In the European Documentary Competition, Summerwar by German director Moritz Shulz received the Best Film Award from jury members Nikolaj Nikitin, Iryna Tsilyk, Waad Al-Kateab and Bill Guttentag. The Special Jury Mention went ex aequo to Gevar's Land by Qutaiba Barhamji and Conductivity by Anna-Karin Grönroos.

Finally, Roman Balayan, one of the most famous Ukrainian directors, was awarded the honorary Golden Duke for Lifetime Achievement in Filmmaking.

Julia Sinkevych, general producer of the Odesa International Film Festival, stated: “An online festival is a new challenge for us. We realised that it requires a completely different format, set of tasks and approach, and a different distance from our viewers. However, we’ve gradually come to enjoy it. Now, looking at the faces of the winners, I feel the same incredible feelings and shivers down my spine.”

Here is the complete list of winners at the 11^th Odesa International Film Festival:

International Competition

Grand Prix
Dinner in America – Adam Rehmeier (USA)

Best Film
Atlantis [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Valentyn Vasyanovych
scheda film] – Valentyn Vasyanovych (Ukraine)

Special Mention (ex aequo)
Servants [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Ivan Ostrochovský
scheda film] – Ivan Ostrochovský (Slovakia/Romania/Czech Republic/Ireland)
You Will Die at 20 [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Amjad Abu Alala
scheda film] – Amjad Abu Alala (Sudan/France/Egypt/Norway/Germany/Qatar)

Best Director
Fabrice du Welz – Adoration [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Fabrice du Welz
scheda film] (Belgium/France)

Best Acting
Lydia Lieberman, Denise Carrizo, Agustina Malale – Maternal [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Maura Delpero
scheda film] (Italy/Argentina)

National Competition

Best Ukrainian Feature Film
Everything Will Not Be Fine [+leggi anche:
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trailer
intervista: Helena Maksyom
scheda film] – Adrian Pîrvu, Helena Maksyom (Romania/Ukraine)

Best Ukrainian Director
Adrian Pîrvu, Helena Maksyom – Everything Will Not Be Fine

Best Acting in a Ukrainian Film
Maria Khomutova – Two of Us (Ukraine)

Best Ukrainian Short Film
Goodbye Golovin – Mathieu Grimard (Ukraine/Canada)

Audience Award
Viktor_Robot – Anatoliy Lavrenyshyn (Ukraine)

European Documentary Competition

Best European Documentary
Summerwar – Moritz Shulz (Germany)

Special Jury Mention (ex aequo)
Conductivity – Anna-Karin Grönroos (Finland)
Gevar's Land – Qutaiba Barhamji (France/Qatar)

FIPRESCI Prize for Best Ukrainian Film

Feature Film
Demon – Egor Troyanovskyi (Ukraine)

Short Film
Chachó – Vitaliy Gavura (Ukraine)

Golden Duke
Roman Balayan