European Film Festival Palic celebrated its
20th anniversary this year from
13 to 19 July 2013. The festival was founded in 1992 by the municipality of Subotica and in 2003, in its 10th edition it became a European Film Festival and a member of the
European Coordination of Film Festivals. Today the
European Film Festival Palić is one of most important film festivals in the region and one of the few in the world with 100% European content.
International jury, was composed of: director
Srđan Dragojević (Serbia), president, programme director of the
Rouen Film Festival Marketa Hodouskova (Czech Republic), programme director of
Cannes „Critics’ Week“ Pamela Pianezza (France), actress
Nurgül Yeşilçay (Turkey) and director
Ashley Horner (Great Britain), members.
Competition programme Parallels and Encounters is dedicated to feature films from former geopolitical region of Eastern Europe which deals with problems of transition of society, political systems, ethnic relations, identity and need for peace and co-existence, tolerance in the widest sense. In this section were screened the films
Domestic by
Adrian Sitaru,
Withering by
Milos Pusic,
Cold by
Ugur Yucel and
Eastalgia by
Daria Onyshchenko, a co-production from Germany, Ukraine and Serbia.
Other films from the Balkans, in varius sections of the festival were Gde Je Nada (directors Luka Popadić, Aron Sekelj, Raško Milatović, Marko Đorđević, Miloš Milovanović, Nemanja Vojinović, Petar Ristovski, Tea Lukač), Putevima Tibora Sekelja by Stipan Milodanović and the short films Rabbitland by Ana Nedeljković, Nikola Majdak and The Tale of the Wall Habitants by Andrej Boka.
The section New Turkish Cinema offered a variety of the best Turkish films from the last two years. In this section were screened the films:
Losers Club by Tolga Ornek
This year`s
Homage section was dedicated to influential directors
Emir Kusturica and
Nikita Mihalkov with screenings of a selection of their most important films, such as
Underground,
When Father was Away on Business,
Oblomov and
Burnt By The Sun. The directors received the
Aleksandar Lifka Award for their contribution to European cinema.
Emir Kusturica
The Awards of the 20th European Film Festival Palic 2013.
After they saw 14 films within Official Selection, jury members have made following decision:
GOLDEN TOWER FOR THE BEST FILM went to Dutch film Borgman, by Alex van Warmerdam.
“A powerful, brave and unique film, beautifully directed, and with an unexpected and surrealistic twist, that shows an anti establishment finger to society which leaves us wanting to answer the unanswered.”
"A smart, charming and entertaining comedy with a strong social background that shows and reveals a fresh face of Romanian cinema."
SPECIAL MENTION went to actor Andrzej Chyra for his role in Polish film In The Name Of… by Malgorzata Szumowska.
“With a unique take on the Catholic Church, Chyra offers one of the most compelling and bravest performances seen in an Eastern film for a decade.”
Suggested by the jury, award “SEYFI TEOMAN”, for the most daring and the bravest first or second film, Board of the Festival assigned to Finish film Open Up To Me by Simo Halinen.
“For the brave work coming from Finland dealing with international topic that is still a taboo in many countries of Europe and the world, done in a humble and honest way.”
International critics‘ jury for Parallels and Encounters selection of the 20 jubilee European Film Festival, was composed of: Irena Bilić (France), the president, Carmen Gray (Great Britain), and Kristina Đuković (Serbia), members.
After they saw 10 films from Parallels and Encounters selection, international critics’ jury has reached following decisions:
AWARD FOR THE BEST FILM was unanimously assigned to Turkish film
Cold directed by
Ugur Yucel "for its poetic, richly layered and daring look at human relations in Turkey through intense performances, rich characterization and impressive cinematography we unanimously award this film“.
SPECIAL MENTION, with the comment that it was very difficult for the members of the jury to make a decision, since several films have impressed them. Finally, they decided to award Me Too. "Once more, Balabanov created a unique poetic world of his own, reflecting turbulent Russian society at the same time."