The 25^th Liffe International Film Festival concluded as ceremoniously as it had begun. While members of the audience were slowly entering the auditorium, the musicians of Fešta bend were dozing on stage, only to be woken by the arrival of Bojan Emeršič, the evening’s host. He mentioned two things that he would hate to be: wife of one of the musicians on stage – or spouse of a Liffe cinemagoer. The band played I Will Survive, and Emeršič stressed that the closing ceremony would spotlight a handful of the 122 films that were screened at this year’s festival.

First, the audience award was presented, the Dragon Award, bestowed by donor Tobačna Ljubljana, d. o. o.. On behalf of Tobačna, the award was presented by the Festival Director, Simon Popek, who emphasised the fact that this year the winning film had a fair advantage over the other contesters, ranking at 4.61 points. The Dragon Award went to Charlie’s Country byRolf de Heer, a film about Australian Aboriginals whose existence is stricken by humiliations and sorrows. The director and co-scriptwriter thanked the festival team for their hospitality and the Ljubljana cinemagoers for having chosen his film.

The winner of the International Association of Film Critics’ Award was selected by a three-member jury, comprised of Ivana Miloš (Croatia), Miroslav Lánik (Slovakia) and Maja Krajnc from Slovenia. The jury unanimously voted for Buzzard byJoel Potrykus, “a breezing portrayal of a creature circling over the remains.” The winning film’s director, scriptwriter and actor addressed the auditorium casually with, “hey guys”. He then expressed his apprehension about a combination of the topic of American economy, heavy metal and spaghetti, edited in fast cuts, “but it obviously worked”.

The international jury composed of Paola Bristot (Italy), Matevž Jerman (Slovenia) and Vladan Petković (Serbia) first gave a Special Mention to Chicken by Una Gunjak, which “presents one of many possible events from a war on an intimate microscale, the director counterpoints the human qualities with the unforgiving brutality of humanity's worst moments. With inventive and effective use of camera and editing and fully convincing performances of both adult and child actors, this film triggers powerful emotions and reminds us why we are human.” The practical award, a laptop, was presented by the General Manager of Hewlett-Packard, Iztok Klančnik.

The Best Short Film Award went to Hands up to Heaven by Ulrike Putzer and Matthias van Baaren, “a piercing, but in no way judgmental portrayal of a cult following. Through economic and precise use of cinematic means with a special emphasis on sound, the filmmakers provide us with a glimpse at a happening that is simultaneously hilarious and horrifying and remind us that religion as understood in the widest sense can take many dangerous forms.” On behalf of the two filmmakers, the award was accepted by Ulrike Putzer who thanked the jury for awarding her film.

There ensued the bestowal of the main Festival prize, the Kingfisher Award. The international jury was composed of Klemen Dvornik from Slovenia, Michael Pattison from Great Britain and Alexandra Strelková from Slovakia. The award sponsored by the main festival sponsor, Telekom Slovenije, d.o.o. was presented by the company’s Marketing Director, Simon Furlan, who said that it was an honour for Telekom to be able to sponsor such an established and prestigious festival as Liffe. Pattison explained that the competition was tough and therefore the jury’s task so much harder. They unanimously gave the award to Goodnight, Mummy, by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, for “the condensed complexity of its storytelling, its refreshingly assertive approach to the critically neglected horror genre, for retaining several ambiguities at once and for its excellent performances.” The award was accepted by the clearly touched Severin Fiala, who was thrilled and surprised that such a serious festival would honour a horror film.

“You won’t believe it, the awards have been presented,” concluded the host and asked the spectators to close their eyes and say goodbye to Liffe for a year (this year 46,000 tickets have been sold). When they opened their eyes, harsh reality would await them. After this sobering realisation the spectators got the opportunity to recuperate at the Liffe concluding party.

Andraž Jež

Photo: Iztok Dimc

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