Movies that Matter announced March 27 the winners of its 16th edition during the award ceremony held in the Dutch city of The Hague.
GRAND JURY DOCUMENTARY AWARD
Asmae El Moudir’s highly-acclaimed The Mother of All Lies received the Grand Jury Documentary Award (€5,000). Within a miniature Casablanca, El Moudir dives into her family’s past as her family and friends help her to unravel the disturbing lies from her childhood.
Jury statement: “We would like to highlight a film that brings to the fore an undocumented massacre and the retelling of this event to honor the victims and their families, and bring healing and closure to an open wound. The Mother of All Lies by Asmae El Moudir (Morocco) is innovative, angry, funny and compassionate. It addresses generational trauma and the power of stolen memories, through a family and community forced to confront a painful, and unresolved past. Using a hybrid form of excavate emotions and artefacts to confront human rights violations and freedom of speech in her country. Recreating a miniature stage for her characters to revisit this unspoken tragedy, this deeply personal
film allows the memories and actions from that time to begin a cathartic healing. The filmmaker displays a dexterity and ingenuity with which she weaves through a complex narrative and we are intrigued to see where this will take her in future endeavours.” Jury members were Lukasz Konopa, Anadil Hossain and Don Edkins.
A Special Mention was given to Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat by Johan Grimonprez.
GRAND JURY FICTION AWARD
The Mexican comedy-drama Radical by Christiopher Zalla and starring Eugenio Derbez nabbed the Grand Jury Fiction Award, worth €5,000. Set in a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence, a frustrated teacher tries a radical new method to break through his students’ apathy and unlock their curiosity, their potential and maybe even their genius. Jury members Marnie Blok, Fatih Abay and Elaheh Nobakht stated they were “unanimous” in their choice, celebrating the performances of the young cast and “addressed issues such as social class, gender, authority, inclusion and empowerment in a superior mix of humour and emotions.”
A Special Mention was given to Terrestrial Verses by Ali Asgari & Alireza Khatami. The jury also paid tribute to director Agniezska Holland for her film Green Border.
ACTIVIST DOCUMENTARY AWARD
Hasan Oswald and Mediha Ibrahim Alhamad received the Activist Documentary Award for their film Mediha, which follows a young Yazidi woman after she survived kidnapping and enslavement by ISIS. She embarks on a brave quest for justice, internal healing, and for her missing parents and brother.
Jury statement: “The activist award goes to a film that left the jury speechless and profoundly touched. This intimate portrayal, told through first person and observational narrative, pulled you in immediately and didn’t let you go. And in fact, the filmmaking process itself became a powerful tool for the activist to discover and build her own voice. With the most poignant and beautifully captured cinematic moments, this film shares a story of a people – and a young woman – that should not be forgotten. Mediha will serve as a role model for many young women who have suffered and survived, and the film will leave you gutted but hopeful through the resilience and joy Mediha and her brothers continue to present.” Jury members were Gita Saedi Kiely, Joseph Curran, Hanne Küpers.
A Special Mention was given to Our Land, Our Freedom by Meena Nanji & Zippy Kimundu.
CAMERA JUSTITIA AWARD
Kix by Bálint Révész & Dávid Mikulán received the Camera Justitia Award. In this intimate coming-of-age story, Révész and Mikulán followed troubled Budapest street kid Sanyi as he grows from 8 to 18 years old. Over the course of this decade he turns from a mischievous youth into a public enemy.
Jury statement: “Our choice for the Camera Justitia Award captures globally shared issues on an intimate scale, offering a unique insight into the human cost when state institutions fail their citizens. The jury believes the film makes a powerful statement about the realities of poverty, intergenerational violence and failures of the social welfare system within Europe and around the world. The film spotlights issues that often fail to capture headlines, leading to entrenched societal weaknesses resulting in individual, ubiquitous tragedies that are often ignored. Yet it also captures humor, love, and the hope of redemption for its young protagonist. We commend the filmmakers’ great independence of spirit in their filmmaking approach and their courage in the risk they took following their protagonist for twelve years.” Jury members were Doreen Boonekamp, Jennifer Huang.
A Special Mention was given to I Shall Not Hate by Tal Barda.
THE DUTCH MOVIES MATTER AWARD
The Dutch Movies Matter Award went to Eddyʼs oorlog by Joost van der Valk, which follows award-winning war photographer Eddy van Wessel over four seasons in Ukraine. At the front line, Eddy documents the war, searching for that one image that encapsulates the entire conflict. The jury said the film “not only [presented] an important human issue” but also “used a very strong narrative form, confronting two types of images, photos and films. Rather than a confrontation, these two forms reinforced each other, projecting us into the subject with an incredible feeling of empathy!”
“The jury was deeply moved by the films presented in this Dutch selection. Thanks to all the brilliant filmmakers! The films were very different in their subjects and forms which made the work of the jury even more difficult. Nevertheless, the jury members agreed that one of the films carried – not only an important human issue – but also used a very strong narrative form, confronting two types of images, photos and films. Rather than a confrontation, these two forms reinforced each other, projecting us into the subject with an incredible feeling of empathy!” Jury members were Jean-Jaques Peretti, Mercedes Stalenhoef, Bülent Bahri Küçükerdoğan.
SHORTS AWARD
Mast-del by Maryam Tafakory – about forbidden bodies and desires inside and outside post-revolution Iranian cinema – received the Shorts Award, valued at with €1,500.
Jury statement: “The awarded film is resolutely political, but not in a way that we are used to seeing in cinema. It plays with what can be shown and what is left to the imagination. Approaching a sensitive subject through tactile sensuality, this personal recollection of adolescent romance becomes a tale on prohibited intimacy.” Jury members were Julian Ross, Clara Helbig, João Carlos Rodrigues.
A Special Mention was given to Mute Utopia by Julio Matos.
EDUCATION AWARD
The very first Education Award, decided on by a jury consisting of an MBO student, a high school student, a high school teacher and a nominee for Film Teacher of the Year, went to The Mind Game by Sajid Khan Nasiri, Eefje Blankevoort and Els van Driel.
Jury statement: The winning film is an incredibly impressive documentary. A must-see for every young person and adult. It teaches you to consider people who have fled. There are many people, including many children, on the run. Even today. This documentary takes you through the life story of the protagonist band the fears he, like many others, unfortunately had to endure for years. Especially in these times of much polarization and discrimination towards refugees, it is extra valuable that this film can raise awareness. We have a lot of respect for the protaganist, the friends he has made along the way, and the crew that has followed and supported him for years. We hope that this documentary will be watched by many. And that we all become a little kinder to each other.” Jury members were Annelou Molendijk, Valentino Zaalman, Arthur Gort, Elly de Bruin.
A Special Mention was given to Waves of War (Kleinkinderen van de Oost) by Daan van Citters.
STUDENTS’ CHOICE AWARD
The festival’s opening film Photophobia by Pavol Pekarčík and Ivan Ostrochovský received the Students’ Choice Award, presented by a student jury from Leiden University.
Jury statement: “With unanimous agreement since rather the beginning of a genuinely long deliberation of around 3 hours. We believe the unanimity to speak for itself in regards to the beauty, realness, and intentionality in storytelling of this documentary. Congratulations, Pavol Pekarčík and Ivan Ostrochovský!” Jury members were Jop Emonts, Irene Altavilla, Timo van Daal.
The Movies that Matter Festival 2024 continues until Saturday, March 30.
