2008 MIFF COMPETITION AWARDS

Dramatic Features: World Cinema Competition

Knight Grand Jury Prize: TRICKS (SZTUCZKI)
Andrzej Jakimowski’s picaresque film is about a fatherless boy who tries to tempt fate in this charming and bittersweet film from Poland.

Special Mention: IT'S HARD TO BE NICE (TESKO JE BITI FIN)
Srdan Vuletic’s urban fairytale about post-war society from Bosnia follows a Sarajevo taxi driver whose attempts to change his life for the better are met with resistance at all turns.

Special Mention: FOUL GESTURE (TNUAH MEGUNA)
Itshak (Tzahi) Gradi’s film about vendetta and vigilantism centers on a middle-aged man who decides to take justice into his own hands after becoming the victim of a road rage incident.

Dramatic Features: Ibero-American Competition

Knight Grand Jury Prize: COCHOCHI
This Mexican road movie and fairytale by Israel Cárdenas and Laura Amelia Guzmán is part of this year’s MIFF Abroad program.

Knight Grand Jury Prize: EAT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY
Michelange Quay’s debut feature explores the spiritual corrosion of Haiti’s colonialist legacy with surreal, often wordless imagery.

Special Mention: THE GIRLS (LAS NIÑAS)
Using film as a scalpel to cut open the feminine mystique, Chilean director Rodrigo Marín’s two-hander pierces the heart of female relationships with uncanny perception.

Special Mention: BLUE EYELIDS (PARPADOS AZULES)
Quiet and nuanced, Ernesto Contrera’s touching dramatic comedy from Mexico explores the role that destiny plays in shaping our lives.

Documentary Features: World and Ibero-American Competition

Knight Grand Jury Prize: SANTIAGO
A fascinating meditation on the measure of a man, João Moreira Salles’ splintered documentary is a portrait that is both proud and profoundly erudite.

Special Mention: SANTA FE STREET (CALLE SANTA FÉ)
Calle Santa Fé is Carmen Castillo's poignantly personal journey to the homeland she was forced to leave behind, as well as her search for meaning in the struggle against oppression.

Special Mention: A PAPER TIGER (UN TIGRE DE PAPEL)
Luis Ospina’s dazzling, wickedly playful portrait of Manrique Figueroa mirrors his own country’s political upheaval from the 1940s to the 1970s.

Shorts Competition

Knight Grand Jury Prize: HOMECOMING
Connie Diletti’s film explores post-war trauma. While trying to process the indigestible experience of war, Drew tries to bring a friend home with him.

Honorable Jury Mention: TRAUMOLOGY (TRAUMOLOGIA)
Daniel Sánchez Arévalo’s follows Antonio’s wedding, where his father has a heart attack and whole family goes to the hospital where all of their traumas and miseries appear during a tense night.

Special Mention for Best Animated Short Film: MADAME TUTLI PUTLI
Is Chris Lavis’ and Maciek Szcerbowski’s film a Hitchcockian suspense or an artistic tour de force? The night train awaits you…

Special Mention for Best First-Time Director: OVERNIGHT A ROSE
Viv Koh’s film is about overcoming lies and the nature of true love.

MIFF Audience Awards

Dramatic Features: World Cinema Competition: BLISS (MUTLULUK)
Abdullah Oguz’s intense and beautifully rendered drama boasts stellar performances and a compelling musical score and stunning images of the Sea of Marmara.

Dramatic Features: Ibero-American Cinema Competition: LA ZONA
Rodrigo Plá’s taut thriller doubles as a damning critique of Mexico City’s shocking economic disparity. Once threatened, an enclave of privilege sheds all pretense of civility to succumb to the basest of instincts—the deadly mob mentality.

Documentary Features: World & Ibero-American Competition: STRANDED: I'VE COME FROM A PLANE THAT CRASHED IN THE MOUNTAINS (VENGO DE UN AVIÓN QUE CAYÓ EN LAS MONTAÑAS)
Through the use of carefully constructed dramatizations, news footage, and interviews with survivors atop the crash site, filmmaker Gonzalo Arijón crafts a moving testament to the strength and endurance of the human spirit.

FIPRESCI International Critics Award

FOUL GESTURE (TNUAH MAGUNA)
Itshak (Tzahi) Gradi’s film about vendetta and vigilantism centers on a middle-aged man who decides to take justice into his own hands after becoming the victim of a road rage incident.

A Turn From Tornatore

Following the Gala Awards Ceremony, the Festival offered the pleasure of the Closing Night Film, LA SCONOSCIUTA (THE UNKNOWN WOMAN) by Oscar-winning Italian director Guiseppe Tornatore (CINEMA PARADISO). The film, a suspenseful thriller, has been a great box office success in its native Italy and throughout Europe. It won the Audience Award at the European Film Awards and was a major winner at the David di Donatello Awards (the Italian Oscars), winning awards as Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Cinematography and Best Music.

During its North American debut at the Miami International Film Festival, Brazilian film, “Alice’s House” (A Casa de Alice) directed by Chico Teixeira, was acquired by Los Angeles based FiGa Films. FiGa representatives Sandro Fiorin and Alex Garcia negotiated the deal with producers Patrick LeBlanc and Zita Carvahosa. “We are very excited to partner with FiGa to bring our film to a whole new audience,” said Le Blanc.

Red Envelope, the distribution arm of Netflix, acquired the Brazilian film “Antonia.” Award winning filmmaker Tata Amaral produced and directed the film. Head of Netflix Original Content Division Bahman Naraghi brokered the deal with Amaral and co-producer Georgia Costa Arujo.

Venezuelan owned, Miami based Venevision picked up the Colombia/Argentina co-production, “A Ton of Luck” (Soñar no cuesta nada). Vice President of Communications Jose Antonio Espinal brokered the deal and said that this film which was based on a true story “… broke Colombian box office records and has the potential to make an impact on an even wider audience.” Clara Maria Ochoa Dominguez produced the film. Ana Piñeres and Noemi Fuhrer served as executive producers.

After a five year tenure as Festival Director and numerous accolades for raising the international profile of the Miami International Film Festival, Nicole Guillemet will be resuming her career in film consulting with festivals, filmmakers and film productions in New York.

Patrick de Bokay, a film professional with 30 year experience in the international film, marketing and advertising industry has taken the helm; enthusiastic to continue growing the Miami International Film Festival and establishing it as a leader in maintaining and further enriching film culture in South Florida.

During his illustrious career he has held various positions, including Executive Director of the first Bangkok International Film Festival, Director of Marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Theatrical in Paris, and Vice President of International Marketing for Turner Pictures Worldwide Distribution based in Los Angeles. During his years at Fox and Turner, he worked on the releases of more than 100 films including “Braveheart”, “My Cousin Vinny,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and “Speed.” In addition, he coordinated publicity and talent tours for actors and spearheaded marketing efforts for Miramax and Sony Pictures.

Most recently, de Bokay ran his own business and directed a global marketing consultancy in Los Angeles and Paris, creating an extensive network of relations with studios, producers, distributors and sales companies. Through this venue, he developed strategies to facilitate the financing, production, distribution and promotion of films.

“I am extremely pleased and honored to serve as director of the Miami International Film Festival which is renowned worldwide and has so much potential for even greater prominence,” said de Bokay. “It’s wonderful to accept a position with such a great Festival team in place and an acclaimed college, Miami Dade College, as its home.”

“I look forward to continuing the strong programming that Nicole and the team have put in place over the last several years. I also look forward to bringing the Festival even closer to the dynamic community where it resides,” added de Bokay.

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES
AWARD RECIPIENTS OF THE 2007 FILM COMPETITIONS

Knight Grand Jury Prize for Documentary Features - World & Ibero-American Cinema Competition: “Banished”
Directed by: Marco Williams (USA)
Prize: $25,000

For its penetrating examination of the issues surrounding a little-known, ignominious chapter in American history and for the filmmaker's skill in dealing with an incendiary subject in a compassionate and intelligent way

Documentary Cinema Competition Jury awarded a Special Jury Prize: “Septiembres” (Septembers)
Directed by: Carles Bosch (Spain)

For its sensitive, moving series of love stories set in and out of prisons in Spain, Lithuania, Mexico, Argentina, and Bolivia, as prisoners struggle to sort out their romantic and familial lives, all the while preparing to compete in a singing contest that feels alternately melancholy and life-affirming, the

The jurors that determined this category were Cynthia López, Mike Maggiore and Rob Williams.

Knight Grand Jury Prize Dramatic Features - Ibero-American Cinema Competition: “El Violín” ( The Violin )
Directed by: Francisco Vargas Quevedo (Mexico)
Prize: $25,000

Special Grand Jury Mention for Dramatic Musical Soundtrack: Vasco Pedroso for “La noche de los girasolse” (The Night of the Sunflowers)
Directed by: Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo (Spain)

Special Grand Jury Mention for her realistic portrait of a strong woman in difficult circumstances to actress: Carla Ribas for “A casa de Alice” (Alice’s House)
Directed by: Chico Teixeira (Brazil)

Special Grand Jury Mention was awarded for her brave choice to honestly reflect how another culture tells stories: “Hamaca Paraguaya” (Paraguayan Hammock)
Directed by: Paz Encina (Argentina/Paraguay/TheNetherlands/Austria/France/Germany)

The jurors that determined this category were Tania Blanich, Bertha Navarro and Jim Stark.

Knight Grand Jury Prize Dramatic Features - World Cinema Competition: “Red Road”
Directed by: Andrea Arnold (Scotland)
Prize: $25,000

For it’s original and precise rendition of individual characters imprisoned and isolated in a world that watch but do not see

Special Grand Jury Mention was awarded for the original and impeccable performance of actress: Bar Belfer in Someone to” Mishehu larutz ito” (Run With)
Directed by: Oded Davidoff (Israel)

Special Grand Jury Mention: “Sonja”
Directed by: Kirsi Marie Liimatainen (Germany)

For its sensitive and sensible rendering of an improbable love story in

The jurors that determined this category were Raoul Peck, Christine Vachon and Bernardo Zupnik.


International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Prize: “Red Road”
Directed by: Andrea Arnold (Scotland)

The jurors that determined this category were Sheila Johnston, Peter Keough and Josefina Sartora.


Audience Awards- World Dramatic Feature Competition: “Adama Meshuga’at (Sweet Mud)
Directed by: Dror Shaul (Israel)

Audience Awards- Ibero-American Dramatic Feature Competition: “La noche del los girasols” (The Night of the Sunflowers)
Directed by: Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo (Spain)

Audience Awards- World & Ibero-American Documentary Feature Competition: “Tocar y luchar” (To Play and To Fight)
Directed by: Alberto Arvelo (Venezuela)


Latin America Caribbean FedEx Audience Award: “Bluff “
Directed by: Felipe Martínez (Colombia)


Heineken Red Star Award: “Sonhos de Peixe”(Fish Dreams)
Directed by: Kirill Mikhanovsky (Brazil/Russia/USA)