Best Feature Film

Award for the best feature film was chosen by an international jury and get it drama Sworn Virgin (Vergine Giura). The film debut by Italian Laura Bispuri about an Albanian woman who becomes a man according to local customs and gives up physical intrigued the jury, because “it offers an unusual, yet complex view on transgender experience and sexuality, on realization of one's personality, on the necessary escape from the social pressure of a strongly patriarchal community, on the courage to live one's own life.”

 

Best Short Film

The best short film was selected by a student jury and award went to 9:55-11:00, Ingrid Ekman, Bergsgatan 4B by directors Cristine Berglund, Sophie Vukovic. “It is a true piece of art that touches upon various topics: sexuality in older age, loneliness, the struggle for love and young people’s disillusionment,” says the jury.

 

Jury Special Mention - Feature Film

The special mention of the jury was presented to Nathan Nicholovitch's Where There Is Shade (De l'ombre il y a). The uncompromising drama about a French trans* prostitute, Mirinda, who struggles in the desolate environment of the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, was described by the jury as “an intense, deep and long-lasting experience. In this film, the main protagonist, who undergoes major inner development, and the unique actor, David D'Ingéo, also deserve great attention and appreciation.” The actor is also one of the guests of this year's Mezipatra.

 

Jury Special Mention - Short Film

The student jury's special mention was awarded to Peacock (Furiant) by the Czech director Ondrej Hudecek. “A comedy in three acts,” set in the youth of playwright Ladislav Stroupeznicky, was appreciated by the student jury for its precision and original approach. “The age of exploration of who you are in the world is presented in an original narrative form that is supported by an almost extravagant yet fluid editing style... We also liked that whilst the movie takes place in the 19th century, it has a modern perspective on sexuality and does not exploit this particular component of Ladislav Stroupežnický's life.”

 

Audience Award

Audience Award went to Antonia, a drama by Marleen Gorris from 1995. This “feminist fairy-tale” about the relationship of a mother and her daughter who take over a family farm at the Dutch countryside after the end of WWII was presented as part of Mezipatra’s retrospective section. Its popularity with the Czech audience underscored the winning streak of female filmmakers who have received all of the three main festival awards (read here for more information).