GUSTAVO SANTAOLALLA HONORARY CEREMONY
The 49th International Film Festival of Thessaloniki appointed the Golden Alexander award to Gustavo Santaolallla, renowned Argentinean music composer and producer, at an honorary ceremony that took place on Saturday, November 22nd, at the Olympion Theater.
The renowned artist, winner of two Oscar Awards for his music score for the films Brokeback Mountain and Babel, produced the music documentary Cafe De Los Maestros, which was part of this year’s special screening section. Apart from Gustavo Santaolalla, Lita Stantic, one of the most important Argentinean film professionals was awarded with an honorary plaque. Miguel Kohan, the film’s director was also present for the event.
The Golden Alexander award was given to Gustavo Santaolallla by TIFF president Georges Corraface who said: ‘Gustavo Santaolallla wanted to serve God, the divine element. He achieved this though through his music. Due to his country’s political situation he had to live in exile. This made his roots grow stronger and defined his identity. He doesn’t write or read music; music lives inside him. The film Cafe De Los Maestros has been a way to connect cinema to his source of inspiration’.
Gustavo Santaolallla, who was very warmly received by the audience, could not hide his joy: ‘It is a great honor receiving this award by a well known Festival. I would like to share it with all the amazing directors and artists with whom I‘ve had the chance to work and who have helped my music take its shape. It is a very special moment for me and I would like to thank you all for it’, he quoted and went on by saying: ‘Cafe De Los Maestros has given us a chance to look back on the lives of great Argentinean artists. I believe that older people should be looked up to. People of 70 to 95 years old who are passionate with what they do can be a real source of inspiration’.
Mr. Georges Corraface also said: ‘Lita Stantic is a film producer who has supported the young Argentinean directors. We would be very pleased to have her here in Greece on a permanent basis, so that she can help us promote the new generations of Greek cinema’.
‘This award is a great and unexpected honor for me, but the greatest award of all is being here in this wonderful city accompanied by Miguel Kohan and Gustavo Santaolallla. I thank you all for this wonderful surprise’, replied Lita Stantic.
Miguel Kohan thanked the TIFF and added: ‘It took us more than 4 years to make this film. We encountered many obstacles in our way but in the end it has been a great experience because we managed to take part in the lives and music of these wonderful artists. Michelangelo Antonioni, my favorite filmmaker, used to say that things around us don’t exist in order to be understood, but to be sensed and lived. I hope you really enjoy Cafe De Los Maestros in this context’.
