CLOSING CEREMONY
The 49th TIFF's journey which started 10 days ago reached its final destination on Sunday, November 23rd with the closing ceremony at the Olympion hall.
Despina Mouzaki, director of TIFF thanked all the personnel and the volunteers of TIFF, the press, the critics, the jury and all the organizations that helped towards a successful 49th TIFF. She also thanked the film makers by saying: 'Thank you for trusting us with your films and for being present to 49th TIFF. We are looking forward to next year's 50th anniversary'.
The closing ceremony was presented by Konstantinos Kontovrakis. The first award, the Greek Film Critics’ Association Award presented by the Association’s president Andreas Tiros, went to the film The Night Fernando Pessoa Met Constantine Cavafy by Stelios Charalambopoulos. Andreas Tiros noted: 'Greek documentaries are getting better every year. Stelios Charalambopoulos' film mixes truth and fiction in a creative way’.
The Greek Union of Film Television and Audiovisual Technicians Award was awarded to the film Without of Alexander Arvaras. The director noted: ‘This award gives me strength to carry on and it is an honor for all the technicians who have worked for the film’.
Konstantinos Kontovrakis noted that this year the TIFF sold more than 160,000 tickets.
Martha Kontovraki, marketing and PR director of Athinaiki Zythopoiia presented the FISCHER Public choice award for the Balkan Survey section (2,000 Euros) to the film Turneja (The tour) by Goran Markovic. The FISCHER Public choice award for Greek Films 2008 (3,000 Euros) went to Exile Island by Elias Yannakakis and Evi Karabatsou and the FISCHER Public choice award for a film in the International Competition section (3,000 Euros) went to Le bruit des Gens Autour (Sunny Spells) by Diasteme.
Nokia General Manager Ioannis Tsagadas appointed ex aequo the Nokia N series award to the projects: America Square by Yiannis Sakaridis and False witness by Iglika Triffonova. This year the prize money was raised to 16,000 Euros due to the ex aequo decision.
Thessaloniki’s Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos appointed the Cinema and the City Award (10,000 Euros), offered for the first time by the Municipality of Thessaloniki, to Terence Davies for his film Of Time and the City.
The Woman and Equality Award (5,500 Euros), offered by the General Secretariat for Gender Equality, a division of the Hellenic Ministry of the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization, was presented by Ifigenia Katsaridou to Snijec (Snow) by Aida Begic. ‘Throughout the film the role and power of women is highlighted in times of conflict as in everyday life’, pointed out Mrs. Katsaridou
The Ministry of Macedonia –Thrace Award: ‘Everyday life: Transcendence or Reconciliation’ accompanied by the prize money of 15,000 Euros was awarded to Nandita Das for her film Firaaq by the Minister of Macedonia –Thrace Margaritis Tzimas. ‘This year the Ministry sponsored four films which included scenery of Macedonia and Thrace with the amount of 140,000 Euros. This program will continue for the year 2009 so young directors who wish to highlight the cultural and natural beauties of the region are kindly requested to present their scripts to our Ministry’, stressed Mr. Tzimas.
The last of the institutional awards was the ‘Human Values Award’ of Hellenic Parliament which is accompanied by the prize money of 15,000 Euro. Nikos Stefanou, Secretary General of the Hellenic Parliament and Dimitris Papagiannis Secretary Special of the Hellenic Parliament awarded Haile Gerima for his film Teza. ‘The film raises big social issues which are related to authority’s autocracy, propaganda, ignorance and racism’.
The FIPRESCI Award (The International Federation of Film Critics) went to Gerardo Naranjo for his film I’m gonna explode (International Competition Section) and to Panos Karkanevatos for the film Well Kept Secrets – Athanassia (Greek Films).
The making of the 49th TIFF was screened right afterwards offering images of the preparation days until its closing day.
The closing ceremony went on with the 7 official awards of the jury. The jury headed by Michael Ondaatje and comprised of Diablo Cody, Yesim Ustaoglu, Lita Stantic, Emilie Dequenne,David Robinson and Dionissis Savopoulos appointed also a Special Mention to Diasteme for his film Le bruit des Gens Autour (Sunny Spells).
The Artistic Achievement Award was appointed to Szabolcs Tolnai for his film Fovenyora (Hourglass) by Guillermo Navarro, renowned cinematographer, winner of two Oscar awards. The award was announced by Dionnisis Savvopoulos who mentioned: ‘my life has taught me that it is better to accept an award when it is given to you because if you don’t you create a lot of fuss. However, there is no award which can appease the artist’s agony if his work is of any merit. No award will ever reveal this to you.
The Best Screenplay Award went to Matthew Newton for his film Three Blind Mice. The award was announced by the popular actor Willem Dafoe and Diablo Cody, member of the Jury.
Lita Stantic, Argentinean film producer awarded ex aequo Iona Flora and Maria Dinulescu with the Best Actress Award for their acting in the film Pescuit Sportiv (Hooked) by Andrian Sitaru.
The Best Actor Award went ex aequo to Sid Lucero and Emilio Garcia in the film Selda (The Inmate). The award was given to them by Leora Barbara who stood out as the leading actress of Stella in the last Cannes Film Festival.
Celina Murga was awarded with the Best Director Award for her film Una Semana Solos (One Week Alone) by the world acclaimed cinematographer Giorgos Arvanitis.
Andrian Sitaru was awarded with the Silver Alexander Award and a prize money of 22,000 Euros for his film Pescuit Sportiv (Hooked) by the world acclaimed composer, winner of two Oscar Awards, Gustavo Santaolalla.
The Golden Alexander Award, accompanied by 37,000 Euros was won by Iranian director Abdolreza Kahani, for his film Aan ja (Over There). The award was announced by Michael Ondaatje and given by Theo Angelopoulos. ‘I dedicate this award to the people of Greece and Iran’, said the Iranian director with emotion’.
After the usual commemorative photograph, the number ‘50‘appeared at the Olympion Theater’s screen. ‘Today we are starting a countdown of 365 days until the 50th TIFF. We are all looking forward to seeing you again next year’, pointed out Mr. Kontovrakis.
