OFFICIAL AWARDS     

CREATIVE DOCUMENTARIES COMPETITION     

The Creative Documentaries International Jury was presided by Eric Cantona alongside to Xiaolu Guo, Yasmina Khadra and Fernand Melgar.      

GRAND PRIZE OF GENEVA (10’000 chf)    

Offered by the Canton and City of Geneva   
ON THE BRIDE’S SIDE by Antonio Augugliaro, Gabriele del Grande, and Khaled Saliman Al Nassiry    
For the beautiful lesson of humanity and solidarity amongst citizens, which sorely lacks today. For the commitment and the courage of the directors who succeeded in following this human adventure until the end of the dream and whom made it possible, as well as for the intelligence and unique perspective with which they treated the subject.    
      

PRIZE GILDA VIEIRA DE MELLO, AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS SON SERGIO VIEIRA DE MELLO (5’000 chf)   

Offered by the Barbara Hendricks Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation   
SPARTACUS & CASSANDRA by Ioanis Nuguet   
For bringing to light the secular problem of the integration of the Rom community in Europe, and the tragic choice that is offered to its children, forced into the promise of a normalized future at the expense of their own parents.    
      
Special mention to THE WANTED 18 by Amer Shomali and Paul Cowan   
For the poetry and humour that the director sets against the absurdity of human nature.    
      
The Jury would like to congratulate the selection committee, consisting of Léo Kaneman, Isabelle Gattiker, Alfio Di Guardo and Daphné Rozat, for the exceptionnal quality of the chosen creative documentaries. The variety and intelligence of the covered subjects, and the great generosity of the filmmakers made the deliberations very difficult.   
      

YOUTH JURY AWARD (500 chf)    

Offered by the Eduki Foundation   
SOMETHING BETTER TO COME by Hanna Polak    
At a time when human rights are scorned, we have decided to reward the work of a filmmaker who got involved during 14 years in the denunciation of the reality of human beings ignored by a government supposed to respect their rights. The film’s impressive images show the pathetic living conditions of the inhabitants of a Moscow public landfill.    

Jury : Caroline Arter, Gizem Bayandur, Théo Fonjallaz, Eva Meyer, Laura Scacchi, Jonas Tjepkema   
      

FICTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMPETITION   

The Fiction and human rights International Jury was presided by Arsinée Khanjian, next to Joëlle Bertossa, Germinal Roaux and Philippe Cottier.    
      

GRAND PRIZE FICTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS (10’000 CHF)    

Offered by the Hélène and Victor Barbour Foundation   
CHARLIE’S COUNTRY by Rolf de Heer   
A film which, through the portrait of an Aboriginal, raises the sensitive question of the cohabitation between two cultures and the confrontation of modern and traditional lifestyles. The jury was touched by very strong characters and an authentic screenplay. This story reveals a social and cultural issue rooted in our history, which calls out to each one of us on our current way of life.    
 
   

YOUTH JURY AWARD (500 chf)    

Offered by the International Peace Brigades   
CHARLIE’S COUNTRY by Rolf de Heer    
We have decided to award our prize to the film that marked us with an exceptional image quality and its particularly touching characters. In a serious and current context, this film calls into question the foundations of our society, and leads us to reflect on concrete human rights violations in a country considered as developped. This difficult context is however lightened by quirky humour. The actors brilliantly make us travel back and forth between tears and laughter. A misunderstood imprisonment, a buffalo who lives again. After watching and debating, tonight... we are all Charlie.    

Jury : Jefferson Bettini, Tiffany Borella, Gaia Brezzi, Yaron Dibner, Nadia El-Hindi, Harold Unterlerchner   
      

OMCT COMPETITION   

Awarded by the OMCT Jury, given to a filmmaker whose film shows strong committment in favour of human rights, to support the writing of his or her next film.   
      

GRAND PRIZE OF THE WORLD ORGANIZATION AGAINST TORTURE (OMCT) (5’000 CHF)    

TCHETCHENIE, UNE GUERRE SANS TRACES (CHECHNYA, A WAR WITHOUT TRACES) by Manon Loizeau   
For its strength and accuracy in the testimony of human rights violations, its tribute to victims of torture and kidnappings by the regime of Ramzan Kadyrov, who rules as an absolute autocrat. The film reminds us of the dramatic situation, which continues to escape international notice.    
      

JURY PRIZE OF THE DETENTION CENTER LA CLAIRIERE    

L’ABRI by Fernand Melgar received the Jury Prize awarded by the youth of La Clairière as part of the « extramural » programme.   
The jury was particularly touched by the production as well as the denunciation of the situation of homeless and undocumented persons who are looking for an outcome in Switzerland.   

The public will also have the opportunity to see the award-winning films on Sunday 8 March at the Cinémas du Grütli.