The Cinehill Propeller awarded to Icelandic title The Love That Remains • Festival marked by excellent attendance and wonderful new location
Fužine has proven to be the perfect stage for Cinehill, seems to be the verdict after last night’s festival closing ceremony, which was held for the first time in this idyllic Gorski Kotar town. During six days, the audience congregated in great numbers to savour the films, music, and art at this magical location, while the relaxed gathering ended with the awards and closing ceremony held at Golik Cinema in Fužine due to bad weather.
As is tradition, the festival ended with a brandy toast, distributed to all the visitors by the festival volunteers. “We usually do not close the festival, but instead raise our glasses and wish that we will see each other again next year”, explained Cinehill director Igor Mirković.
The festival’s main award, the Cinehill Propeller, went to the Icelandic title The Love That Remains, directed by Hlynur Palmasson, who accepted the award and thanked the festival, the selectors, the jury, and the audience for the award in a video message.
“Employing bold directing procedures, the director blends the real and the surreal, the gritty and the poetic, all sprinkled with brilliant humor and magnificent Icelandic landscapes. Such inventive direction gives the audience the opportunity to connect on a deeper level with all the characters, their fates, sorrows, and joys, while examining various questions of modern life, from male-female relationships to the state of the arts today”, said the statement of the jury, which consisted of actress Branka Katić, and directors Laetitia Dosch and Vinko Brešan. The FIPRESCI jury decided to award the Hungarian drama Growing Down directed by Bálint Dániel Sós. “We appreciate that the film speaks of a profoundly realistic, human twist that challenges our prejudice and unveils the machinations of grief beyond what we ordinarily expect”, said the jury consisting of critics Hana Samaržija, Tina Bernik and Ana Stanić.
Award-winning director Dániel Sós stated in a video message that he was honoured by the fact that this award comes from critics from different countries, since his film addresses people from various backgrounds and has the power to touch people’s hearts.
The award for Best Short Film in the international competition went to Renato’s Car by young Italian director Andrea Orsenigo. The jury emphasised that the film is a gentle warning that we should pay attention to everyday life, because that is where life happens – and it is not eternal. The award for Best Croatian Short went to That’s How I Love You, directed by Mário Macedo. “Like a fairy tale, but extremely cinematic, it reveals the many horrors of growing up, in which the only sure thing is uncertainty”, said the short film jury which consisted of Varja Močnik, Radoslav Jovanov – Gonzo and Pavle Vučković.
The screenings were marked by a great audience turnout, at least 50 percent more than last year, according to the organisers. The beautiful backdrop of Fužine, with its lakes, evergreen forests, and locations in the centre of the town were definitely an additional draw.
“This year will be remembered for the guest appearances by some of the greatest directors of our time, valued for their work across the globe. When Jafar Panahi posts on Instagram that he has received an honorary award at Cinehill, the word travels far and wide. We were also lucky to host Catherine Breillat, a wonderful and controversial filmmaker who presented her films. This edition will also be remembered for the people, the fantastic films and a new location in the forest that came to life in all its glory. Thanks to all of this, our foreign guests have said that they have never seen anything like it”, Igor Mirković summed up this edition.
He also thanked the festival sponsors – the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Tourist Boards of Kvarner and Gorski Kotar, the Croatian Forestry Company, and the Municipality of Fužine – for their great help and support.
Although the festival is officially closed, the program continues on Sunday with screenings of films that received the highest audience vote, as well as other notable films of this year’s edition. The schedule is published on the festival’s website cinehill.eu and social networks.
