Ukrainian cinema triumphs at Tofifest 2014
This year, the Golden Angel – Grand Prix of the Tofifest IFF – goes to Ukraine. The awards of the Tofifest International Film Festival were given on Friday, during the Closing Ceremony. The best film in the On Air main competition was The Tribe by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy from Ukraine. All other awards were divided among filmmakers from Sweden, Georgia, and France.
The international jury made a unanimous decision to award The Tribe by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy from Ukraine, by giving it the main award of Tofifest, funded by the Marshal of Kujawsko-Pomorskie region. When justifying the decision, the jury wrote that the film was “a striking and silent cry against inhuman behaviour.” The film contains no dialogues and tells a story about the life in an Ukrainian boarding school for deaf-mute, where every aspect of everyday existence is ruled by ruthless methods – in order to survive, one must become part of the title “tribe”.
The Silver Angel for directing went to Ruben Östlund from Sweden for The Tourist. This prize was funded by Agnieszka Odorowicz, director of the Polish Film Institute. Two honorary mentions – from the Jury and from the Students Jury – were given to the Georgian Corn Island by George Ovashvili.
As for the main award in the Shortcut competition, it was given to a film from France. It was given for Thunderbirds by Léa Mysius. The financial prize in that competition section was funded by Malgorzata Omilanowska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage. The winner in the From Poland competition of Polish films was Waterline by Michal Otlowski, while the winner of the Lokalizacje competition turned out to be Bydgoszcz from dawn till dusk.
Additionally, there were also the first ever awards in the Audiowizje Festival that is from now on part of Tofifest. The winner of the Audiowizje Showcase competition was Stardust Memories from Warsaw. The award for the best visualisation went to Alters. Finally, the main prize in the Muzyka do nakręcenia competition went to HOAP.
Summing up, Tofifest has demonstrated that it is one of the most significant film events in Poland, having a highly regarded programme and a great atmosphere. This year, guests of the festival included Daniel Olbrychski, Agata Kulesza, Danuta Szaflarska, Bohdan Slama, Ilmar Raag, Lech Majewski, Olena Fetisova, and many others. More than 150 films were screened during the festival, divided into 16 sections. It was also the first time the festival had been accompanied by the Audiowizje music festival, which combines image and sound – the festival included 3 competitions and more than 30 concerts. The next edition of this Torun-based event will take place in October 2015.
Statutory Awards of the Tofifest IFF 2014
Grand Prix Golden Angel in the On Air competition
The Tribe, dir. by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy; Ukraine, 2014.
Justification: “A striking and silent cry against inhumanity”. The prize is 20,000 PLN, funded by the Marshal of Kujawsko-Pomorskie region Piotr Calbecki.
Silver Angel for the Best Director of a film in the On Air competition
Force Majeure, dir. by Ruben Östlund; Sweden, Denmark, France, Norway, 2014.
Justification: “A skilful analysis and evaluation of the relationships of a family in crisis”. The prize of 20,000 PLN, funded by Agnieszka Odorowicz, director of the Polish Film Institute.
Honorary mention in the ON AIR competition
Corn Island, dir. by George Ovashvili; Georgia, Germany, France, Czech Republic, 2014
Justification: “A beautiful, artistic, wise, and human tale about the circle of life”.
The On Air jury composed of: Stefan Kitanov (director of SOFIA IFF), Gyorgy Durst (film producer), Agata Trzebuchowska (actress), Sophie Mirouze (producer, La Rochelle IFF), and Tomasz Wasilewski (film director).
Students Jury Award in the On Air competition
Corn Island, dir. by George Ovashvili; Georgia, Germany, France, Czech Republic, 2014
Young Jury Award in the On Air competition
Force Majeure, dir. by Ruben Östlund, Sweden, Denmark, France, Norway, 2014.
Golden Angel in the SHORTCUT competition
Thunderbirds, dir. by Léa Mysius; France, 2014
The prize is 15,000 PLN, funded by Malgorzata Omilanowska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage.
Honorary mention in the Shortcut competition
The Obvious Child, dir. by Stephen Irwin; Great Britain, 2013
The Shortcut jury composed of: Violetta Vajda (producer, Mediawave FF), Marcin Kowalczyk (actor), Paweł Maslona (film director), and Barbara Bialowas (film director).
Golden Angel in the FROM POLAND competition
Waterline, dir. by Michal Otlowski; Poland, 2014; Producer: WFDiF (Documentary and Feature Film Production Company). Festival Audience Award
Golden Angel in the LOKALIZACJE competition
Bydgoszcz from Dawn till Dusk; Poland, 2014; collective directing, producer: Fundacja Dokument i Świat, TVP S.A., Belsat TV, Miejskie Centrum Kultury w Bydgoszczy.
Justification: “For paying particular attention to localness, consistency in editing, and consistency in narration. And also for staying true to themselves and offering a credible story about ordinary people; For portraying local community; For quality and localness.”
Honorary mention in the LOKALIZACJE competition
Milky Brother, dir. by Vahram Mkhitaryan; cinematography by Marcin Sauter; Poland, Armenia; 2013
Justification: For artistic qualities and the subject presented in the film.
Audience Award
Corn Island, dir. by George Ovashvili; Georgia, Germany, France, Czech Republic, 2014
Special Awards – Special honorary mentions
of the Tofifest festival
Golden Angel for Artistic Insolence
Daniel Olbrychski, Poland
Golden Angel for Lifetime Achievement
Jerzy Hoffman, Poland
Golden Angel for Outstanding European Actress
Agata Kulesza, Poland
Golden Angel for Lifetime Achievement
Danuta Szaflarska, Poland
Golden Angel for Contribution to the Development of European Cinema
Bohdan Slama, Czech Republic
Flisak of Tofifest – Kujawsko-Pomorskie Film Award
Tomasz Wasilewski, Poland
Flisak of Tofifest – Kujawsko-Pomorskie Film Award
Mirosław Dembinski, Poland
Awards of the Audiowizje Festival at Tofifest
Best Band in the Audiowizje Showcase competition
Stardust Memories band
Best Visualisation in the Audiowizje Showcase competition
Alters band
Award in the “Muzyka do nakręcenia” competition (co-organisation: nuplays.pl i tlumtlum.pl)
HOAP band
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