The 28 th Durban International Film Festival finished 12 days of glorious film. The filmfest ran from 20 June till 1 July.
Award winners:
* Best Film: Ezra, directed by Newton Aduaka. "This bold and daring film takes viewers into the heart of the politics of war and hatred. Ezra does not want to appease the eye - instead it wants viewers to look the ugly truth in the face. The film boasts a superb dramative narrative structure, and an excellent cast of faces and locations. It is a deserved winner."
* Best South African film: Heartlines by Angus Gibson. "This film sets a challenge to South African filmmakers with its depth of characterisation, its attention to cinematographical detail and its unflinching adherence to its core message of redemption."
* Best First Feature Film: shared by The Unpolished, directed by Pia Marais and The Unforgiven, directed by Yoon Jong-bin. "The Unforgiven is a patient and beautifully shot film that talks about the world of men and their inability to communicate. The Unpolished is an autobiographic film of laudable courage and subtlety. Both films boast strong performances and a successful mise en scene."
Best Direction: Jia Zhang-Ke for Still Life. "He takes viewers along with his protagonists to an unknown land and employs his mastery over all the elements of filmmaking to submerge us in this poetic world. A masterpiece by a master filmmaker."
* Best Actress: Cherrry Pie Picache in Summer Heat for a sustained and controlled performance of the character of the gay sister, Jess, who despite her apparant masculine exterior betrays a softness which can hardly be seen but can be felt by all.
* Best Actor: Emir Hadzihafisbegovic in Armin for a great minimalist, subtle, but extremely accurate performance. He makes his character extremely believable and likeable.
* Best Cinematography: Christophe Lanzenberg for The Sensation of Sight for the smooth and poetic camera movement and the very moody and soft texture of the lighting which works in perfect hamony with the storytelling and the subject.
* Best Screenplay: Gal Uchovsky and Eytan Fox for The Bubble. "It is well-written, devoid of cliches and wth a strong political message. The film shows the madness of a world torn by strife and intolerance and attempts to show a way out of it."
* Special Jury Prize:Meisie (South Africa), directed by Darrell James Roodt for showing courage and determination to get films made, Roodt has made a tender film with a simple idea and a cast of non-professionals. It will hopefully inspire a new generation of South African filmmakers to make a different kind of cinema.
* Best Doccie: Cats of Mirikitani, directed by Linda Hattendorf for a sensitive and compelling story that teases out the extraordinary transformation from internal conflict to personal resolution. It is a film with universal appeal in which the director shows extreme self-restraint and in doing so produces a poetic, nuanced film about the triumph of the human spirit.
* Special mention doccie: Nomadak Tx. This visually beautiful and honest pursuit of exchange and dialogue chronicles a journey of cultural collaboration through the shared love of music. Uncontrived and fluid, the film brings hope to a world ravaged by conflict.
* Best South African doccie: The Mother's House is a brutally honest and sensitive portrait, intimate and thoughtfully edited which reveals a story that speaks to the erosion of innocence and the complexity of the transformation from adolescent to teenager.
* Best short film and Best South African short film was won by Meokgo and the Stickfighter.
* Amnesty International Durban Human Rights Award went to Shame of Pakistan which highlights the lowly status of women in rural Pakistan.
* Audience Award: Red like the sky (Rosso come il cielo).