At the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film
Festival

(Germany, November 20-29, 2003)

The Prize of the International Critics has been awarded to

"The Arm of Jesus" (De arm van Jezus) by André van der
Hout (The Netherlands)

"For its visually and intellectually multilayered and also humorous and musical
representation of an existential search."

Special mention:

"Saturday" (Sábado) by Matías Bize (Chile)

"For its innovative structure and style and its exploration of gender relations
and machismo."

Prize for a short film:

"Revolution" (Revolucíon) by Martin Rosete (Spain)

"For its unique and witty style and intellectual interest."

Jury members were:

Dinko Tucakovic, Serbia-Montenegro, president

Dennis West, USA

Leif Joley, Sweden

Annika Koppel, Estonia

Claus Wecker, Germany

At the Thessaloniki International Film Festival

(Greece, November 21-30, 2003)

A jury of international critics (FIPRESCI Jury) presented three awards.

Prize for a film in competition:

"The Last Train" (Posledniy Poezd) by Alexei German Jr. (Russia)

"For depicting, with uncompromising honesty through exquisite mise en scene,
subtle visual composition and long, meditative takes, the brutal absurdity of
war and the perseverance of the human spirit in the face of it".

Prize for a film in the Greek Films section:

"Oxygen" (Oxigono)

by Michalis Reppas & Thanassis Papathanasiou

"For uncovering, with authentic dialogue and gritty melodrama, the corruption
of society and the breakdown of the family.

By so doing it updates the Greek Tragedy in a sordid contemporary setting.".

Special Mention for a film of the New Horizon section:

"The Return" (Vozvraschenie)

by Andrey Zvyagintsev (Russia)

"For its delicate balance between subject and style, its excellence in
the direction of the actors and for telling a strong story without special effects
and with minimal means."

The jury has been comprised of

Peter Keough, USA, president

Mariola Wiktor, Poland

Göran Bjelkendal, Sweden

Safaa Haggag, Egypt

Marina Kostova, Macedonia

Einar Guldvoog Staalesen, Norway

Orestis Andreadakis, Greece.