The Dubrovnik International Film Festival (DIFF) (www.DUBROVNIKiff.org) completed its second annual festival on May 30, 2004 in the beautiful Marin Drzic Theater in the heart of Dubrovnik. Awards were presented on closing night to films in competition in five categories: Best Feature Film, Best Director,Best Screenplay, Best Documentary Film and Best Short Film.
The honor for Best Feature Film was bestowed upon SILENCE OF THE SEA
(Iran), which tells the story of an Iranian man’s desire to return to his homeland from
where he left illegally years ago. Writer/Director Vahid Mousaian also picked-up the
prize for Best Screenplay.
Croatian filmmaker Krsto Papic won the award for Best Director for INFECTION
(Croatia). Mr. Papic attended DIFF 2004 and participated in a question and answer
session after the Croatian premiere of INFECTION, a film which he directed, wrote, and
produced. Mr. Papic, whose career in film spans over 40 years, was honored with a
retrospective of his films that included WHEN THE DEAD START SINGING (1999)
and HANDCUFFS (1970).
RAVE AGAINST THE MACHINE (UK) was honored with the award for Best Documentary Film. James Harvey, one of the directors of the film, was on hand to
accept the award. This powerful film documents the underground music scene that
developed during the siege of Sarajevo during the 1990’s where many young Bosnians
found refuge.
Best Short Film was won by POL POT’S BIRTHDAY (USA), from director Talmage Cooley, which is a satirical look at a birthday party of a ruthless dictator. This film was also screened at the closing night ceremony after the awards were handed out.
The DIFF 2004 Jury also made special mention of a film that “had to be made” with regard to FREEDOM FROM DISPAIR by first-time filmmaker Brenda Brkusic.
This documentary film, with music composed by Nenad Bach, explores the untold history of former Yugoslavia through the story of Kruno Brkusic, who as a young man risked his life to flee from a government that punished independent thought and suppressed Croatian culture.
The DIFF Libertas Award was presented to Academy Award winning producer Branko Lustig (SCHINDLER’S LIST, GLADIATOR, BLACK HAWK DOWN) in honor of his lifetime achievement in film. Mr. Lustig accepted the award via taped message from the location his latest film production, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, in Morocco.
Many filmmakers attended DIFF 2004 from around the World and were honoured on the stage at the event. Those in attendance included Pol Lemetais (UMBRA, France),
Goran Devic (IMPORTED CROWS, Croatia), Brenda Brkusic (FREEDOM FROM
DISPAIR, USA), James Harvey (RAVE AGAINST THE MACHINE, UK), Vlado Gojun
(WAITING, Croatia), and Mike Penny (REBECCA’S MASK, USA), and Mirijan
Hinteregger.(DISAPPEARING, Austria).
The major sponsors of DIFF 2004, which include The City of Dubrovnik, The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Final Draft, were also honored at the closing night event.