The Transilvania International Film Festival awarded it's winners

The fourth edition of Transilvania International Film Festival (Cluj, 2005) awarded this year’s winners, at the Awards Gala which took place at Cluj National Theatre on the 4th of June 2005.

TIFF Jury Awards
The Transilvania Trophy (ex-aequo, 4000 euro) went to two films from the official Competition: the Russian movie 4 directed by Ilya Khrzanovski and Whisky (Uruguay, Argentina, Germany, Spain 2004), by Juan Pablo Rebello and Pablo Stoll.

Jury’s motivation for 4 was “for the provocative manner in which social & political changes in contemporary Russia were imagined”. Whisky was awarded “for a disciplined cinematic structure, supported by brilliant ensemble acting which combined to reveal the complexities of human relationships and the loneliness of everyday life”.

The Best Director Award (1500 $, offered by HBO) went to Romanian director Cristi Puiu for Death of Mr. Lazarescu. The Romanian film was also awarded with Best performance (ex-aequo, 1000 euro) for actors Ion Fiscuteanu in the role of Mr. Lazarescu and Luminita Gheorghiu playing nurse Mioara, and the FIPRESCI Award (members of the jury were Cameron Bailey, Bhaichand Patel and Marilena Iliesiu).

According to the jury, Cristi Puiu and Death of Mr. Lazarescu impressed them by presenting a film “artfully conceived and achieved. Sculpted in time, this Dantesque journey unravels the banalities, absurdities and helplessness of our confrontation with mortality”. The performance of the two leading actors – Ion Fiscuteanu and Luminita Gheorghiu – “was outstanding”.

Best Camera (offered by Kodak Cinelabs Romania) was awarded to the film 4 – to cinematographers Alisher Khamidkhodzhaev, Aleksander Illkhovski and Sandor Berkesi.

A special mention (offered by TV 5) went to the Italian film Private by Saverio Costanzo.

Eleven films by first or second filmmakers competed in the TIFF Awards Competition 2005. The international jury consists of German actress (Romanian-born) Alexandra Maria Lara, British producer Keith Griffiths, Hungarian Director Andras Fesos, Program Director of the Belgrade International Film Festival Miroljub Vuckovic and Romanian film critic Laurentiu Bratan.

More than 92 films were shown during the 10 days of festival. Audience was the best of all editions reaching a total of 33.000 spectators attending screenings in the 4 Festival venues, including an open air.

Among Festival’s important guests we can mention: French actress Annie Girardot, directors Lukas Moodysson, Todd Solondz, Renate Roginas (Eurimages), Manfred Schmidt (MDM), Brigitta Manthey (Medienboard), Philippe Bober (Coproduction Office), Mona Musca (Romanian Minister of Culture)

Next year’s edition will take place between June 2nd – June 10th.





2005 Transilvania International Film Festival Awards



Best Film and Transilvania Trophy (4000 EUR) - for the Best Film in Competition –

ex-aequo

4, by Illya Khrzanovski (Russia 2004)
Whisky, by Juan Pablo Rebello and Pablo Stoll (Uruguay, Argentina, Germany, Spain 2004)


Best Direction (1500 USD) - offered by HBO

Cristi Puiu, for Death of Mr. Lazarescu (Romania 2005)



Best Performance (1000 EUR) - offered by Vitrina Advertising – ex-aequo

Ion Fiscuteanu, for Death of Mr. Lazarescu (Romania 2005)

Luminita Gheorgiu, Death of Mr. Lazarescu (Romania 2005)



Best Camera - offered by Kodak Cinelabs Romania

4 (Russia 2004) – cinematographers Alisher Khamidkhodzhaev, Aleksander Illkhovsky and Sandor Berkesi



Special Mention - offered by TV5

Private (Italy 2004) by Saverio Costanzo



Lifetime Achievement Award

French actress Annie Girardot



Agressione Award for Excellence in Cinema

Romanian director Stere Gulea



Lifetime Achievement Award

Romanian actor Gheorghe Dinica



FIPRESCI Award

Death of Mr. Lazarescu (Romania 2005)



Best Romanian film presented in the Romanian Days - offered by Europa FM

Death of Mr. Lazarescu (Romania 2005)



Best Debut in a Romanian Film - offered by Jolidon

Dorotheea Petre – for Ryna (Switzerland-Romania 2005), by Ruxandra Zenide



Special award of Romanian Days – offered by Murfatlar

Canton (Romania, 2004) by Constantin Popescu jr.



Audience Award (by vote) – for a film in competition

Death of Mr. Lazarescu (Romania 2005)

Cinemagia Award

Dark Horse (Denmark-Iceland 2005 ), by Dagur Kari



Best short film in Shadows section

Las Viandas/The Viands (Spain 2005), by Jose-Antonio Bonet.



Best film from Let's go digital program - offered by MTV

Tras - realizat de Iulia Scutaru (Bucuresti), Saiona Stoian (Constanta),Valeriu Pernes (Salaj)



Best script - in the HBO national script contest

Europolis, by Corneliu Gheorghita (feature film)

Cine se trezeste de dimineata cade singur in ea, by Gabriel Zancu (short film)