Vladivostok Pacific Meridian Award Winners

Festival Grand Prix for the Best Feature
 
THE TAQWACORES

Director:  Eyad Zahra

Eyad Zahra graduated Magna Cum Lade in 2004 from the Florida State University School of Motion Picture, Television, & the Record- ing Arts. Since 2005, Mr.Zahra has produced various short films and television segments. Working briefly in Dubai, U.A.E., Mr. Zahra produced TV promotion segments for the largest television network in the Middle East, Showtime Arabia. In 2007 Mr. Zahra also worked on the 2007 Warner Brothers release, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Cow- ard Robert Ford, where he served as the Di- rector's Assistant to Andrew Dominik.

Best Director Award
 
SILENT SOULS

Director:  Alexey Fedorchenko

Was born in 1966. Lives and works in Ekate- rinburg. Graduated as an engineer from Ural Technical University. In 2000 graduated from VGIK (Federal Institute of Cinematography), (class of V.K. Chernyh, L.A. Kozhinov and Y.I. Rogozin). From 1995 till 2005 worked as economist, producer and director of Sverd- lovsk Filmstudio. Since 2005 he is a director in 25th of February Film Company.

The Special Jury Award
For the "magical moments" to touch the hearts of the audience
ONE DAY

Director:  Chi-Jan Hou

Having worked on the "Database of Taiwan Cinema" during his college days, Hou's works tend to be lyrical and stylish, and are often characterized by the themes of time and memory. His experimental short, Stardust 15749001, won the Grand Prix at the Taipei International Film Festival in 2003. His doc- umentary work, Taiwan Black Movies, which presented cult films made during repressive 1970s-era Taiwan, was nominated for the Golden Horse. One Day is Hou Chi-Jan's feature debut.

Best Short Award
 
THE SIX DOLLAR FIFTY MAN

Director:  Mark Albiston & Louis Sutherland

The Six Dollar Fifty Man is the third short film that Mark & Louis have collaborated on and the first that they have officially co-directed. Mark and Louis grew up together in a small west coast village called Raumati Beach. There both began working together for a cable TV network. Louis then went to drama school and Mark went to film school developing their skills in production and performance. The two have now worked together in the industry for over 15 years.
Mark and Louis are currently writing their feature screenplay Shopping.

Best Actress Award
Actress Wai Ying-Hong
AT THE END OF DAYBREAK

Director:  Yuhang Ho

Was born and raised in Petaling Jaya, just outside the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. He took a degree in engineering at Iowa State University in the US, but opted for a career in TV production when he returned to Malaysia. He soon began putting his training in the craft of programme-making to work in a series of personal short films and tapes. In 1999, he made the six-part documentary series Se- mangat Insan: Masters of Tradition. His debut feature Min followed in 2003.

Best Actor Award
Actor Carlos Gasols
OCTOBER

Director:  Daniel & Diego Vega

Daniel (36 years old) and Diego (35 years old) Vega were born in Lima, Peru. Daniel obtained a degree in Audiovisual Communi- cation and a master degree in Management of Audiovisual Enterprise in Madrid. Diego ob- tained a degree in Economy and graduated as Film Screenwriter at the Escuela Internacional de Cine y Television, Cuba. Their film Inside down Basement was included into Compe- tition program of IFF «Pacific Meridian», 2008. October is their first feature film. They are currently writing their second feature.

"9288 km" Award from the Governor of Primorsky Territory
To director Irina Bakhtina for documentary cyclus "Far Eastern Exodus"
Far Eastern Exodus Island of Russians

Director:  Irina Bahtina

Director and scriptwriter. Was born in Moscow. Graduated from Moscow institute of Steel and Alloys, Institute for Advanced Training for cinema workers. In 1991 - 1998 - writer and director of special projects at TV channel "Russia", the author and presenter of  TV program "Private Collection". In 1998-2000 chief editor of TV program "Capital" at TVC channel TVC. In 2000 - 2002 author and presenter of TV Programm  "Compatriots". Since 2001 - Head of Film and Video Multimedia Complex of Actual Arts of "Moscow House of Photography", artistic director of "PetroGraph"  production center. The participant of many Russian and international competitions.

The Audience Choice Award for the Best Russian Film
Actor and screenwriter Evgeny Grishkovets
SATISFACTION

Director:  Anna Matison

Born in Irkutsk. Graduated from International Department of the Irkutsk State University. In 2002 she was AIST TV Company producer, director of REC-production studio. Today she is a student of the All-Russian State University of Cinematography of S. A. Gerasimov (VGIK) (class of N. Ryazantseva). Playwright, co-writer of the play House (with Eugeniy Grishkovets), screenwriter and director of the documentary Musician (about Denis Matsuev), screenwriter and director of the movie Mood Rising.

Yul Brynner Award
To actress Anastasiya Bagrova
THE ELEPHANT