13th PÖFF's competition programme EurAsia awarded German-Israel drama „Ajami".
Best Baltic film award goes to Lithuanian film „Vortex".
Scandar Copti (Palestine) and Yaron Shani (Israel) realistic street-story „Ajami" was awarded as best Eurasian film.
The film tells a story of a poor Arab district Ajami in Tel Aviv and its colorful population that consists both Arabs and Jews. Best Eurasia film award was given in PÖFF for the sixth time. Grand Prix, 10 000 Euros, is given by the city of Tallinn.
Yaron Shani staring at the festival logo - statute a few minutes before the ceremony.
Best director award goes to Finn Klaus Häro for „Letters to Father Jacob". Same director's film „My Own Mother" won best actress award in 2005.
This years best actress award goes to Swedish actress Maria Bonnevie for „Angel" (Norway), best actor award goes to David Dencik for Danish film „Brotherhood".
Jury special prize goes to Romanian-Moldavian film „Weddings in Bessarabia" (World premier in PÖFF). Special prize for cinematographic masterpiece goes to director Bahman Ghobadi and cameraman Turaj Aslan for capturing Iranian underground in „No One Knows About Persian Cats".
Head of the jury was Russian film-producer Aleksander Rodnianski. There were 20 films competing in EurAsia competition programme.
For second time PÖFF awarded best Baltic film with 5000 Euros. International Tridens Baltic feature film competition programme jury awarded Lithuanian director Gytis Lukšasi for „Vortex". Film also won Cinerva LV best cameraman award (Viktoras Radzevicius), together with 1000 Euros. Scottish Leader Estonian feature film award 50 000 Kroons goes to Asko Kase for „December Heat". Jury also mentioned films „Bank Robbery" (Andrus Tuisk) and „Disco and Atomic War" (Jaak Kilmi).
Jaak Kilmi's documentary was also awarded by The International Federation of Film Critics FIPRESCI jury.
For the first time was held North American indie film competition. Award goes to USA film „(Untitled)". Film won distribution rights in Baltic States Cinamon cinemas and promotion in film channel Silver (European premiere in PÖFF).
Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema NETPAC jury awarded Iranian film „No One Knows About Persian Cats" (director Bahman Ghobadi), International Federation of Films Societies (FICC) gave its award to the same film.
Audience award goes to South Korean comedy „Castaway in the Moon".
For the sixth time PÖFF gave Lifetime Achievement Award. This was won by Estonian film critic Jaan Ruus.
Awards were officially announced in PÖFF ending ceremony in 4th December 2009
Bruno Chatelin at the ceremony, shot on his Iphone by Yaron Shani
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07.12.2009 | Tallinn Black Nights Film Fest's blog
Cat. : actor actress Ajami Aleksander Rodnianski Audience Award Bahman Ghobadi Bahman Ghobadi Baltic States Bruno Chatelin cameraman Cinema of Iran David Dencik Director Entertainment Entertainment film critic Films FIPRESCI Gytis Lukšasi Head IPHONE Israel Klaus Harö Maria Bonnevie Mass media Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema No One Knows About Persian Cats Person Career premier Producer Tallinn Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival TEL AVIV AWARDS