Jigeumeun matgo geuttaeneun teullida (Right Now, Wrong Then) by Hong Sang-soo, South Corea, is the winner of the Golden Leopard of the Film Festival Locarno 2015. The Ecumenical Jury awarded a Commendation to the film, giving its main prize to Ma dar behesht (Paradise) by Sina Ataeian Dena from Iran and a second Commendation to Bella e perduta directed by Italian director Pietro Marcello which also received the Prize of the Youth Jury. Several prizes were also awarded to the Israeli competition entry Tikkun which was honoured by the Special Jury Prize, a Special Mention for its cinematography and the Prize of the FICC Jury.
Giving a home to cinema - that is what Locarno should aim at, festival director Carlo Chatrian said in the introduction to this year's festival catalogue. Famous for its public screenings at the Piazza Grande, the festival this years screened new films from Otar Iosseliani, Chantal Akerman, Andrej Zulawski, and Athina Rachel Tsangari, among others. Marco Bellocchio and Michael Cimino were acknowledged with honorary awards (Pardo d'onore), whereas the Premio Raimondo Rezzonico dedicated to producers was awarded to Office Kitano, the production company of Takeshi Kitano.
Ecumenical Service
At the Festival Sunday, August 9 at 11:15, the Council of Christian Churches in Ticino organized an ecumenical service in the baroque church of Santa Maria Assunta ("Chiesa Nuova"). Representatives of numerous churches joined the event, including those of the Syrian Orthodox Church which embraces quite a number of members in Ticino. The sermon was held by the bishop of the Old Catholic Church of Switzerland, Rev. Dr. Harald Rein, who is currently also President of the Council of Christian Churches in Switzerland. During the subsequent reception in the small cloister of the church festivaliers and church members had the opportunity to meet the members of the Ecumenical Jury.
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