This is a story of broken families, teenage friendships, and the hope for a better tomorrow. The film shows the contrast between youthful dreams full of hope and excitement and a real world that exploits those adolescent ideals for its benefit. It raises important questions such as how to choose the right path to follow, how to distinguish between truth and lies in human relationships, and how to say no to manipulation and abuse, especially when you do not yet have life experiences. What does today’s society offer young people? (Photo: © Akis bado)
77th Locarno Film Festival
07.08.2024 to 17.08.2024
Locarno
Le Déluge (The Flood; © The Flood - Ascent Film)
The Prize of the Ecumenical Jury in Locarno 2024 goes to "Akiplėša" (Toxic), directed by Saulė Bliuvajtė from Lithuania. The film also won the Golden Leopard and the Swatch First Feature Award, thus becoming the most successful film of the festival. The Ecumenical Jury in addition awarded a Commendation to the Austrian production „Mond“ (Moon), directed by Kurdwin Ayub. It also won the Special Jury Prize of the international festival jury and the Europa Cinemas Label. The Prize of the Jury of the International Film Critics Federation (Fipresci) went to Qing chun (Ku)" (Youth (Hard Times)), directed by Wang Bing from China.
On 7 August, the 77th Locarno Film Festival opened with "Le Déluge" (The Flod) by Gianluca Jodice on the open-air stage of the Piazza Grande, which depicts the last days of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. The two leading actors, Mélanie Laurent and Guillaume Canet, wwere honoured with the Davide Campari Excellence Award. Other prizes of honour this year went to the Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan (Pardo alla Carriera), the sound designer Ben Burtt and the Swiss animation filmmaker Claude Barras. Producer Stacey Sher received the Raimondo Rezzonico Award and Jane Campion the Leopard of Honour.
The Ecumenical Jury chooses its winner from the 17 films in the International Competition. It honours directors who use their artistic talent to sensitise viewers to religious, human and social values. It awards creative filmmakers who are committed to justice, peace and respect and whose work has a tangible spiritual dimension. The award was presented on 17 August at the "Spazio Cinema" in Locarno.
An Ecumenical Jury was first established at an international film festival in 1973. Locarno is therefore the first festival to bring together the Christian film organisations in one jury. Since then, the SIGNIS and INTERFILM prizes have been awarded jointly.
Last year, the young Italian director Simone Bozzelli won the Ecumenical Prize with his film "Patagonia". In addition, the jury celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Locarno Film Festival in 2023 and awarded an honorary prize to the internationally renowned director István Szabó.
The Ecumenical Jury at the Paizza Grande in Locarno, from left: Anita Uzulniece, Dirk von Jutrczenka, Douglas Fahleson, Maria Teresa Téramo
Awards
Toxic
Directed by:
2024
Moon
Directed by:
2024
There are always defeats in life but it is important to get up and start over again. This film provides a societal contrast and also a strong commonality between a young European female trainer and her new pupils, three Jordanian sisters. The feeling of being trapped and of fighting for freedom can occur in both the East and the West. (Photo: © UlrichSeidlFilmproduktion)
