In a way that is both expressive and loaded with emotions, the film shows the daily struggles of a young couple, living in a poor environment and confronted with a pregnancy that was not planned. The efforts of the couple to rise above the limits of their environment are shown in a way that is realistic as well as poetic. The director emphazises the respect for life, the dignity of man and conveys a hope for the future.
29th Festival International du Films de Fribourg
21.03.2015 to 28.03.2015
Fribourg
The Ecumenical Jury, from left: Peter Meier-Apolloni, Michèle Debidour, Bo Torp Pedersen, Rosemarie Fähndrich
© Monica Lienin
Over the course of one week, the 29th FIFF (Festival International de Films de Fribourg) showed 150 films from 57 countries, including 12 films in international competition. From these, the Ecumenical Jury chose its winner: Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere, directed by Diep Hoang Nguyen from Vietnam. The film also won a Commedation by the International Jury for Long Films and the Prize of the Youth Film Jury. The Regard d'Or, the main prize of the festival, was awarded to Gonzáles by Christian Diáz Pardo, Mexico, and the Special Prize of the Jury to Ata by the Tibetian monk Chakme Rinpoche. The Audience Award went to Corn Island by George Ovashvili, before winner of the Ecumenical Jury Award in Karlovy Vary. Parallel sections focused on films from Syria and on North American indigenious cinema among others. Opening film was Mr. Kaplan directed by Álvaro Brechner from Uruguay, a comedy which was part of the section "Decryption: Can you laugh about anything?" The festival attracted more than 40.000 visitors.
Homepage of the festival: http://www.fiff.ch/en/
Awards of the Ecumenical Jury
Flapping in the Middle of Nowhere
Directed by:
2014
More about the festival
Jury member Bo Torp Pedersen reflects on films rarely shown beyond the festival circuit
