Critics Prizes (FIPRESCI ) in Fribourg and Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki (Documentary Film Festival "Images of the 21st Century", Greece, March 13-22, 2009).
Prize, International Competition: "Prodigal Sons" by Kimberly Reed (USA, UK, 2008). Best Greek Documentary: "Bathers" (Louomeno) by Eva Stefani (Greece, 2009).
Jury: László Kriston, Hungary, president ("Vox Mozimagazin", "Magyar Narancs", "Magyar Radio"), Dubravka Lakic, Serbia ("Politika", "Slobodna Bosna", "Pobjeda"), José Miguel Gaspar, Portugal ("Jornal de Notícias"), Michael Pekler, Austria ("Der Standard"), Dimitris Haritos, Greece.

Fribourg (Switzerland, March 14-21, 2009).
Prize: "Shakespeare and Victor Hugo's Intimacies" (Intimidades de Shakespeare y Victor Hugo) by Yulene Olaizola (Mexico, 2008).
Jury:Ronald Bergan, UK, president ("The Guardian"), Diego Brodersen, Argentina ("Página/12", "El Amante/Cine", "Revista N-Clarin"), Övgü Gökce, Turkey ("Altyazi Sinema Dergisi"), Télesphore MBA BIZO, Cameroun ("Cameroon Radio Television", "Terroirs", Christian Jungen, Switzerland ("Mittellandzeitung", "Sonntag").
Source:FIPRESCI

Critics Awards – FIPRESCI - at the Festivals in Miami, Sofia, Mexico City

Miami (USA, March 6-15, 2009). The Miami Film Festival has become one of the key events for showcasing not only the best examples of the Ibero-American cinematographies, but also the new trends and trajectories on world cinema.This years critics prize goes to: "Involuntary" (De Ofrivilliga) by Ruben Östlund (Sweden, 2008), shown in the "World Competition" section. FIPRESCI Jury: Eleanor Ringel Cater (USA), Paulo Portugal (Portugal), Josefina Sartora (Argentina).


Sofia (Bulgaria, March 5-15, 2009).The 13th Sofia Festival presented more than 200 films through its international, regional and national programs .FIPRESCI Prize for this edition awarded to: "The Happiest Girl in the World" (Cea mai fericita fata din lume) by Radu Jude (Romania, Netherlands, 2009), shown in the festival's international competition. FIPRESCI Jury: Einar Staalesen (Norway), Tonci Valentic (Croatia), Ingeborg Bratoeva (Bulgaria).

Mexico City (Mexico City International Contemporary Film Festival, Mexico, February 17 – March 1, 2009).Living in the shadow of the enormous neighborhood of the United States, Mexico once again had the brilliant idea to organize the Festival of Independent Cinema, after five successfull editions under Paula Astorga now with a new team.Winner of this year's FIPRESCI Prize is: "Our Fight" (Nuestra lucha) by Jaime Rogel Román (Mexico, 2008, HDV). FIPRESCI Jury: Joel Poblete (Chile), Fernando Palumbo (Uruguay), Chiara Arroyo Cella (Spain/Mexico).

John Abraham Awards in Signs Film Festival 09

Malayalam Film ‘Bhoomimalayalam’ directed by T.V.Chandran and Marathi film ‘Harishchandrachi Factory’ directed by Paresh Mokashi shared this year’s John Abraham National Awards for feature films in the SIGNS festival of feature and short feature films . The award for the best documentary was won by Umesh Kulkarni’s ‘Three of Us.’ Sidhartha Mukherjee’s ‘100 Watt Bulb’ adjudged short feature film The award for the best cinema of resistance was won by ‘There was a queen’ by Kavitha Pai and Hansa Tapliyal. The best experimental film is Amit Dutta’s ‘Kramasha’. Renowned film maker Adoor Gopalakrishnan gave away the awards in the concluding session of the festival held at Kalabhavan theatre ,Thiruvananthapuram

FIPRESCI Awards at Berlinale,2009

FIPRESCI jury awarded films in the International Competition, in the Panorama Section and in the International Forum of New Cinema at Berlinale , 2009
International Competition: "The Milk of Sorrow" (La teta asustada)by Claudia Llosa Peru/Spain, 2009).Panorama "North" (Nord) ,by Rune Denstadt Langlo (Norway 2009). International Forum of New Cinema: "Love Exposure" (Ai no mukidashi)by Sono Sion (Japan, 2008).
International Jury was composed of:
Borislav Andjelic, Serbia, President, Mihai Chirilov, Romania, Sergi Sanchez, Spain, Richard Cline, Great Britain, Nils Saeveras, Norway, Andreas Becker, Germany, Margit Tönson, Estonia, Gulnara Abikeyeva, Kazakhstan, Enrico Bosten, Germany.
Jury Secretary: Angelika Kettelhack, Germany..

4th Edition of SIGNS 2009- FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION

Mizhikal Sakshi (Malayalam) -Director ..Asok R Nath , Yarwng (Roots) (Kokborok) -Director .. Joseph Pulinthanath ,Nanthuni (Malayalam) -Director .. Hari Narayanan ,Thalappavu ( Malayalam) -Director .. Madhupal ,Subramaniyapuram (Tamil ) -Director .. Sasikumar M , Bhoomi malayalam (Malayalam )-Director .. TV Chandran ,Bioscope (Malayalam) -Director .. K M Madhusudhanan , Muthal Muthal Muthal Varai (Tamil ) K. S. Gomatam ,Thirakadha ( Malayalam ) -Director .. Renjith , Orkkuka Vallappozhum (Malayalam ).Director .. Sohanlal , Made in China ( Marathi ) Santosh Kohle , Banada Neralu ( Kannada ) -Director .. Umashankar Swamy ,Gulabi Talkies (Kannada) -Director .. Girish Kasaravalli ,Margazhi Raagam ( Music )-Director .. JeyendraPanchapakesan , Poo (Tamil) -Director .. P G Muthuiah , Ocean of an old man (Hindi ) -Director .. Rajesh Shera ,Kanchivaram (Tamil ) -Director ..Priyadarsan , Raman ( Malayalam ) -Director ..Dr Biju , Harishchandrachi Factory (Marathi ) -Director .. Paresh Mokashi , Gulmohar (Malayalam )-Director…Jayaraj , Summer 207 (Hindi)-Director .. Suhail Tatary

National Theatre Festival 2009 Thiruvananthapuram

Information and Public Relations Department of Kerala opens up a new vista of cultural extravaganza, National Theatre Festival, to the art aficionados of Kerala, which is scheduled from March 1-11, 2009 in Thiruvananthapuram. The fifth episode of the festival highlights the theme- Modern-Contemporary Theatre will be a unique experience with the presence of up-to-the-date drama techniques, a real light and sound show without losing the essence of drama.The festival showcases plays of famous directors like Jyothish M. G. (Malayalam), Kirti Jain (Hindi), Shanmugaraja (Tamil), Zuilekha Choudhary (English), Pabitra Rabha (Garo), Maya Krishna Rao (Multilingual), Sankar Venkateswaran (Malyalam- Japanese), Santanu Bose (Bengali), Anuradha Kapur (Hindi), Veenapani Chawla (Malayalam- English) etc.The main venue of the festival is Tagore Theatre and another one is Vailoppilly Samskriti Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram.

4th Edition of SIGNS 2009,the Indian Festival of Features and Non-Features ,for John Abraham National Awards

Federation of Film Societies of India , Keralam is organizing the 4th edition of SIGNS 2009,the Indian Festival of Features and Non-Features for John Abraham National Awards from 12th to 19 February ,2009 at Kalabhavan and Tagore theatres ,Thiruvananthapuram. The fest contains Feature films , Documentaries , Short features in Indian competition. In focus Feature films , Documentaries , Short features ,Animation , Advertisements & Music videos.In gallery ,Video art from India and abroad &Asian documentary package . Mani Kaul will head the Jury for Feature Films . Fareeda Mehta and Rajeev Vijayaraghavan are the members .Jury for non-feature films will be chaired by Arun Khopkar with Chalam Bennurakar and B . Ajithkumar as members