Films from eight European countries were awarded at the 22nd edition of Countryside Animafest Cyprus, during its closing ceremony on Saturday August 12 in the village of Salamiou, Paphos. The festival took place with the support of the Deputy Ministry of Culture. According to a Press release by the organizers, this year’s edition included 31 international and 4 Cypriot films in competition, as well as a children’s film program, several music events, exhibitions, workshops, and installations. Members of the jury were Andreas Hykade from Germany, Varya Yakovleva from Russia) and Constantinos Kyprianou from Cyprus. Grand Prix Dimitris Eipides for a narrative film, was awarded to Electra by Daria Kashceeva (Czech Republic, France, Slovakia). The Grand Prix Dimitris Eipides for a non-narrative film, for crafting a personal subject in a non-narrative way on the highest artistic level, was awarded to Is Heaven Blue?, by Paul de Nooijer and Menno de Nooijer (Netherlands, Norway). The winner of the National competition was the film In the city of Dust by Haris Pellapaisiotis and Maud Nivet (Cyprus) ‘for creating a visual and acoustic poem in a touching way’. The jury also gave three special mentions. One was for the film Écorchée (Skinned) by Joachim Hérissé (France), ‘for finding beauty in ugliness.’ Another was ‘for successfully creating a contemporary Eve’ to the film Eeva by Lucija Mrzljak (Estonia, Croatia). The third wen to Antipolis by Kaspar Jancis (Estonia). The children’s jury awarded the first prize for the children’s film competition to Luce and the Rock by Britt Raes (Belgium, France, Netherlands). ‘We chose this film because the plot was very entertaining yet very meaningful. The film was well created in all aspects, such as the music, the animation and the plot!’, the jury notes. The children’s jury also gave a special mention to Harvey by Janice Nadeau (Canada), which they found ‘suitable for the younger and older kids’ and praised its ‘unique animation and its humorous and touching story.’ Three audience awards were also presented. The audience award for the international competition went to Electra by Daria Kashceeva (Czech Republic, France, Slovakia). The national competition audience award went to Phantom of Venus by Christiana Ioannou (Cyprus). The winner of the children’s competition audience award went to Friendly Fire by Tom Koryto Blumen (Israel).
Source: Cyprus News Agency