The International Film Award “East – West. The Golden Arch” is a prize given to the best films produced in the countries of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The Award seeks to encourage and promote these Eurasian discoveries, to draw attention to the local compelling artistic processes which are overshadowed by the more commercial, predominantly English-language cinema. The purpose of the Award is to amplify every distinct and authentic voice coming from this territory.
The Jury of the International Film Award “East – West. Golden Arch” 2018 consisted of 24 film experts and film critics - the leading specialists in the cinema of Asian and East European countries.
The Award is established by the International Confederation of the Filmmakers Unions. Chairperson of the executive board of the Award – Rustam Ibragimbekov (screenwriter, playwright and director), Artistic Director and Chairperson of the Selection Committee - Andrey Plakhov (film expert and film critic).
The Award Ceremony welcoming statements were made by Leonid Parfenov (journalist), Rustam Ibragimbekov and Andrey Plakhov.
The guests included actors Konstantin Habenskiy, Julia Snigir, Yuri Kolokolnikov, Ingeborga Dapkunayte, Evgeniy Tsiganov, Maksim Lagashkin, producers Petr Anurov, Elena Glikman, Ekaterina Kononenko, writer Ludmila Ulitskaya, designer Aleksandr Sidarekian, singers Miranda Mirianashvili and Timur Rodrigez, journalist Sofiko Shevardnadze many others.
Photographs can downloaded here: https://yadi.sk/d/CrW_y qbH3URSFr
Winners-2018
The highest number of awards went to “Loveless” by Andrey Zvyagintsev (Russia) - the unmatched winner of “East – West. The Golden Arch” Award. The film received 4 awards, including main 2 – Best Feature Film and Best Director. Best Screenplay Award was divided between Boris Khlebnikov, Natalya Meshchaninova for “Arrhythmia” and Ildikó Enyedi for “On Body and Soul”. The International Jury also noted films “November” by Rainer Sarnet, “Pororoca” by Constantin Popescu, “Closeness” by Kantemir Balagov, “How Vitka the Garlic Took Lyokha the Spindle to the Home for Disabled” by Alexander Khant.
Krzysztof Zanussi, prominent Polish director, received a Special Award “For Contribution to Cinema”. In addition, a Special Award “The Star of Eurasia” was presented to Mirjana Karanovic, the leading actress in many films of Emir Kusturica, Goran Paskaljevic, Bojan Vuletić.
Andrey Plakhov, film critic, art-director and Chairperson of Selection Committee: “Our project, “East – West. The Golden Arch”, is quite ambitious, just look at the number of countries presenting their films for participation. Plus, we have around a dozen of additional countries the Jury members are from. While working, we were surprised to discover that this huge territory is basically “Terra Incognita”. Such an incredible number of interesting things, projects, processes happening there we don’t know about. So many films are being made. Some of them surface at festivals and talked about, but almost all of them are never seen by general public. We think that right now, in this difficult geo-political climate, it is very important to build bridges, or if I may - “arches” - cultural and otherwise, that connect and unite us despite our different lifestyles, traditions and political thinking. It is important to establish common ground – and the language of cinema is perfect for such a dialog, a unifying thread”.
The Jury voting on Long and Short Lists of nominees eventually determined the winners. All of them were excellent, being the choices of this particular respectable Jury. We congratulate the winners, nominees and other participants of this distinguished Award, which brought to spotlight the immense creative output of aformentioned region. Russian cinema had a very respectable final voting ratio at the Award (which is understandable considering the scale and the multinational composition of the Russian film industry). However, other countries had also gained the recognition of experts, aroused great interest, controversy and discussion at “Territory of New Meanings” – the Award’s Jury Roundtable held before final Ceremony.
List of Nominees:
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sakari Kuosmanen, The Other Side of Hope; Dir. Aki Kaurismäki (Finland)
Alexey Serebryakov, How Vitka the Garlic Took Lyokha the Spindle to the Home for Disabled; Dir. Alexander Khant (Russia)
Sherwan Haji,The Other Side of Hope; Dir. Aki Kaurismäki (Finland)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Giovanna Gavrilovic, Requiem for Mrs. J.; Dir. Bojan Vuletic (Serbia, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Russia, France)
Olga Dragunova, Closeness; Dir. Kantemir Balagov (Russia)
Sarah Adler, Foxtrot; Dir. Samuel Maoz (Israel)
Best Actor
Bogdan Dumitrache, Pororoca; Dir. Constantin Popescu (Romania, France)
Meinhard Neumann, Western; Dir. Valeska Grisebach (Bulgaria, Germany, Austria)
Alexander Yatsenko, Arrhythmia; Dir. Boris Khlebnikov (Russia)
Best Actress
Alexandra Borbéli, On Body and Soul; Dir. Ildikó Enyedi (Hungary)
Darya Zhovner, Closeness; Dir. Kantemir Balagov (Russia)
Mirjana Karanovic, Requiem for Mrs. J.; Dir. Bojan Vuletic (Serbia, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Russia, France)
Laura Koroleva, Sveta; Dir. Janna Isabayeva (Kazakhstan)
Best Music for the film
Eugene Galperin, Loveless; Dir. Andrei Zvyagintsev (Russia)
Alexander Khant, Konstantin Shevelev, How Vitka the Garlic Took Lyokha the Spindle to the Home for Disabled; Dir. Alexander Khant (Russia)
Jacaszek, November; Dir. Rainer Sarnet (Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland)
Best Art Director
Irina Ochina, A Sack with no Bottom; Dir. Rustam Khamdamov (Russia)
Jaagup Roomet, Matis Mäesalu, November; Dir. Rainer Sarnet (Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland)
Arad Sawat, Foxtrot; Dir. Samuel Maoz (Israel)
Best Cinematography
Pyotr Dukhovskoy, Timofey Lobov, A Sack with no Bottom; Dir. Rustam Khamdamov (Russia)
Mikhail Krichman, Loveless; Dir. Andrei Zvyagintsev (Russia)
Mart Taniel, November; Dir. Rainer Sarnet (Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland)
Best Screenplay
Boris Khlebnikov, Natalya Meshchaninova, Arrhythmia; Dir. Boris Khlebnikov (Russia)
Valeska Grisebach, Western (Bulgaria, Germany, Austria)
Oleg Negin, Andrei Zvyagintsev, Loveless; Dir. Andrei Zvyagintsev (Russia)
Ildikó Enyedi, On Body and Soul; Dir. Ildikó Enyedi (Hungary)
Kantemir Balagov, Anton Yarush, Closeness; Dir. Kantemir Balagov (Russia)
Best Director
Kantemir Balagov, Closeness (Russia)
Valeska Grisebach, Western (Bulgaria, Germany, Austria)
Andrei Zvyagintsev, Loveless (Russia)
Samuel Maoz, Foxtrot (Israel)
Best Feature Film
Western, Dir. Valeska Grisebach (Bulgaria, Germany, Austria)
Loveless, Dir. Andrei Zvyagintsev (Russia)
On Body and Soul, Dir. Ildikó Enyedi (Hungary)
Closeness, Dir. Kantemir Balagov (Russia)
Foxtrot, Dir. Samuel Maoz (Israel)
The Selection Committee included 32 films in the long list of the Film Award “East – West. Golden Arch” 2018. The geo-net of the award is expansive; the count of participating countries is at 32 now, and might expand in the future. Presently, it includes Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Greece, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine.
Press conference dedicated to the establishment and the inaugural edition of the East–West. Golden Arch cinema prize will be held at the MIA “Russia Today” press center (Zubovsky Boulevard, 4) at 15:00 on March 27, 2018.
The speakers include screen writer, Chairperson of the Executive Board Rustam Ibragimbekov; film critic, Artistic Director of the prize Andrey Plakhov; and film critic, PR Director of the prize Konstantin Shavlovsky.
A press-conference dedicated to the establishment and citation of a new International Film Award “East – West. Golden Arch” took place at the MIA “Russia today.”
Chairman of the Film Award Board, scriptwriter Rustam Ibragimbekov, Art Director of the Film Award, film critic Andrei Plakhov, and PR Director of the Film Award Konstantin Shavlovskiy took part in the press-conference.
The Film Award “East – West. Golden Arch” is granted for the achievements and discoveries in the sphere of film art to authors of the best films produced in the countries of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The Award is meant to promote and encourage these discoveries and attract attention to intense artistic processes taking place in Eurasia, which often stay in the shade of more commercialized English-language cinema. The main goal of the Award is to let every original voice coming up from this area be heard.
The Jury of the International Film Award “East – West. Golden Arch” 2017/2018 consists of 24 film experts and film critics, the leading specialists in the cinema of Asian and East European countries.
The Award was established by the Confederation of Unions of Cinematographers. The Award Ceremony for the First International Film Award “East – West. Golden Arch” will take place on April 14, 2018, at the Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Singing Center in Moscow.
The shortlist of the Award includes 13 films. Russian movies: Andrei Zvyagintsev’s Loveless (5 nominations) and Kantemir Balagov’s Closeness (5 nominations) became the leaders in the number of nominations. Two films have 4 nominations each: Valeska Grisebach’s Western (Bulgaria, Germany, Austria) and Samuel Maoz’s Foxtrot (Israel).
Shortlist of the “East – West. Golden Arch” Award
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Sakari Kuosmanen, The Other Side of Hope; Dir. Aki Kaurismäki (Finland)
Alexey Serebryakov, How Vitka the Garlic Took Lyokha the Spindle to the Home for Disabled; Dir. Alexander Khant (Russia)
Sherwan Haji,The Other Side of Hope; Dir. Aki Kaurismäki (Finland)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Giovanna Gavrilovic, Requiem for Mrs. J.; Dir. Bojan Vuletic (Serbia, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Russia, France)
Olga Dragunova, Closeness; Dir. Kantemir Balagov (Russia)
Sarah Adler, Foxtrot; Dir. Samuel Maoz (Israel)
Best Actor
Bogdan Dumitrache, Pororoca; Dir. Constantin Popescu (Romania, France)
Meinhard Neumann, Western; Dir. Valeska Grisebach (Bulgaria, Germany, Austria)
Alexander Yatsenko, Arrhythmia; Dir. Boris Khlebnikov (Russia)
Best Actress
Alexandra Borbéli, On Body and Soul; Dir. Ildikó Enyedi (Hungary)
Darya Zhovner, Closeness; Dir. Kantemir Balagov (Russia)
Mirjana Karanovic, Requiem for Mrs. J.; Dir. Bojan Vuletic (Serbia, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Russia, France)
Laura Koroleva, Sveta; Dir. Janna Isabayeva (Kazakhstan)
Best Music for the film
Eugene Galperin, Loveless; Dir. Andrei Zvyagintsev (Russia)
Alexander Khant, Konstantin Shevelev, How Vitka the Garlic Took Lyokha the Spindle to the Home for Disabled; Dir. Alexander Khant (Russia)
Jacaszek, November; Dir. Rainer Sarnet (Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland)
Best Art Director
Irina Ochina, A Sack with no Bottom; Dir. Rustam Khamdamov (Russia)
Jaagup Roomet, Matis Mäesalu, November; Dir. Rainer Sarnet (Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland)
Arad Sawat, Foxtrot; Dir. Samuel Maoz (Israel)
Best Cinematography
Pyotr Dukhovskoy, Timofey Lobov, A Sack with no Bottom; Dir. Rustam Khamdamov (Russia)
Mikhail Krichman, Loveless; Dir. Andrei Zvyagintsev (Russia)
Mart Taniel, November; Dir. Rainer Sarnet (Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland)
Best Screenplay
Boris Khlebnikov, Natalya Meshchaninova, Arrhythmia; Dir. Boris Khlebnikov (Russia)
Valeska Grisebach, Western (Bulgaria, Germany, Austria)
Oleg Negin, Andrei Zvyagintsev, Loveless; Dir. Andrei Zvyagintsev (Russia)
Ildikó Enyedi, On Body and Soul; Dir. Ildikó Enyedi (Hungary)
Kantemir Balagov, Anton Yarush, Closeness; Dir. Kantemir Balagov (Russia)
Best Director
Kantemir Balagov, Closeness (Russia)
Valeska Grisebach, Western (Bulgaria, Germany, Austria)
Andrei Zvyagintsev, Loveless (Russia)
Samuel Maoz, Foxtrot (Israel)
Best Feature Film
Western, Dir. Valeska Grisebach (Bulgaria, Germany, Austria)
Loveless, Dir. Andrei Zvyagintsev (Russia)
On Body and Soul, Dir. Ildikó Enyedi (Hungary)
Closeness, Dir. Kantemir Balagov (Russia)
Foxtrot, Dir. Samuel Maoz (Israel)
The Selection Committee chaired by Andrei Plakhov included 32 films in the long list of the Film Award “East – West. Golden Arch” 2017/2018.
The geography of the award is vast; the list of participant countries accounts of 32 states, and it might expand in the future. Presently, it includes: Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Greece, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine.
Special showings
A week prior to the Award Ceremony in Moscow, special showings of two “Golden Arch” nominee films will be organized together with Goethe Institute and KARO Art. On April 6-7, showings of Valeska Grisebach’s Western (nominations for the best feature film, best director, best screenplay, and best actor) and Rainer Sarnet’s November (nominations for the best cinematography, best art director, and best music for the film) will take place in the movie theater “Karo 8 Atrium.”
Showing schedule:
April 6, 19.30. Western; Director Valeska Grisebach. Film critic Andrei Plakhov will introduce the film. The showing is sponsored by Goethe Institute, Moscow.
The film took part in the “Un Certain Regard” program of the Cannes Film Festival. Valeska Grisebach re-discovers the genre of western on the East European soil, melting distinctive features of the classic film with the actual agenda. A group of German workers arrives to the construction site of a dam in a Bulgarian village. The alien land evokes in them not only the spirit of adventurism but also prejudices rooted in the language barrier and cultural differences. Quite soon, the men start to rival for the acknowledgement among the local residents with whom, by the canons of a western, the new comers share not only the territory but also the “key benefits,” be it a horse, a source of clear water, or a woman. Non-professional actors, many of them local residents, played roles of the main characters.
April 7, 18.00. November; Director Rainer Sarnet. Film critic Andrey Plakhov will do the introduction. It will be the first run of the film in Russia
The world premiere of the black and white Estonian folk horror by Rainer Sarnet took place at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. November is a film version of the best-seller of Estonian writer Andrus Kivirähk; Sarnet has already twice turned to his writings. Witches and turnskins along with some strange creatures made of wood and metal, the kratts, act in the movie. But the most impressive thing is how authentic the artistic world of this film is (no surprise that it competes in the cinematography and art nominations of the “Golden Arch” with another black and white fairy tale The Sack with no Bottom by Rustam Khamdamov).
About the prize
The international cinema prize East–West. Golden Arch is awarded for the achievements in the field of cinema to the best authors of films created in the countries of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The award ceremony will be held on April 14, 2018 in Moscow. The prize is established by the Confederation of the Filmmakers Unions.
Across traditions and cultures
The biggest continent of our planet, Eurasia is the cradle of the oldest civilizations and cultures that continue to flourish in our time. The area that interests us initially lay on the border between Europe and Asia and remains, geographically and historically, within this territory. This is where the multinational cinema of the USSR, as well as the unique cinematic traditions of Eastern Europe and Western Asia have formed.
In today’s new political conditions, this territory maintains many features inherent in its historically grounded identity along with explosive energy which, having been born on the intersection of different traditions and cultures, entails brilliant artistic achievements and discoveries.
The East–West. Golden Arch cinema prize is committed to encouraging and promoting these discoveries, attracting attention to notable artistic processes that happen within the abovementioned territory and often remain overshadowed by commercial, especially English-language cinema. Our goal is making every original voice generated on this territory heard.
Andrey Plakhov, film critic, Artistic Director of the prize, and Chairperson of the Jury Board: “The East–West. Golden Arch cinema prize is a completely novel experience of supporting the finest motion pictures created on a vast territory that often remain overlooked by festivals and film experts, let alone the general public. Where in Russia can you watch Kazakh, Croatian, or Israeli films? And outside of Russia the situation is the same: we are not aware about our neighbors’ achievements. This needs to be changed. And we are happy to invite our friends from other parts of the world to reach this goal together. The idea of the prize has been approved by FIPRESCI and the European Film Academy. Having set common purposes and targets, we are going to work collaboratively in the same direction. Initiating and stimulating international cultural projects like this is especially important for us in the age of turbulent politics and escalating collisions.”
Rustam Ibragimbekov, screenwriter, Chairperson of the Executive Board of the prize: “The East–West. Golden Arch cinema prize manifests the viewpoint of film critics, journalists and film researchers worldwide. Unlike the famous American Golden Globe Awards, whose jury includes journalists accredited in Hollywood, we invite to our selection board renown film critics not necessarily based and accredited in Eurasian countries. I believe that the establishment of an international prize awarded by people who study and write about Eurasian cinema in the presence of many national awards allows for a broader view on the Eurasian cinematic tradition, as well as for an unbiased evaluation of new films.”
Geography and long list
Embracing 32 countries in its inaugural year, the geography of the prize is vast and is expected to further expand in the future. The participating countries include: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
The long list of the 2017/2018 East–West. Golden Arch prize includes 32 films created in, or with the involvement of the participating countries and selected by the jury board chaired by Andrey Plakhov.
List of films:
3/4 (Three Quarters). Ilian Metev (Bulgaria)
Arrhythmia. Boris Khlebnikov (Russia)
Closeness. Kantemir Balagov (Russia)
Eve. Anahit Abad (Armenia, Iran)
Foxtrot. Samuel Maoz (Israel)
Frost. Sharunas Bartas (Lithuania, France, Ukraine, Poland)
How Viktor “the Garlic” Took Alexey “the Stud” to the Nursing Home. Aleksandr Khant (Russia)
Ice Mother. Bohdan Sláma (Czech Republic, France, Slovakia)
Khibula. George Ovashvili (Georgia, France, Germany)
Little Crusader. Václav Kadrnka (Czech Republic)
Loveless. Andrey Zvyagintsev (Russia)
Men Don’t Cry. Alen Drljevic (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Germany, Croatia)
More. Onur Saylak (Turkey)
Night Accident. Temir Birnazarov (Kyrgyzstan)
November. Rainer Sarnet (Estonia, Netherlands, Poland)
On Body and Soul. Ildikó Eneydi (Hungary)
Pomegranate Orchard. Ilgar Najaf (Azerbaijan)
Pororoca. Constantin Popescu (Romania, France)
Requiem for Mrs. J. Bojan Vuletic (Serbia, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Russia, France)
Road to Mother. Akan Satayev (Kazakhstan)
Sella Turcica. Yusup Razykov (Russia)
Silent Night. Piotr Domalewski (Poland)
Spoor. Agnieszka Holland (Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia, France)
Sveta. Zhanna Issabayeva (Kazakhstan)
The Bonfire. Dmitry Davydov (Russia)
The Bottomless Bag. Rustam Khamdanov (Russia)
The Chronicles of Melanie.Viestur Kairish (Latvia, Czech Republic, Finland)
The Line. Peter Bebjak (Slovakia, Ukraine)
The Other Side of Hope. Aki Kaurismäki (Finland, Germany)
Western. Valeska Grisebach (Bulgaria, Germany, Austria)
Wild Roses. Anna Jadowska (Poland)
Woman from Heaven. Yolkin Tuychiev (Uzbekistan)
The jury
The jury of the international cinema prize East–West. Golden Arch 2017/2018 is composed of 24 film historians and critics, all of whom are leading researchers and experts in the cinema of Asian and Eastern European countries.
Most of the jury members will arrive in Moscow for the official award ceremony on April 14, 2018 and will be available for interviews.
Jury panel:
Carlos Helí De Almeida, film critic, FIPRESCI member (Brazil)
Jon Asp, film critic, FIPRESCI member (Sweden)
Birgit Beumers, film historian, FIPRESCI member (UK)
Amber Wilkinson, film critic, FIPRESCI member (UK)
Catriona Kelly, film historian, Professor at the University of Oxford (UK)
Nancy Condee, film historian, Professor at the University of Pittsburgh (USA)
Barbara Lorey de Lacharrière, film critic, FIPRESCI member (France)
Nikolaj Nikitin, film critic, member of FIPRESCI and European Film Academy (Germany)
Mirle Raghavendra, film critic, FIPRESCI member (India)
Svetlana Slapke, film historian, curator (Germany)
Léo Soesanto, film critic, FIPRESCI member (France)
Alissa Simon, film critic, FIPRESCI member (USA)
Christina Stojanova, film critic, FIPRESCI member (Canada)
Soo Hwan Kim, film historian, Professor at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Republic of Korea)
Yair Raveh, film critic, FIPRESCI member (Israel)
Justine Waddell, actress, Director of the Kinoklassika Foundation (UK)
Anna Franklin, film critic, Director of Film New Europe (UK)
Cerise Howard, film critic, FIPRESCI member (Australia)
Ludmila Cvicova, film critic, curator, member of the European Film Academy (Netherlands)
Godfrey Cheshire, film critic, FIPRESCI member (USA)
Alena Shumakova, film historian, curator, Professor at the University of Bologna (Italy)
Hugo Emmerzael, film critic, FIPRESCI member (Netherlands)
Klaus Eder, FIPRESCI General Secretary (Germany)
Senem Erdine, film critic, FIPRESCI member (Turkey)
Contacts
PR Director
Konstantin Shavlovsky
+7 906 228 17 33
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Official website:
https://www.eurasiacinema.org/