Winning Films Competitions 2022
IFFI 2022 – 28.05.2022
The winning films of this year's competitions are:
FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
Jury statement: First of all the jury would like to thank the International Film Festival Innsbruck for its continuous and courageous effort to bring out the art of cinematography of the world. We as the Feature Film Jury were able to select out of a very consistent programme of 6 films. After a long conversation the Jury decided to give the main award to a highly political and contemporary film that uncovers a reality of a whole continent in which evangelical churches use their power to impose ignorance through superstition and violence. In very strong pictures and by mixing various genres it shows the idealization of physical and spiritual purity and the struggle for women to find their own voice. The Feature Film Award goes to: MEDUSA by Anita Rocha da Silveira from Brazil.
SPECIAL MENTION FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
jury statement: We would like to give a Special Mention to a film which through its aesthetical choices manages to create a very poetical atmosphere and takes the viewer into a fascinating world of its own. The Special Mention goes to: STREETWISE by Na Jiazuo from China. DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION
jury statement: The film takes us into a region and a culture we knew nothing about. It gives us the opportunity to be very close to a family and an oppressive and drastic tradition : Di, a young girl, just a teenager, flirting via social media, is abducted by her future husband of the same age, following an archaic ritual. In this context, the filmmaker does not act as a supposedly neutral observer, but makes her presence and attitude known - also to the audience. She declares herself - and remains emphatic. She involves herself, but without ever elevating herself above her protagonists. From the greatest closeness, which can only be established through time, patience, courage and openness, she succeeds in creating condensed, oppressive, comical and illuminating insights into the everyday life and work of Di, her siblings, friends and parents. and they succeed in creating images of artistic quality that will stay with you. The documentary film award of the city of Innsbruck goes to: CHILDREN OF THE MIST by Diem Ha Le
SPECIAL MENTION DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
jury statement: An honorable mention to Payal Kapadia for A NIGHT OF KNOWING NOTHING, a rarely successful combination of poetry and politics, an urgent political statement formulated as an idiosyncratic, captivating weave of self-made and found images, texts and sounds.
YOUTH JURY COMPETITION
Jury statement: After due consideration and thorough discussion, we, the youth jury award this year’s Südwind prize to a film that made us laugh, cry, think, empathize but also understand that politics directly and tragically affect the lives of individuals. Through the eyes of a child, we are introduced to the dichotomies of existence. We see corruption, but also solidarity. We see humiliation, brutality and injustice, but also generosity, friendship and love. The film deals with topical issues like migration and belonging and it gave us a form of narrative satisfaction and even a sense of comforting closure. The multi-faceted camera with its many different perspectives and its look at different ethnicities and cultures fascinated us. That is why we are happy to present the youth award of this year’s IFFI to Mano Khalil and his extraordinary film NEIGHBOURS.
AUDIENCE AWARD
You can find all jury members here.
The IFFI - International Film Festival Innsbruck will take place for its 31st edition at cinematograph-leokino from 24 to 29 May 2022. Selected festival films will be available via IFFI stream on our website from 30 May to 8 June 2022.
