"The award is a way of encouraging young filmmakers to deal with really important issues at a time when the film industry has more and more assumed the shape and form of a butchery and fornication business!"
These are the words of the late Ingmar Bergman, the filmmaker presided over a homegrown Göteborg International Film Festival for more than a decade and fest organizer came up with a great way to honor his vision: by setting up a yearly award to encourage new talent. Last year Andrea Arnold's Red Road was honored and this year the TIBIDA jury of Margarethe von Trotta, Pen-ek Ratanaruang, István Szabó and Kim Rossi Stuart.
The prize consists of one week's stay at the Bergman Week on Fårö during the summer of 2008, a box of Bergman DVDs from the Bergman foundation and a beautiful engraved stone from Ingmar Bergman's Fårö.
The nominees for TIBIDA 2008 are:
Ilmar Raag, Estonia, for The Class
Ilmar Raag delivers an almost chocking film with an important content similar to the one in Elephant. The film is Estonias contribution to the Oscars. The Class is Raag’s first film.
Jaime Rosales, Spain, for Solitary Fragments
Jaime Rosales does not only deliver every day realism – but hyper realism. The slowness in his film contributes to making the characteres alive. Rosales made his debut in 2003 with The Hours Of The Day, which was screened Cannes was awarded the FIPRESCI award. Solitary Fragments is his second film which also was screened in Cannes.
Céline Sciamma, France, for Water Lilies
A right on the spot and often surprisingly funny film about the torture of the first (sexual) love. Water Lilies is Céline Sciammas first film.
Ann-Kristin Reyels, Germany, for Hounds
Christmas dinner turns into a hilaroius and painful story in this low key and beautiful version of The Ice Storm. The film was awarded the prize of the inernational film critics in Berlin last year. Hounds is Ann-Kristin reyel’s first film.
Stéphane Lafleur, Canada, for Continental, a Film Without Guns
Stephane Lafleurs strangely uplifting and very funny story about loneliness has already been compared to Roy Andersson as well as Aki Kaurismäki, Continental, a Film Without Guns is his second film.
The award ceremony will take place Saturday February 2.
