Love According to Dalva Wins Grand Prix at 52nd Molodist KIFF

30 October 2023 | Source
Scythian Deer Statuettes. Image: Molodist KIFF
Scythian Deer Statuettes. Image: Molodist KIFF
The 52nd Molodist Kyiv Film Festival (KIFF) has awarded its Grand Prix to Love According to Dalva, a debut feature film by Emmanuelle Nicot. The festival also recognized the best films in its international, national, and documentary competitions, as well as the audience and children’s choice awards. The Scythian deer award for a significant contribution to Ukrainian cinema was given to film expert Oksana Musienko.

The 52nd Molodist Kyiv Film Festival (KIFF), which took place from October 23 to 31, has announced its winners. The festival’s main prize, the Grand Prix, went to Love According to Dalva, a first feature film by Emmanuelle Nicot from France and Belgium. The film tells the story of a young woman who tries to reconnect with her father after he is released from prison. The Grand Prix winner received a Scythian deer statuette and $5,000 from the state lottery operator M.S.L and Loto Zabava.

The international competition jury awarded the best feature film prize to The Lost Boys by Zeno Graton from Belgium and France. The film follows three brothers who embark on a road trip across Europe in search of their estranged mother. The jury also gave special mentions to Hoard by Luna Carmoon from the United Kingdom and 20,000 Species of Bees by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren from Spain.

The best student film prize in the international competition went to Tutti by Alla Savytska from Ukraine. The film depicts the life of a young woman who works as a clown in a children’s hospital. The winner received a Scythian deer statuette and $2,000 from the international video production company Amo Pictures. The jury also praised The Voice Of Others by Fatima Kaci from France and The Silence Of The Banana Trees by Eneos Çarka from Hungary, Belgium, Portugal, and Albania.

The short films section of the international competition was won by Things Unheard Of by Ramazan Kilic from Turkey. The film explores the relationship between a deaf father and his hearing son. The jury also gave special mentions to La Perra by Carla Melo Gampert from Colombia and France and The Left Behind by Aurelie Olivéira Pernet from Switzerland and Portugal.

The documentary competition for feature documentary debut films was dominated by Pushing Boundaries by Lesia Kordonetz from Switzerland. The film follows four women who challenge gender stereotypes in their professions. The winner received a Scythian deer statuette and 75 000 UAH from Kyivstar TV. The jury also commended The Eclipse by Nataša Urban from Norway and Anhell69 by Theo Montoya from Colombia, Romania, France, and Germany.

The national short film competition was won by Questionnaire by Nataliya Ilchuk from Ukraine. The film uses archival footage to reconstruct the life of a Soviet dissident. The jury also gave special mentions to Where He Stepped by Yehor Harmash and Voice Messages from Bakhmut by Ihor Babaiev, both from Ukraine.

The audience award of the 52nd Molodist KIFF was also given to Tutti by Alla Savytska from Ukraine. The children’s jury chose Kiddo by Zara Dwinger from Poland and Netherlands as the best film of the Teen Screen section. Diplomas were also awarded to Bigman by Camiel Schouwenaar from Netherlands and Sea Sparkle by Domien Huyghe from Belgium and Netherlands.

The Scythian deer award for a significant contribution to Ukrainian cinema was presented to Oksana Musienko, a film expert and professor. Christina Tynkevych’s film How Is Katia? was selected as the best film of the National feature competition, which was held earlier in October as part of FILMFEST HAMBURG. The winner received a Scythian deer statuette and $2,500 from the International Institute of Depth Psychology

AD