HONORARY GOLDEN CYCLO (offered by the Agglomeration Community and the city of Vesoul): to M. Lee Yong-kwan, president of BIFF, for his action in favour of the cinema (Korea) and Semih Kaplanoğlu, director, for all of his work (Turkey).
CYCLO D'OR (offered by the Regional Council of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté), International Jury: President: M. Lee Yong-kwan, president of BIFF (Korea), members: Mrs Emily J Hoe, president SGIFF (Singapore), Mr. Yerlan Nurmukhambetov, director (Kazakhstan), M. Mikhail Red, director (Philippines)
THE SALES GIRL by Sengedorj Janchivdorj (Mongolie) A unanimous decision from the International jury, The Sales Girl is warm, heartfelt and charming film showing a clear and confident hand of the director. The performances were strong, and the use of humour and music were particularly effective.
GRAND JURY AWARD
COLD AS MARBLE by Asif Rustamov (Azerbaïdjan) Expertly directed with haunting performances, this examination of our inescapable histories and realities is gripping until its inevitable culmination in cold blood.
JURY PRIZE (offered by the Departmental Council of Haute-Saône): ex-AEQUO
NO END by Nader Saeivar (Iran) For knowing how to tell the tragic story of a little man with few means, in a minimalist way and to transmit the drama visually. A LETTER FROM KYOTO by Kim Min-ju (Korea) It is a very competent film especially from first time feature filmmaker Kim Mingju, A Letter from Kyoto was well acted and confidently addressed generational relationships and challenges, quite universal themes that the audience could relate to and sympathise with the family on their journey.
NETPAC AWARD (NETWORK FOR THE PROMOTION OF ASIAN CINEMA), president: Mrs Bina Paul, co-president NETPAC (India), members: Mrs Diana Ashimova, artistic director (Kazakhstan), Mr. Andreas Ungerböck, journalist (Austria)
COLD AS MARBLE by Asif Rustamov(Azerbaïdjan) For its strong and chilling cinematic narrative of the relationship between father and a son. The jury appreciates the excellent performances of the ensemble cast.
MARC HAAZ AWARD: President: Sheron Dayoc, director (Philippines) members: Vatche Boulghourjiandirector (Lebanon) and Marina Gulbahari, director (Afghanistan)
COLD AS MARBLE by Asif Rustamov(Azerbaïdjan) For its distinctive emotional experience of a father-son relationship, strengthened by the actors' impressive performances.
FILM CRITICS' AWARD, president: M. Naman Ramachandran (Variety); members: Ms. Denitza Bantecheva (Positif), MRs Sophie Guo (RFI)
NO END by Nader saeivar (Iran) For its candid depiction of Iranian society, for the Kafkaesque dimension of the script, for the simplicity and the efficacity of the mise en scène and for the subtle interpretation of all the actors. And we also applaud it as a fine example of cinema of courage.
INALCO JURY PRIZE (offered by the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations), president: Mrs Alexandra de Mersan, members: M. Nicolas Barcikowsky, Mrs Sophie Pham et Mrs Diane Pierrat
BEHIND VEILS by Praveen Morchhale (India) For this critical satire of contemporary India, full of humour and subtlety. The director tackles serious themes with lightness, he stages the absurdity and dysfunction of family, administrative, political and social institutions.
INALCO FAVORITE
A LETTER FROM KYOTO by Kim Min-ju (Korea) The jury was enthusiastic about the way the director is concerned with memory and the Japanese-Korean Identity story.
AUDIENCE AWARD FOR A FICTION FILM (offered by the city of Vesoul)
#LOOKATME by Ken Kwek (Singapore)
AUDIENCE AWARD FOR DOCUMENTARY FILMS (offered by the Agglomeration Community of Vesoul)
MY MOTHER'S LANGUAGE by Jean-Baptiste Phou (France-Cambodia)
YOUNG AWARD (offered by the Agglomeration Community of Vesoul)
ROOTS IN THE WIND by Soraya Akhlaqi (Afghanistan)
The awarded films will be screened at Musée Guimet in Paris (21-23 April 2023) and at INALCO Auditorium in 2023. The 30th edition of the Vesoul IFF Asian Cinemas will take place from February 6 to 13 February 2024.
