Stunning Evening,Beautiful Day Takes Top Prize at filmfestival Cottbus 2023
COTTBUS,Germany – Ivona Juka’s Beautiful Evening,Beautiful Day,a co-production between Croatia,Canada,Poland,cyprus,and Bosnia and Herzegovina,claimed the Audience award as FilmFestival Cottbus 2023 concluded its run. The 35th edition of the festival, spotlighting cinema from central and Eastern Europe, unveiled its winners today, recognizing a diverse slate of films and filmmakers.
FilmFestival Cottbus serves as a crucial platform for emerging and established voices in the region, offering a gateway to international distribution and recognition. The festival’s awards carry significant weight within the industry, often launching careers and bolstering the visibility of independent productions. This year’s selections underscore a continuing trend toward co-productions and stories exploring complex social and personal themes.
Katarína Gramatová’s film from the Czech Republic received the FIPRESCI Award, recognizing critical acclaim. Krzysztof Skonieczny’s Wrooklyn Zoo (poland) earned the FIPRESCI Award, supported by production companies głęboki OFF, ZQ Entertainment, and R.U. Robot Studios, with additional backing from Canal+ Polska, Juice, and Dolnośląskie Centrum Filmowe, and funding from the Polish Film institute and Lower Silesian Film Fund.
Emília Goldberg’s Mayflies / Pipas (Hungary) was honored with the Award of the Ecumenical Jury, while ester Ivakič’s Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song / Ida, ki je pela tako grdo, da so še mrtvi vstali od mrtvih in zapeli z njo (Slovenia, Croatia) received an Honorable Mention from the same jury. The Slovenian-Croatian film benefited from production by Temporama and co-production support from RTV Slovenija, Gustav Film, Film Factory, and Dinaridi Film, alongside funding from the Slovenian Film Centre and technical assistance from FS Viba.
Olga Kosanović’s Land der Berge (Austria, germany) secured the MIOB in Shorts Award. Branko Tomović was recognized with the PICKASTORY – Audience Logline Award, and roman Pernack received the Promotional Award of the Foundation for the Sorbian People.
