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Sunday 11.3.2001
Finland Wins After Lull of Thirty Years
PV Lehtinen's Diver took the big ones
PV Lehtinen's Diver (Hyppääjä) took the festival's Grand Prix. The last time Finland received this award was in 1971 for Hannu Peltomaa's Rantojen Miehet.
Diver made history by winning the Finnish Competition's Main Prize for films under 30 minutes as well as the Risto Jarva prize. Lehtinen's film also received the vote of the Finnish Competition's Junior Jury. Never before in the history of the festival has one film taken all the major awards.
PV Lehtinen, Winner of the Main Prize.
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A shortage of experimental films in the International Competition
Sixty-five films from 37 countries were chosen for the International Competition. The Brothers Quay film In Absentia, from the United Kingdom, won the Atom Films Special Prize of the Jury Award. As the jury explained:
”In recognition of this film's unique cinematic style and haunting atmosphere, this award is presented to two very original makers of contemporary cinema today.”
The United International Pictures Prix was given to Mårten Nilsson and David Flamholc for Svitjod 2000+, a ”whimsical and formally inventive film” from Sweden.
Best Animation went to France's Helene Moinerie for D'une Cité L'autre. The jury praised its ”exacting rhythm and pace, rigorously executed montage, and dancing fluid color”.
The Best Documentary was won by India's Ashish Avikunthak for Kalighat Athikatha, commended for its "brave personal vision”.
The Belgian movie, Chambre Froide, by Olivier Masset-Depassen won the award for Best Fiction. Chambre Froide's strengths were described as the exceptional acting performances and intelligent script.
The International Competition's Junior Jury award went to Germany's Sylvia Dahmen for Hood, a film which "skillfully combines old tales with the cruel reality of today's world”.
A regrettably easy job for the Finnish Jury
Twenty-seven films took part in the Finnish Competition, among them few real short films, demonstrating what the jury referred to as a puzzling absence of story-telling. The prize for films over 30 minutes was given to Marja Pensala for Sielunpimennys (Eclipse of the Soul).
Four films received Special Prizes: Alexis Kouros' Seuraavaa Lentoa Odotellessa (Waiting for Godot at De Gaulle), Reetta Neittaanmäki's Savijalka (Clayfeet), Stefan Randström's Naken i New York (Naked in New York), and Sami Hantula's Poloiset ja Paranormaali. Hanna Miettinen's Kiltit Tytöt (Good Girls) took the Finnlab & Kodak Award.
A new award this year was the Jameson Short Film Award, worth FIM 36 000 (FIM 6 000 more than the Finnish Competition's Main Prize) awarded to Aleksi Salmenperä for Onnenpeli 2001 (Ferry-Go-Round). The jury found the sponsor's power somewhat problematic: the Jameson award was to be given to a fictional short film.
A new award this year was the Jameson Short Film Award, worth FIM 36 000 (FIM 6 000 more than the Finnish Competition's Main Prize) awarded to Aleksi Salmenperä for Onnenpeli 2001 (Ferry-Go-Round). The jury found the sponsor's power somewhat problematic: the Jameson award was to be given to a fictional short film.
The Risto Jarva Jury awarded a Diploma of Merit to Max Lindholm for Takatalvi. No diplomas were awarded by the Finnish Jury.
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