KVIFF Promises, part of the industry program of Karlovy Vary Intl. Film Festival, has unveiled the winners of the Eurimages Co-production Development Award, as well as other prizes.
The Eurimages Co-production Development Award, with a 20,000 Euros ($22,800) cash prize, went to “Selamlik” (Sweden, Denmark), directed by Jerry Carlsson, written by Khaled Alesmael and produced by Frida Mårtensson.
After years of separation, Furat, a Syrian writer exiled in Sweden, travels to Córdoba to reunite with Pierre, the love of his life, whom he left behind when fleeing the war in Syria. Furat hopes to revive the love they once shared. But Pierre arrives guarded, carrying a secret that will change everything.
The jury said, “It’s a story that resonates strongly in today’s geopolitical context, with, unfortunately, too many displaced individuals.”
An additional 20,000 Euros cash prize went to “Reminiscence” (Ukraine), directed and written by Anastasia Tykha, and produced by Darya Bassel.
The jury said, “This award goes to a project led by a female creative team – an emerging director and an established producer – telling a story that explores the universal themes of loss, grief and survival, with the desire to find a way to keep living in today’s Ukraine.”
Three years after her brother Yan vanished in the war, Sasha reluctantly returns from Kyiv to her hometown. There she finds Yan’s photos staged like a shrine and their mother speaking to his uniform. Unable to talk about it, Sasha wanders around town and reconnects with Slava, Yan’s childhood friend and a veteran with quiet PTSD. Their renewed bond unlocks memories she has long suppressed.
The Connecting Cottbus Award also went to “Reminiscence.”
The Midpoint and KVIFF Development Award, which comes with 10,000 Euros cash prize, went to “They Bloom at Dawn” (North Macedonia), directed and written by Angela Dimeska, and produced by Ognen Antov.
The jury said it was “a project about human and family relationships in the context of an environmental crisis,” and added “it brings a community together and reminds us that personal courage and collective responsibility are closely linked.”
After her grandfather dies, restless Rosa returns to her grandparents’ remote lakeside village. When she discovers she is pregnant, she chooses to remain there after the funeral. Meanwhile, Rosa’s grandmother Jana begins fighting investors determined to build a luxury resort on the lakeshore, threatening the village’s way of life.
The winner of the Rotterdam Lab Award was Monika Matuszewska, producer of the film “Confirmation” (Poland).
The Marché du Film Producers Network Award went to Tomáš Hrubý, producer of “Cowgirl” (Czech Republic), and Eva Váchová, producer of “A Few Branches Off” (Czech Republic), both from the KVIFF Central Stage showcase.
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