The seventh Short Film Festival winner was announced on Saturday night at the official closing ceremony

The Main Prize and 5,000 euro went to Aglaée by the French director Rudi Rosenberg. The film tells the story of Benoit who loses a bet against his friends in the school yard. His dare: to ask Aglaée, a disabled student, to go out with him. The jury was impressed by the sensitive, but also a hard hitting portrait of generation, that has both magical moments, heightened realism and unexpected humor, all together by strong lead performances and a superb supporting cast.

The first Special Mention went to swedish director Jens Assur and his film Killing the Chickens to Scare the Monkeys. Nine scenes set in the People’s Republic of China, where national politics and strategy have unforeseen consequences for one life. The jury was intrigued by the film’s minimalistic, clear visual art and the ethic messagge.

The second Special Mention went to Until the River Runs Red directed by Paul Wright about sixteen-year-old Chloe who is travelling around with her parents, she spends her days roaming the secluded countryside searching for the mythical “Red River”. “Original innovative filmmaking that offers us a new film language, creating poetry of magical moments to bring us a multi – faceted story concerting child kidnapping,” said the jurors.

The third Special Mention went to Danish film To All My Friends (Til alle minne venner) directed by Behrouz Bigdeli. The film tells the story about Mark and Sonny, two punks, who are best friends and have always stuck together. When Mark gets a chance to leave the suburbs, he finds himself in a dilemma. The jury was impressed by a brilliant truthful directing of actors as well as technical ability to create original sensitive filmmaking.

This year’s Audience Award went to the UK film Love at the First Sight by Michael Davies, about romance in the senior house.

Complete festival program

Program of the 7th edition of the Festival is announced in the section Films where all information about the program sections, films and directors biographies could be found.

Tickets will go on sale on January 16 in the box office of Svetozor Cinema. Single ticket price is 70 CZK.

See the catalogue for more information.

Delicatessen

A newcomer to this year’s program, Delicatessen, will present famous short films - the crème de la crème of short cinematography.Many of these now classic films were made by directors that have since made their mark in feature film. However, there are gems from filmmakers unknown to today’s audiences. One example is the legendary 1963 film by Chris Marker, The Pier, which was the predecessor of the much more famous 12 Monkeys, by Terry Gilliam. These not-to-be-missed milestones include the foundation of a new understanding of film - Un Chien Andalou, with which Luis Buñuel and Salvator Dali scared their audience to death in 1929. Also, there is The First Day on the Job, a representative of a different century responsible for a new phenomenon of politically incorrect comedies that don’t stop at anything.

Small Big World

This year’s festival will for the first time include a program block just for nine to eleven-year-olds. It will feature playful, funny and imaginative films about children and the trouble they run into at this age.The films will be screened in the original language with easy-to-read Czech subtitles made specifically for children. Small Big World will be shown in the morning on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Svetozor. The festival will also have offer a special screening for elementary schools at 10 AM on Thursday, January 19, 2012. For more information, contact the production department: grossova@pragueshorts.com

Panorama a.k.a. award-winning films

The traditional Panorama section will this year feature an Oscar winner (Best Short Film) God of Love by American director and lead actor Luke Matheny, winner of the European Film Academy award – Terry Gilliam’s The Wholly Family, and the last project of controversial Korean director Chan-wook and his brother Park Chan-kyong Night Fishing, winner of this year’s Berlinale.