Five films supported by the Creative Europe MEDIA programme won the Golden and Silver Bears at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale).
The Hungarian film Teströl és lélekröl (On Body and Soul) directed by Ildikó Enyedihas received the Golden Bear for Best Film. Four other films co-funded by MEDIA programme won Silver Bears.
Félicité by Alain Gomis (France, Senegal, Belgium, Germany, Lebanon) received the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize. Pokot (Spoor) by Agnieszka Holland (Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia) received the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize for a feature film that opens new perspectives.
The Silver Bear for Best Director was awarded to Aki Kaurismäki for Toivon tuolla puolen (The Other Side of Hope), (Finland, Germany). The Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution went to Dana Bunescu for the editing in Ana, mon amour by Călin Peter Netzer (Romania, Germany, France).
Additional MEDIA-supported films received special awards: altogether 10 MEDIA-backed films won a total of 14 awards at Berlinale during this weekend.
Andrus Ansip, Vice-President for Digital Single Market said: “Congratulations to all winners on Berlinale 2017. The MEDIA programme plays an essential role to help European films reach new audiences across borders and the numerous awards are also a great recognition for our efforts to support European cinema with all its richness and diversity. We will continue our work to further support and promote the circulation of European audiovisual works across Europe.”
Altogether 25 films supported by the Creative Europe MEDIA programme participated in the Berlinale programme. These films received over EUR 1.7 million support mainly for film development and distribution outside their home country. Further information on MEDIA-backed award winners can be found here.
