International Competition
GRAND PRIX
5 000 € + Statuette “Kiss”
(City of Tampere)
DAS ROTOHR
RED EARS
Paul Drey | Germany 2022 | Animation, Documentary | 30 min
Because there are very few cinematographic works that dare to tackle this “elephant in the room” that is the contemporary omnipresence of colonialism, this family secret in the complex and apparently polite relationship between Africa and the West. And even less works that manage to do so, with as much modesty and delicacy, avoiding the pitfalls of the emptiness of good intentions and the cynicism and egocentricity of our time.
The film maker mixes with a singular form and with elegance different techniques and uses with accuracy the animation to question with sincerity and without concession his own position, using his own story to make eminently political questions and, in the end, always valuing the human relationships.
Tampere Short Film Candidate For The European Film Awards 2023
DAS ROTOHR
RED EARS
Paul Drey | Germany 2022 | Animation, Documentary | 30 min
The Tampere Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards 2023 is a documentary that for us must carry the voice of the Europe we dream of, and that manages to do so through a formally rich, intelligent and deeply human film.
BEST ANIMATION
1 500 € + Statuette “Kiss”
KOERKORTER
DOG-APARTMENT
Priit Tender | Estonia | 2022 | Animation | 15 min
The International Jury wanted to recognize a film that displays mastery of technique and rhythm and provides a clever critique of capitalism while managing to bring a quality of lightness. This tragicomic animation film captivates us with its cohesive and absorbing ambience.
BEST FICTION
1 500 € + Statuette “Kiss”
(United Parcel Service Finland)
DID IT HURT?
Nathan Carreon Lim | Thailand | 2022 | Fiction | 24 min
The International Jury was fascinated by a visually impressive film which bravely interweaves different tones, styles and atmospheres in storytelling. As a kind of visual memory piece, it interprets a real story and, in a remarkably meditative manner, delves deep into the relationship to violence within a coming-of-age story.
BEST DOCUMENTARY
1 500 € + Statuette “Kiss”
AWAY
Ruslan Fedotow | Hungary, Portugal, Belgium | 2022 | Documentary | 29 min
The International Jury was impressed and deeply moved by this film’s ability to convey the impact of war on its young subjects and by its portrayal of art as a vital means of processing trauma and expressing both pain and hope. For the filmmaker to do so while using a style that is so sensitive, delicate and unobtrusive, and from a perspective that is outside that of the subjects yet remains respectful and free of appropriation, makes the achievement here all the more remarkable.
International Competition, Special Mention
SCENIC VIEW
Maija Blåfield | Finland | 2023 | Experimental, Documentary | 16 min
The selection of films at the International Competition of this year’s Tampere Film Festival is in many ways a proof of the development of the art of film beyond the borders of the traditional categories of fiction, documentary and animation; there are hybrid films that combine the creative potential of different modes of cinematic expression, and there are films that explore new grounds in ways that those traditional categories do not always do justice to.
This is something we hope the festival will take into consideration in their future thinking of the awards hierarchy, and, in lack of a specific award for these brave and bold films, we wanted to give a very special special mention to a beautiful, adventurous, subversive, playful, organic film that investigates the terms of perception and transcends categories.
International Competition, Special Mention
SOMBRA VERTICAL
VERTICAL SHADOW
Felipe Elgueta, Ananke Pereira | Chile | 2022 | Documentary | 14 min
The International Jury wanted to give a special mention for its radicality, simplicity, visual quality and efficiency to a documentary that serves as a metaphor of human condition.
International Competition, Special Mention
DET AUTENTISKA JAGET
Olof Bendz, Fred Bendz, Peter Malmgren, Simon Folger | Sweden | 2022 | Fiction | 8 min
The film got a special mention for its humour, understanding, close attention to detail and great acting.
International Competition, Audience Award
DAS ROTOHR
RED EARS
Paul Drey | Germany 2022 | Animation, Documentary | 30 min
National Competition
Under 30 minutes
Main Prize
5 000 €
(Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle)
SCENIC VIEW
Maija Blåfield | Finland | 2023 | Experimental, Documentary | 16 min
The National Jury appreciated the skillful way in which this film subverted genre expectations to create a humourous yet thought-provoking commentary on how we look at nature.
Special Prize
1 500 €
(Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle)
PERIAATEKYSYMYS
A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE
Anton Lipasti, Eetu Helenius | Finland | 2022 | Fiction | 9 min
The National Jury was charmed by the humour and simplistic screenwriting of this film that turns an ordinary event into something extraordinary.
Prize Of The Youth Jury
BLUE NOTE
Pavel Andonov | Finland | 2022 | Fiction | 23 min
With its style and cinematography, the film creates a haunting, somber atmosphere that promises an experience that won’t leave you for a long time. It touches upon a controversial topic from a perspective not often explored and leaves the viewer weeping and wondering.
Tampere Nominee For The European Short Film Audience Award
BLUE NOTE
Pavel Andonov | Finland 2022 | Fiction | 23 min
National Competition
Over 30 minutes
Main Prize
5 000 €
(Finnkino Oy)
WANHA MARKKU
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Markus Toivo | Finland | 2023 | Documentary | 61 min
It requires a lot of skill and also courage to take a deeply personal story and turn it into a film that speaks to a universal audience. The themes of family, parenthood and intergenerational trauma are portrayed in a painful yet hopeful way in this film..
Special Prize
1 500 €
(The Promotion Centre for Audiovisual Culture AVEK)
UNIVERSUMIN KAIUT – KAIJA SAARIAHON MUSIIKKI
ECHOES OF THE UNIVERSE – KAIJA SAARIAHO’S MUSIC
Riitta Rask | Finland | 2022 | Documentary | 80 min
It is a film we’ve all been waiting for. An intimate and carefully structured invitation into the world of one of the greatest living composers.
National Competition
Both series
Risto Jarva Prize
10 000 €
(Finnish Film Foundation)
BLUSH – AN EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE
Iiti Yli-Harja | Finland | 2022 | Animation, Documentary | 15 min
Risto Jarva Award is an annual film industry award, given out by the Finnish Film Foundation and awarded to a new Finnish film that is fresh, distinctive, and original.
During the festival the Jury saw films that were innovative both in format and content. The works have been striking, impressive and have opened up new viewpoints to many worlds, and even to space.
This year’s winning film is light as powder, on its surface. The story joyously utilizes sci-fi conventions, and the adventure it takes the viewer on is entertaining, grasping and profoundly moving.
Although it is glitz and glam, friendship, cheese balls and make-up, below are heavy themes: it’s about human rights, violence and even death.
The Church Media Foundation Prize
1 500 €
(The Church Media Foundation)
WANHA MARKKU
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Markus Toivo | Finland | 2023 | Documentary | 61 min
This year, among the 36 programmes in the national competition, there were several programs in accordance with the foundation’s award criteria. This winning documentary tells how an adult son is looking for a connection with his father, a connection he couldn’t find in his childhood when his father never looked towards him.
The frame narrative of the film is the completion of a metal gate at the end of the road leading to the homestead, a home that father built, but which, decades later, is still partially in progress, like many other things around the yard and perhaps in his life in general. Slowly the son and the father approach each other and new, perhaps hidden, thoughts open for each of them, about each other’s lives and about the models of men that they have received in the past. With the completion of the gate, the son and the father also seem to find a way to each other, imperfect but ready to accept each other as they are. Forgiveness and acceptance open the gates to a common path.
Sustainability Award Verso
2 000 €
(Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle, City of Tampere, Audiovisual Producers Finland – APFI)
CRIME ALLEY
Pekka Johan Paalanen | Finland | 2022 | Fiction | 33 min
The winner of the Sustainability Award Verso was the film that convinced the jury that the ecological aspects of the production were comprehensive.
The choices made behind the camera have been integrated as a part of the sustainable development goals, and the jury concluded that a similar understanding of our industry should be seen more in pre-production as well as a part of overall communication. In this film the concept of biodiversity was understood. Instead of natural waters, filming was organized in a swimming pool, the crew used thought and time to utilize natural light, and behind-the-scenes events were communicated to the audience in the form of making-of videos.
Sustainability Award Verso, Special Mention
TUULIKKI
Teemu Nikki | Finland | 2022 | Fiction | 14 min
With this applicant, the operations of the production company really stood out, and it seems that a systematic change has clearly been achieved in the work community – that is certainly a goal that we all have. For this production company, being environmentally friendly is a value that is visibly taken into account already when one starts to recruit. The company sees “smallness as their strength” and even though the movie’s crew was small, from day one the environmental work was distributed as a joint matter and not just on one person’s shoulders.
Golden Shade Equipment Rental Prize For Cinematographer
20 000 €
(Valofirma – The Light House, Kamerafirma – The Camera House)
WANHA MARKKU
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
CINEMATOGRAPHER Joel Grandell | Finland | 2023 | Documentary | 61 min
The subtle images of this cinematographer are captivating and well-thought-out. The camera is present but also gives space for the people and complex emotions that are being portrayed.
Tampere Film Festival Student Award
1 500€
(The Union of Film and Media Employees Finland SET)
BLUE NOTE
Pavel Andonov | Finland | 2022 | Fiction | 23 min
National Competition, Audience Award
HASSISEN KONE 40 VUOTTA MYÖHEMMIN
HASSISEN KONE 40 YEARS AFTER
Mika Kaurismäki | Finland 2023 | Documentary | 81 min
Generation XYZ
BEST GENRE FILM
2 000 €
(Audiovisual Producers Finland – APFI)
CARRION
RAATO
Yvonne Zhang | United States | 2022 | Fiction | 22 min
This film is extremely well acted, beautifully shot and its director and creators master the art of cinematic storytelling. The story carries the audience through sorrow and dread, when losing a loved one becomes one’s worst fear.
Generation XYZ, Special Mention
MANTRA
Stef Meyer, Pascal Bourelier | France | 2022 | Fiction | 18 min
The film carries the viewer through the horrendous experience seen through two pairs of eyes, until nature takes back at its tormentor. This is a horror made of entomophobiac’s worst nightmares.
Generation XYZ, Special Mention
HEIKI ON THE OTHER SIDE
Katariina Aule | Estonia | 2022 | Fiction | 15 min
Even dying is not easy if you are penniless, and coming back to life could cost a relative their safe trip to Hades. For its blend of black humor and empathy for its lead character, and for showing us a simple path to find the meaning of life, the Generation XYZ Jury wanted to award the special mention to Heiki on the Other Side.
Generation XYZ, Audience Award
ORFEO
ORPHEUS
Roberto Telles | Mexico | 2022 | Fiction | 30 min
