The Winners of Küstendorf Film Festival
The sixth and final day of the Küstendorf Film Festival began with a legendary film, featured in the Retrospective of Greatness section:1900 by Bernardo Bertolucci (Part One & Part Two). This epic tale never grows old as audiences observe class struggle in twentieth century Italy, seen through the eyes of two childhood friends on opposing sides.
The section Contemporary Trends featured Boys Cry by Damiano & Fabio D’Innocenzo, focusing on the story of two best friends — Mirko and Manolo — in the suburbs of Rome. After the screening there was a Workshop with directors Damiano & Fabio D’Innocenzo.
One cannot leave Küstendorf without visiting another town that was built by Emir Kusturica, Andrićgrad. The town is dedicated to Yugoslav novelist and Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andrić, and means “Andrić’s town.” Construction of Andrićgrad, started on 28 June 2011, and was officially opened on 28 June 2014, on Vidovdan. The town is also known as Kamengrad, which signifies “Stonetown,” since all houses are built in stone, as opposed to the wooden homes in Drvengrad. Unlike Kustendorf that is nestled in Serbia, Andrićgrad is is in Višegrad, which is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Close to the town is the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and stretches from the bridge up to the confluence of the Rzav River. The main painter of Andrićgrad – Bisenija Tereščenko — has done a mosaic that resembles being in the nature, socializing and visiting Višegrad. The idea of a mural with members of “Mlada Bosna” was inspired by Prof. Kusturica, who wanted to perpetuate the memory of the young men who gave their lives for the ideals of freedom. She recently inaugurated a new exhibit where her works are displayed at The Andrić Institute.
The 12th edition of the Küstendorf Film and Music Festival was wrapped up with a joyous and inspirational Awards & Closing Ceremony in The Damned Yard Theatre. After performances by Svetozar Marković folklore ensemble and Svetlana Spaјić group, Professor Emir Kusturica was awarded by His Royal Heritage Zolani Mkiva and named as Peoples Artist of the Year.
The official Kustendorf awards were then handed to the winners as decided by the jury. Ilaria Di Carlo and Saša Karanović received Special Mentions for their films The Divine Way and Costacurta. Karanović was singled out for the creative ambition and the challenging insights of a promising filmmaker, while Di Carlo received her award for the choreographic and aesthetic artistry of her film. Vilko Filač Award for Best Cinematography was given to Natalia Pietsch, for its strong mood matching perfectly with this overall good movie. And for its arresting combination of production design and lighting complementing its sensitive camera movement in Iwo Kondefer’s I’ve got something for you too.
The director of the festival, from the very first edition chose the egg as the symbol of the Kustendorf awards. In many cultures around the world, the egg is a symbol of new life, fertility and rebirth. Hence it holds an auspicious promise to those burgeoning filmmakers who present their first shorts in Drevengrad and receive recognition. The Bronze Egg went to Mikkel Storm Glomstein for the impressive efficiency of its message and the mind opening blow it gives to our human ego in Being More Like Bagsy. Ognjen Petković received Silver Egg for Autumn Waltz and the Jury praised the originality of its universe, quality of direction and the strength of the scenario. Finally, the Golden Egg was awarded to Corina Schwingruber Ilić for All Inclusive, while films humor, elegant execution and unexpected take on the planet at this time were the reasoning behind jury’s decision. Kustendorf jury members Stana Katić, Slobodan Despot, Tancrede Ramonet and Michael Amathieu declared that they have decided to reward not only skills and craftsmanship but to acknowledge the understanding of our time, originality and the connection to the zeitgeist.
