Winning Films of the Baltic Debuts Film Festival Announced

SVETLOGORSK. The winner of the Grand Prix at the 12th Baltic Film Debuts International Film Festival, which ended the day before in the resort town of Svetlogorsk, Kaliningrad Region, was a picture of the joint Swedish-Norwegian production “Dream in Swedish” directed by Ronnie Sandal.

The main competition program also featured films of young filmmakers from Lithuania, Germany, Latvia, Russia, France, Finland, the Netherlands, Estonia, Denmark, as well as joint production of these countries.

So, the awards for the best directorial work were awarded to the melodramatic film “Summer Sangali” by Alante Kavaite, which is a joint production of filmmakers from France, the Netherlands and Lithuania. Actress Esther Maria Pitch, who played the role in the German film “Someone Nearby”, directed by Jacob M. Herva, was awarded with a special prize “For the bright and accurate disclosure of a complex role”. The award in the nomination "For the disclosure of the theme of the modern hero" was received by the director of the picture "Zero Point" Mihkel Ulk from Estonia.

The Russian military drama "The Road to Berlin" directed by Sergei Popov, presented in the program "Russian Premieres" won the sympathy of the audience of Baltic Debuts 2015 and, accordingly, their prize. Vitaly Suslin’s drama "Defile" received the award for film presses. The award with the interpretation "For outstanding contribution to the cinema" was presented to Vladimir Khotinenko.

A special prize from the Governor of the Kaliningrad Region Nikolai Tsukanov marked the historical drama “The Battle of Sevastopol” by Russian director Sergei Mokritsky. The screening of this film on July 26 marked the opening of Baltic Debuts 2015.

In addition to the competition programs, the program of Russian premieres was presented within the framework of the festival, which included films-laureates and participants in prestigious international and all-Russian film festivals. Also at the film forum, programs were presented for young viewers - this is the "World of Animation" and "Cinema for Children."

The international festival “Baltic Debuts” is the only debut show in Russia of the new cinema of the countries of Northern Europe and the Baltic. This year, screenings as part of the film forum were held on the site of the new Yantar Hall pop theater, which is equipped with an auditorium for two thousand seats.

Svetlana Korableva © Gallerix.ru