Awards, music and emotion during the closing of the 32nd São Paulo International Film Festival
< >

Being present TV host Serginho Groisman and directors of Mostra, Leon Cakoff and Renata de Almeida, the closing ceremony and the handling of prizes to the winners of the 32 São Paulo International Film Festival took place at Teatro Paulo Autran, at Sesc Pinheiros on Thursday, October 30th. For the traditional Mostra closing festivity, SESC was also chosen as the right place for the closing show, presenting actress, filmmaker and singer Maria de Medeiros.

The winner of the night, The Stranger in Me, by Emily Atef, was unanimously chosen by the international juri, composed by Hugh Hudson, Jorge Bodanzky, Meinolf Zurhorst, Nicolas Klotz, and Samira Makhmalbaf, Susanne Wolff, the main character of the film, received the prize as Best Actress. Hudson, jury spokesman, said the production is a daring film, since it treats a common situation, like post-partum depression, with great sensibility, though it is normally treated as taboo by society.

The prize was given to Emily by actors Benício Del Toro and Rodrigo Santoro, who are part of the cast of Che, by Steven Soderbergh, chosen as the closing film of the 32nd São Paulo International Film Festival. Just as Laura Bickford, Rodrigo said it was a great honor to be at the closing of Mostra, and Benício called Emily Atef to the stage. The director thanked him and commented it was not easy to make the film, as many people in Germany were afraid of the theme.

In the audience opinion, the Best Foreign Fiction Feature Film was Jodhaa Akbar, by Ashutosh Gowariker, a daring film of the Hindu cinema, concerning religious and cultural tolerance. The prize of Best Film for the Critic, delivered by journalist Ana Paula de Souza, was given to the film Our Beloved Month of August, by Miguel Gomes. Ana Paula pointed out that this was a foreign film, discovered by Mostra, an organization that maintains its vocation of giving prestige to that film segment.

Children of the Pyre, by Rajesh S.Jala, was chosen the Best Documentary.In 2008, Mostra created a parallel jury, composed by Laís Bodanzky, Heitor Dhalia and Caio Gullane, to evaluate only documentaries, for there was not enough time for the international jury to accomplish such task. The jury of documentaries also gave the Special Prize of the Jury to KFZ-1348, by Gabriel Mascaro and Marcelo Pedroso, and also a Special Mention to Meeting Andrei Trakovsky, by Dmitry Trakvosky

The audience chose Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love, by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Best Foreign Documentary, and Loki Arnaldo Batista, by Paulo Henrique Fontenelle, Best Brazilian Documentary. Elizabeth Chai said she felt honored by the prize, and even more so because her father grew up in Brazil and she enjoyed many a summer holiday in Rio de Janeiro. Paulo Henrique Fontenelle pointed out that it was a real thrill to participate in the São Paulo International Film Festival, as it was here that Arnaldos story began. For the audience, the Best Brazilian Fiction Feature Film was Apenas o Fim, by Matheus de Souza.

Composed by Di Moretti, Ângela de Jesus and Iago Sartini, the jury of medium length and short films gave prizes for Best Medium Length to Bode Rei, Cabra Rainha, by Helena Tassara; Best Brazilian Short to Monkey Joy, by Amir Admoni; Best International Short Length to Death Valley Superstar, by Michael Yaroshevsky and Citation to Lives in the Trash, by Alexandre Stockler.

A Teleimage Award for finalization was also granted, and winners were: Best Feature Film, Apenas o Fim, by Matheus de Souza; Best Short Film, Monkey Joy, by Amir Admoni and Best Brazilian Medium Length Film, Bode Rei, Cabra Rainha, by Helena Tassara.

For nine years in a row, Mostra promoted Festival da Juventude (Youngsters Festival), with free screenings for high school students, who gave the Youth Prize to Verônica, by Maurício Farias. German filmmaker Wim Wenders, who was given carte-blanche for a selection of films which were part of the 32ª Mostra, received the Humanity Award.
To close a night of festivity and emotions, Portuguese actress, filmmaker and singer Maria de Medeiros stepped onto the stage of Teatro Paulo Autran to sing the repertoire of her CD A Little More Blue, interpreting compositions by Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil.

32nd SÃO PAULO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Best film Jury Prize: The Stranger in Me, by Emily Atef, Germany
Best Actress Jury Prize: Susanne Wolff, for The Stranger in Me, Germany
Best Foreign Fiction Feature Film: Audience Award: Jodhaa Akbar, by Ashutosh Gowariker, India
Best Foreign Documentary Audience Award: Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love, by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, USA
Best Brazilian DocumentaryAudience Award: Loki Arnaldo Baptista, by Paulo Henrique Fontenelle
Best Brazilian Fiction Feature Film Audience Award: Apenas o Fim, by Matheus de Souza
Best Documentary Jury Award: Crianças da Pira, by Rajesh S. Jala, India
Special Jury Award Documentary KFZ-1348, by Gabriel Mascaro and Marcelo Pedroso, Brazil
Jury Special Mention Documentary Meeting Andrei Tarkovsky, by Dmitry Trakovsky
Best International Short Film Jury Award: Death Valley Superstar, by Michael Yaroshevsky, Canada
Best Brazilian Short Film- Jury Award: Monkey Joy, Amir Admoni
Best Brazilian Medium Length Film Jury Award: Bode Rei, Cabra Rainha, by Helena Tassara
Special Mention for Short Length - Jury Award: Lives in the Trash, by Alexandre Stockler, Brazil
Best Feature Film Finalization Teleimage Award: Apenas o Fim, by Matheus de Souza, Brasil
Bedst Short Film - Finalization Teleimage Award: Monkey Joy, by Amir Admoni, Brazil, Holland
Best Brazilian Medium Length Finalization Teleimage Award: Bode Rei, Cabra Rainha, by Helena Tassara
Best Film Critics Award Our Beloved Month of August, by Miguel Gomes, Portugal
Best Film Youth Award: Verônica, by Maurício Farias, Brazil
Humanity Award Wim Wenders, German filmmaker, the 32nd São Paulo International Film Festival special honorable guest

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA

43ª MOSTRA INTERNACIONAL DE CINEMA