The 9th annual Odesa International Film Festival has concluded after granting awards to the winners during the closing ceremony on July 21.
The festival presented the Golden Duke statuettes to the best works in the international and national competition programs and also announced the winner of the Grand Prix.
The festival was held on July 13-21 and screened over 100 movies from over 40 countries. The program also included a series of workshops and public talks.
During his speech at the ceremony, Culture Minister Yevhen Nyshchuk described the Odesa International Film Festival as a major film and cultural event.
“It’s the evidence that we are part of the European and world cinematography context. That we are growing and developing,” Nyshchuk said.
The festival presented the Grand Prix to Belarusian director Darya Zhuk for her film “Crystal Swan,” which tells the story of a woman living in Belarus and dreaming of moving to the United States.
The Grand Prix winner is chosen by the audience, which rated each film after its screening in the competition programs.
The drama “Pity” by Greek director Babis Makridis took two awards: Best Film and Best Director in the international competition.
Belgian actor Victor Polster took Best Acting in the international program for his impressive transformation into a teenage transgender girl in the drama “Girl.”
The jury also gave awards to the best works in the national competition.
Georgian director and screenwriter Levan Koguashvili, one of the jury members, said he enjoyed watching the Ukrainian films.
“Now I am sure that the future of this bright (Ukrainian) cinematography is in good hands,” he said from the stage.
Ukrainian director Oleksandr Techynskyi’s documentary “Delta” won Best Ukrainian Feature Film for its depiction of people living by the delta of the Danube River.
Filmmaker Tonia Noyabrova, whose film “Hero of My Time” premiered at the festival, took home Best Ukrainian Director.
“Every time when somebody didn’t agree to work with me because they didn’t believe in me or in my idea, I was imagining this exact moment,” Noyabrova said holding the Golden Duke.
And Anastasia Poustovit, who played a teenage girl from a small town whose dreams are falling apart in the drama “When the Trees Fall,” received the prize for the best acting performance in the Ukrainian competition program.
Additionally, the film “Home Games” by Ukrainian director Alisa Kovalenko won the European documentary competition.
Although the 9th Odesa International Film Festival is over, the organizers have already started preparing for next year’s 10-year anniversary event.
