Odense International Film Festival

Odense International Film Festival has this week filled the streets of Odense with both national and international film makers, film geeks, film viewers, and film talents and more than 200 films has been shown in the town’s cinemas. 96 short films were in this year’s competition programme and the winners of the 11 film awards have been found.

The winner of this year’s National Grand Prix (best Danish film) was the film 13 by Malou Reymann, who besides from receiving the statuette ‘The Pearl’ will get a monetary award of 25,000 DKK. The choice of 13 as the best Danish film was by the national jury motivated by:

“By unanimous decision, the jury has chosen to award the Grand Prix to a film that is, at the same time, simple and to the point. Moving, surprising and funny. A film that gives us an impressive performance by the leading actor. A film that unpretentiously joins the small and the great drama in an everyday setting.”

The best international film and winner of International Grand Prix this year was Lisa James-Larsson with Little Children, Big Words. Lisa James-Larsson also wins ‘The Pearl’ as well as 25,000 DKK. the jury said about Little Children, Big Words:

“Some times it is the tiniest situations that can invoke the strongest emotions. A teacher asks her pupils a simple question and receives an answer that shocks both the teacher and the audience. The acting moves you and with a sensuous language the audience is taken on a journey through every emotion and is touched and overwhelmed again and again.”

The audience award, which is handed out in corporation with TV2/Fyn and is chosen by the audience of the festival, this year goes to Signe Markvard and her film Asger.

Additionally, the youth jury, which is the class of 8A from Højme Skole in Odense, has chosen the film To all my friends by Behrouz Bigdeli as this year’s best national children’s and youth film and gave this motivation:

“We have chosen the film because it takes place in a rough environment that is realistic to young people like us and we are able to relate to this environment. The story is incredibly exciting and you are quickly gripped. The story describes a strong friendship between two young men, who both had a difficult past. But when the leading character has a difficult choice, he does not know what to do. He has to choose between his best friend and his girlfriend.”

The winners will be revealed at tonight’s great gala, ‘OFF Awards’, which takes place in Den Fynske Opera in Odense at 7 p.m. and the 11 awards will be handed out. Underneath you can see a list of the night’s winners.

The national jury awards:

National Grand Prix (the best Danish film of the year). Winner 2011: 13 by Malou Reymann (price: the statuette ‘The Pearl’ and 25,000 DKK.

Most surprising Danish film of the year. Winner 2011: Fini by Jacob Schulsinger (price: 15,000 DKK).

Most inventive Danish film of the year. Winner 2011: I Touched Her Legs by Eva Maria Rødbro (price: 15,000 DKK).

Special Mention 2011: Thorshammer by Fenar Ahmad.

The international jury awards:

National Grand Prix (the best international film of the year). Winner 2011: Little Children, Big Words by Lisa James-Larsson (price: the statuette ‘The Pearl’ and 25,000 DKK).

Most surprising international film of the year. Winner 2011: The Screamers by Roberto Pérez Toledo (price: 15,000 DKK).

Most inventive international film of the year. Winner 2011: Sunday by Patrick Donyon (price: 15,000 DKK).

Special Mention 2011: Fungus by Charlotta Miller.

The animation jury awards:

Best animation film of the year. Winner 2011: Tussilago by Jonas Odell (price: 15,000 DKK).

Talent award of the year. Winner 2011: Two friends by Paw Charlie Ravn (price: 10,000 DK ).

The youth jury awards:

Best national children’s and youth film of the year. Winner 2011: To all my friends (price: 15,000 DKK).

Best international children’s and youth film of the year. Winner 2011: Child’s Play by Lars Kornhoff (price: 15,000 DKK).

The audience awards:

Winner of TV2/Fyn’s Audience Award 2011: Asger by Signe Markvard.

PlayOFF:

First place: Reused by Mads Outzen (Denmark) (price: campaign film for Greenpeace).

Second place: The Chair by Joonas Mokkonen (Finland) (price: action-apcked weekend with Greenpeace).

Third place: Rotation by Igor Rado (Denmark) (price: action-apcked weekend with Greenpeace).

Pitch me Baby – One More Time:

Winner 2011: Lea Glob for the idea “En fødselshistorie” (price: 30,000 DKK for the development of a manuscript).