Main Competition Program Awards Ceremony took place at Sava Center. Micho Manchevski was President of the Jury, and members of the Jury were Jovan Jovanović, Mila Turajlić, Gordan Kičić and Elma Tataragić.
Belgrade Victor for Outstanding Contribution to Film Art was presented to the actress Neda Arnerić by the City of Belgrade Secretary for Culture Ivona Jevtić. While accepting the Award, Neda Arnerić said: “I do not consider myself the victor because it seems to me that I have not finished my private and professional race just yet. However, I do feel victorious because I have been continuously active as an actress for more than fifty years. I have had ups and downs, I have experienced good and bad things, but without you, my fellow citizens of Belgrade who are my closest family, I would not have been able to run this race. Thank you for supporting me even at the most difficult times.”
Belgrade Victor for Creative Achievement was awarded to Russian film director Karen Shakhnazarov. “I am deeply honored by this award because I feel connected to FEST and Belgrade on many levels. Above all, I am grateful to the audience, because we are making the films for you - and if anyone should claim that films are made for any other reasons and for certain small groups of viewers, it is not true,” Shakhnazarov said.
Belgrade Victor for Best Film was awarded to the director Milad Alami for his film “The Charmer” (“Charmøren”) that the Main Competition Jury described as the “film which has harmonized all aspects of film aesthetics, thanks to the convincing story and complex main character.” Alami received the award in person and said that he was thankful for the recognition which meant a great deal to him as the impetus for further work, given that it was his first film.
Jury Prize was awarded to the director Vahid Jalilvand for his film “No Date, No Signature” (“Bedoune tarikh, bedoune emza”) which “elaborates the question of guilt and responsibility in a simple and powerful way, supported by an excellent cast.”
Paul Schrader received Best Director Award for his work on “First Reformed” due to the “precise direction which consistently points out to the moral dilemma of the principal protagonist, faced with the problems of the contemporary world.” Schrader accepted the award via video message from Los Angeles, expressing his regret that he could not receive the prize in person.
Ingeborg Topsøe and Milad Alami won Best Screenplay Award for “The Charmer” because, according to the Jury, “it is characterized by convincing situations, unexpected twists and precise expression of the principal protagonist’s psyche.” After they were presented with the award, Ingeborg Topsøe mentioned that the film was also her first, which made the prize all the more significant.
Adel Karam won Best Actor for his role in “The Insult” (“L’Insulte”) because he “portrayed the inner drama and turmoil of a man who is at the same time the victim and the tyrant in a powerful and suggestive way.”
Best Actress Award was presented to the entire female ensemble cast of the film “Angels Wear White” (“Jia nian hua”) who “speak from different perspectives about the problems of responsibility and morality nowadays, relying on minimalist acting.”
The director Natalia Garagiola won Debut Award for her film “Hunting Season” (“Temporada de Caza”), characterized by the “extremely mature approach to complex characters, their relationships and overall atmosphere of the film. This is an author whose career development deserves to be monitored with interest in the years to come.”
The Audience Prize GORKI LIST MOST WANTED MOVIE AWARD went to “Phantom Thread” which was the most sought after film of the 46th FEST.
The award was presented to Ivana Slović, the representative of the distribution house Taramount Film, by Gor-Chi - Gorki List, guru of great fun.
FEDEORA Jury - Paulo Portugal, Zlatko Vidačković and Nevena Daković - awarded “The Insult” by Ziad Doueiri Best Euro-Mediterranean Film in Main Competition Program. “The Offenders” (“Izgrednici”) directed by Dejan Zečević were awarded Best Serbian Film prize, and this Jury also gave Special Recognition to Lazar Bodroža, the director of “Ederlezi Rising.”
The prizes of the Industry segment FEST FORWARD were also awarded. Best pitch award in Serbian selection went to the project “The End of the World” (“Kraj sveta”) directed by Vojin Vasović, while Special Mention was awarded to the project “Bacha” by the director Ana Lazarević. The jury members were Susan Susan Newman, Simon Perry and Danijel Hočevar. Best pitch award in international selection “Women in Film” was presented to the director Tatia Skhirtladze’s project “The Encounter,” selected by the jury members Alessia Sonaglioni, Meinolf Zurhorst and Vanja Kovačević.
The informal awards of the 46th FEST were presented at the press conference:
FIPRESCI Jury - Srđan Savić, Goran Jovanović and Saša Janković - decided to give Audience Award “Dinko Tucaković” to Serbian film “The Offenders,” directed by Dejan Zečević. The jury awarded Special Mention to Russian-Polish-Serbian co-production “Dovlatov,” directed by Aleksey German Jr.
Merlinka Festival presented “Marble” Queer Award at FEST to the film “Thelma” by Joachim Trier. The Jury members were Nikola Ljuca, Dragan Jovićević and Stevan Filipović.
