Karlovy Vary's Crystal Globe goes to The Almost Man

The 47th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival held its closing cermony last night with the Crystal Globe (and $25,000) going to Martin Lund’s The Almost Man from Norway. The film is about a 35-year-old man on the verge of fatherhood who has trouble growing up.

The jury, led by the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Richard Pena, gave a special jury prize (worth $15,000) to Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy by Marco Tullio Giordana from Italy.

Best Director was Rafaël Ouellet for Camion.

Best Actress went to Leila Hatami for The Last Step from Iran. Best Actor was shared by The Almost Man’s Henrik Rafaelsen and To Kill A Beaver’s Eryk Lubos. A special mention was given to Yannis Papadopoulos for Boy Eating The Bird’s Food and the four Czech actors from Polski Film: Pavel Liska, Tomáš Matonoha, Marek Daniel and Josef Polášek.

The East of the West Competition Award (worth $20,000) went to House With A Turret by Eva Neymann from the Ukraine. A special mention went to Vanishing Waves/Aurora by Kristina Buožytė and Bruno Samper (Lithuania-France-Belgium).

The documentary jury gave its prizes to Sofia’s Last Ambulance by Ilian Metev (Bulgaria-Croatia-Germany) for film over 30 minutes; and Story for the Modlins by Sergio Oksman (Spain) for film under 30 minutes. A special mention went to Private Universe by Helena Třeštíková from the Czech Republic.

The Independent Camera Jury for the Forum of Independents section gave its prize to Death of a Man in the Balkans by Miroslav Momčilović by Serbia.

The Audience award went to Come As You Are (Hasta la vista) by Geoffrey Enthoven.

The Fipresci award went to The Last Step (Peleh akhar) by Ali Mosaffa from Iran.

The Ecumenical prize went to Rafael Ouellet’s Camion with a commendation for Hay Road by Rodrigo Areias.

The FEDEORA award went to Flower Buds (Poupata) by Zdeněk Jiráský.

The Netpac jury honoured Beyond The Hill by Emin Alper (Turkey-Greece).

The Europa Cinemas Label went to Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy.

 As previously reported the Crystal Globe for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema went to Helen Mirren and Susan Sarandon while the Festival President’s Award went to Josef Somr.