52 Tuesdays, Killa win Berlin's Crystal Bears

Australian film 52 Tuesdays has picked up the Crystal Bear for Best Film in the Generation 14plus strand of the Berlin International Film Festival.

The feature, directed by Sophie Hyde, centres on 16 year-old Billie’s reluctant path to independence, which is accelerated when her mother reveals plans to gender transition and their time together becomes limited to Tuesday afternoons.

The film, which debuted at the Adelaide Film Festival last October and played at Sundance last month, was described by the jury as “both suprising and touching”.

A statement from the jury added: “The moving story is presented in a fascinating structure and convinces with strong characters, humour, clever ideas and sensitivity.”

The youth jury comprised Simon Kalmbach, Luca Kokol, Karla Laitko, Leonie Mo Munder, Paula Noack, Nicola Scholz and Florian Stündel.

A special mention was given to Spanish director Gabri Velázquez’s ärtico.

The Crystal Bear for the Best Short went to Petros Silvestros’ UK film, Mike.

“We’ve decided on a short movie that illustrates an intricate topic in only a few minutes,” said the jury.

“The movie creates a frame which spectators then can fill with their own imagination, leaving space for their own interpretation. With subtle imagery, this film tells a story that takes an unexpected turn.

A special mention was given to Emo (the musical), from Australia’s Neil Triffett.

The Generation 14plus International Jury gave the following awards:

The Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the best feature-length film, endowed with €7,500 by the Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung (Federal Agency for Civic Education): Violet by Bas Devos (Belgium / Netherlands)

Special Mention: Einstein and Einstein by Cao Baoping (People’s Republic of China)

Special Prize of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the best short film, endowed with €2,500 by the Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung (Federal Agency for Civic Education): Vetrarmorgun by Sakaris Stórá (Faroe Islands)

Special Mention: Søn by Kristoffer Kiørboe (Denmark).

The jury comprised Laura Astorga Carrera, N. Bird Runningwater and Jan Soldat.

Generation Kplus

Crystal Bears and Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk Prizes were also awarded in the Generation Kplus section.

A children’s jury made the following awards (including motivations)…

Crystal Bear for the Best Film: Killa
by Avinash Arun, India 2014
This film convinced us in all respects: with his good camera work and the great actors, but also because of its incredibly beautiful nature images which blend perfectly with the music. This film made us all want to discover India.

Special Mention: Hitono Nozomino Yorokobiyo
by Masakazu Sugita, Japan 2013
Out of so many wonderful movies, this film in particular touched us and carried us away. Due to the fantastic actors, especially the terrific young protagonists, we could empathize with their experiences and were even moved to tears. Down to the smallest details, in this story everything fits together.

Crystal Bear for the Best Short Film: Sprout
by Ga-eun Yoon, Republic of Korea 2013
A child embarks on an adventure through its own city, to prove that it is no longer too young. Through everyday and yet strange encounters, the girl collects on the road a lot of experience. The story, and how it was told, touched us deeply.

Special Mention: Sepatu Baru
by Aditya Ahmad, Indonesia 2013
We saw a touching story about a girl who wishes with all her heart that it stops raining. Through its wonderful imagery, this film gave us an understanding of the tradition of a faraway country.

The members of the Generation Kplus International Jury, comprised of Christian Bellaj, Boudewijn Koole and Catriona McKenzie, gave the following awards:

The Grand Prix of the Generation Kplus International Jury for the best feature-length film, endowed with €7,500 by the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk:
Ciencias Naturales
by Matías Lucchesi, Argentina / France 2014
This film shows us a pure, distilled and unsentimental journey towards identity. It is a captivating tale with wonderful acting and a clear vision. Strong in its simplicity, the film touched our hearts.

Special Mention: Killa
by Avinash Arun, India 2014
A beautifully photographed story about the challenges of being a boy. This film had wonderful pace and rhythm. Never reverting to clichés, the fresh performances left us feeling we were right there with the characters.

The Special Prize of the Generation Kplus International Jury for the best short film, endowed with €2,500 by the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk: Moy lichniy los’
by Leonid Shmelkov, Russian Federation 2013
A whimsical understanding of the human condition told with a deft hand, and a unique sense of humour. Achieved with great craft skills and heart.

Special Mention: el
by Roland Ferge, Hungary 2013
An elegant and formal artistic vision that resonates meaning beyond the seams of the film. A visual poem!