The Film is part of the Mediterranean competition line up which is the principal competition section at the festival, which, in its 53rd edition has a new format focusing on cinema of the Mediterranean world.
The jury was presided over by Argentinian screenwriter and director
Luis Puenzo, who was flanked by Tribeca director Peter Scarlet,
Belgrade director Goran Paskaljevic, Egyptian film maker Marwan Hamed
and Sicilian director Franco Battiato selected the film unanimously
for the courage of its politics and the skillful use of cinematic
language in depicting the social and psychological circumstances that
can provoke and individual to become a terrorist.'
The film tells the story of Bahta, a young Tunisian who falls prey to extremist brainwashing in a film that shows how terrorism is not just a problem of the West but for everyone everywhere.
Making Of also took the prize for Best Performance (awarded to either a man or woman) to Lofti Abdelli who won best actor prize at Tribeca for the role earlier this year.
A special prize for best direction was handed to Israeli film maker David Volach's My Father My Lord (Hofshat Kaits) the director's first feature whose upbringing as an ultra-orthodox Jew led him to explore through his film the damage caused by a religious childhood that is taken to the extreme.
The film won best film at Tribeca earlier this year at looks at its touchy topic of religion from the perspective of multiple characters.
The special Jury prize for best script was handed to Italian film Man of Glass (Uomo Di Vetro) directed by Stefano Incerti, who hails from Naples.
The project was scripted by Incerti, Salvatore Parlagreco and Heidrun Schleef. Glass has been well received by critics and 'humanises' the story of Leonardo Vitali - the first 'Mafioso' to join Italy's protected witness program and turn Mafia secrets over to the police.
This year Taormina brought back the Sicilian Short competition sponsored by N.I.C.E. (New Italian Cinema Events). The award for best short went to Red Line by Francesco Cannava. His short also won the popular jury prize.
The award gives the young film maker the chance to travel with N.I.C.E. to New York, San Francisco, Moscow and Saint Petersburg to present his film.
Italy's Golden Ribbon awards (Nastri D'Argento) which are Italy's oldest film honours given by film critics will hold their winners ceremony Saturday night, one day after the festival closes in Taormina's Greek-Roman theatre. (Winners of those awards have already been announced).
Under the new direction of Deborah Young, the Taormina Film Fest closes its 53rd edition Friday with a concert given by honorary Oscar recipient Ennio Morricone in homage of Giuseppe Tornatore whose film and TV works were presented in the first ever Tornatore retrospective throughout the festival.
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