"As members of the jury, Pete Ohs, Ella Rumpf, and I had the great pleasure of spending five days together, watching around three films a day. Those we saw could not be more different from one another, and this did not make it easy to compare them. We wandered with a hermit through the pampas of Argentina as a crumbling social system changed his life overnight, we witnessed a devastating court case battling the dark shadows of our colonial past, we listened to propositions of how an inhumane health system could be reformed, and we were deeply moved by tales of emotional debts and forgiveness. Each film left its own distinct impression on us, and we are incredibly thankful for this experience. It was a genuine privilege to watch this selection of works by true CineMasters. Overall, this section is characterized by incredible performances and a compelling take on contemporary issues regarding social inequalities and the consequences of our capitalist and patriarchal system. Conferring as a jury, we realized that these films made us rethink ourselves. Who are we? What privilege gives us our standing in this world, and when do we use it for our own good and for the good of others? What does progress mean? Is less more? And how do we challenge the systems we live in? The film we've chosen to honor is compelling from beginning to end with its mastery of form and function. It's a tender but at the same time raw observation of a world in which labor is cheap and people are disposable. The film kept cornering us with the question: Does our capitalist society allow any room for dignity and self-respect? In doing so, the film doesn't give in to a nihilistic worldview, though. It encourages us to believe that even in the most adverse of circumstances, there are always moments of humanity. The CineMasters Award goes to... SHAME AND MONEY by Visar Morina."
