Awards

Tampere

"Special Mention to the Prisoner of Society, by Rati Tsiteladze, Georgia. For telling the truth of all the characters, for the force of creating a story apparently simple, but deep and irrepressible a vital hardness. The director, with his effective cinematographic mastery, overcomes his limitation of material resources to reflect with completeness this complex history of life. The transgender protagonist is a prisoner of her body, of her parents, of society, of her own house, in a convulsive and threatening Georgia, in a context of risk for human rights and even more so for LGBTI rights, which appeals directly to us remind us that we are all prisoners of our prejudices and our ignorance."

"Rati Tsiteladze has been able to tell and show, in a poetic black and white way and with an increasing suspence, the drama of a real story: a single (and alone) mother forced to hide the existence of her child in front of a community that is only able to judge and disapprove."

It's about balls. At least indirectly, because it is "balls" that the small production team of our winning film at the choice of topic shows us. The flm ofers a very special insight into the life of the protagonist, who is honest and open to the camera and shows the obstacles she is faced with every day. The non-acceptance of society becomes brutal in direct contrast to her extraordinary self-acceptance and her unique personality. The courage to make this film in Georgia in spite of the controversial political and social opinions on the topic oftransgender is impressive and deserves the highest respect.

"A deeply moving film. With sensitivity and compassion, it brings visibility to a story that urgently needs to be heard. For giving voice to this powerful and important story, the Honorable Mention goes to A Song Without Home - directed by Rati Tsiteladze."

Stylistically confident, unconventional and densely narrated this film tells the story about a dilemma: being born in a body in which you don't feel comfortable. Through the usage of well placed artistic elements, the film presents the ambiguity of belonging to a certain gender. It can be compared to a firework: after a short moment the rush of lights is over - but a deep impact stays. The award for the BEST DOCUMENTARY goes to: PRISONER OF SOCIETY by Rati Tsiteladze

Special Mention

"Watching the film in a cinema, the quiet and subtle sound crawls under your skin and gives a sense of how trapped she is but also how imprisoned we all are - in our own prejudices and ignorance. So well executed as a whole and fitted perfectly to the story of a transgender woman in Georgia, the film is a well rounded and in our eyes an incredibly important piece of art, that we are glad to know."