The 7th edition of the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF), presented by Global Montreal, announced its 2011 award winners at its closing night ceremony at Cin\u00e9ma Imp\u00e9rial last night.<\/p>\n
The winners were selected by a professional jury. The jury for the narrative feature films category was made up of Don Jordan<\/strong> (Actor and President of ACTRA), Ian Boyd<\/strong> (Producer\/Les films de l\u2019Isle) and Danielle Leduc<\/strong> (Actress). The jury for the documentary feature films category consisted of L\u00e9o Kalinda<\/strong> (Journalist\/Radio-Canada), Nicola Bridge<\/strong> (Journalist and Researcher) and Karim Ouadia<\/strong> (Journalist\/Radio-Canada). The jury for the short and medium-length films category was composed of Anne-Marie Dupras<\/strong> (Director), Steve Bastien<\/strong> (Actor) and Will Prosper<\/strong> (Documentary Filmmaker).<\/p>\n The best narrative feature film award went to Gabriel Range<\/strong> for I AM SLAVE<\/strong><\/em> (England). The jury had the following to say: \u201cThis extraordinary film fulfills the full criteria in terms of story, direction, casting, acting, cinematography, editing, etc. Apart from the magnificent performance of the lead actress, this film touches both the heart and the mind, and is a true work of art.\u201d<\/p>\n The jury also gave a special mention to LOST IN AFRICA<\/strong><\/em> (Denmark) by Vibeke Muasya<\/strong> and to CASE D\u00c9PART<\/strong> (France) by Thomas Ngijol<\/strong>, Fabrice \u00c9bou\u00e9<\/strong> and Lionel Steketee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The best documentary feature film award went to Eliaichi Kamaro<\/strong> for A LOT LIKE YOU<\/strong><\/em> (Tanzania\/U.S.). The jury had this to say about the film: \u201cThis story, which borders on a legend, will touch everyone\u2019s heart, regardless of gender, colour, personal history and social condition: the most optimistic of the 10 films we\u2019ve seen.\u201d<\/p>\n The jury also gave a special mention to THE REDEMPTION OF GENERAL BUTT NAKED<\/strong><\/em> (U.S., Liberia, Georgia) by Eric Strauss<\/strong> and Daniele Anastasion<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The award for best animated short went to Shawnee<\/strong> and Shawnelle Gibbs<\/strong> for SULE AND THE CASE OF THE TINY SPARKS<\/strong><\/em> (U.S.). In the opinion of the jury: \u201cThe story of this film is as magnificent as it is inspiring. Proof that a small short can depict huge and beautiful moments.\u201d<\/p>\n The best narrative short award went to C.R. Reisser<\/strong> for PROTECT THE NATION<\/strong><\/em> (South Africa and Germany). The jury had the following to say: \u201cThis award recognizes the film\u2019s gripping storyline and script, its skillful directing and its young, very endearing actor. A sensational film that\u2019s hard to forget.\u201d<\/p>\n The jury also gave a special mention to HABIBTI<\/strong> <\/em>(England) by Nour Wazzi<\/strong>. \u201cIt\u2019s impossible not to mention this film in which family, religion and opening oneself up to others are really put to the test through images that are as powerful as they are piercingly truthful. A powerhouse of a film.\u201d<\/p>\n The award for best documentary short went to Damien Faure<\/strong> for LA COLONISATION OUBLI\u00c9E<\/strong><\/em> (France). According to the jury: \u201cA disturbing portrait of the Papuan people of western New Guinea who, for almost 40 years now, have simply been asking to have their existence recognized, politically and culturally.\u201d<\/p>\n The award for best medium-length documentary went to Manu Gerosa<\/strong> for KAMENGE, NORTHERNS QUARTERS<\/strong><\/em> (Italy, Spain, Burundi). The jury had this to say: \u201cThis film takes us to a Burundi still torn between the Hutus and the Tutsis, following an ex-journalist fighting for his country, risking his own life, in a country where there is no freedom of speech. Sparkling with truth!\u201d<\/p>\n The Festival has announced that it will be creating an Audience Award in 2012, which is to become an annual tradition.<\/p>\n THE 8TH MIBFF WILL BE PRESENTED BY GLOBAL MONTREAL<\/strong> About the Montreal International Black Film Festival<\/strong><\/p>\n Presented by Global Montreal<\/strong>, the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF) was created in 2005 by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting Cinema, Art and Culture. The mission of the MIBFF is to stimulate the development of the independent film industry and to showcase more films on the realities of Blacks from around the world. The Festival wants to promote a different kind of cinema, cinema that hails from here and from abroad and that does not necessarily have the opportunity to grace the big screen, groundbreaking cinema that moves us, that raises awareness and that takes us all by surprise. The MIBFF wants to deal with issues and present works that raise questions, that provoke, that make us smile, that leave us perplexed, that shock us… A fresh new look at black cinema from the four corners of the globe!<\/p>\n Get all the Festival news at: – 30 –<\/p>\n INFORMATION:<\/strong><\/p>\n Director of Media Relations: Carla Beauvais<\/strong> Francophone Press Agent: Fadwa Lapierre<\/strong>BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM<\/h3>\n
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM<\/h3>\n
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM<\/h3>\n
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT FILM<\/h3>\n
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM<\/h3>\n
BEST MEDIUM-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FILM<\/h3>\n
AUDIENCE AWARD<\/h3>\n
\n FROM SEPTEMBER 20 TO 30, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n
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