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MICFF इंडिया
Mumbai International Cult Film Festival
MICFF WINNERS 2020
List of Winners in Best Film Categories
FILM OF THE FESTIVAL AWARD
(BEST SHORT FILM OF THE FESTIVAL)
Mum's Hairpins
Tatiana Fedorovskaya (Russia)
Directed by Tatiana Fedorovskaya
Jewish shtetl, Ukraine, 1941. A box with mother’s hairpins – the only thing left from his family – is Yasha’s last chance to escape German invaders and rescue his new friend, a wounded goat kid.
Directed by Tatiana Fedorovskaya
Jewish shtetl, Ukraine, 1941. A box with mother’s hairpins – the only thing left from his family – is Yasha’s last chance to escape German invaders and rescue his new friend, a wounded goat kid.
Tatiana Fedorovskaya
Graduated from the Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors, Moscow.
Short film "Mum's Hairpins":
MICFF INDIA 2020 : 'Film Of The Festival',Best Director,Best International Short','Best Cinematography,Best Actor In Lead Role,
Director Statement:
(Mum's Hairpins)
When I was a young child, my grandfather Yasha (Jacob Fedorovsky) recounted the fascinating story of his escape from Radomyshl, a small Jewish shtetl in Ukraine that was under German occupation in 1941. A small box containing his mother's hairpins, the only thing that remained from his family, helped him and his new friend – a wounded goat – to escape death.
I have wanted to tell this story to my audience ever since I began my career as a filmmaker.
The Second World War, and the atrocities associated to the Holocaust in particular, make for an extremely sensitive topic. Numerous films are made about it every year and, lets face it, some of them exploit these topics, as well as other acute social themes such as domestic violence, refugees, disability, to ensure their acceptance by festivals and cinema critics.
In my "Mum's Hairpins", I tried to avoid direct scenes of violence, brutality, and human suffering. The entire story is seen through the naive perception of my protagonist, a ten-year-old boy, Yasha, who, together with his friend is trying to survive this hopeless situation.
Everything that happened to them over those twenty-four hours is condensed into a short movie.
We endeavoured to create an authentic environment, within which the actors could perform. After a long search, we succeeded in finding a location that has remained unchanged since the 1940s: The small village of Kudrichi in South-Western Belarus, near the Ukrainien border. Much like Radomshyl, all the Jewish inhabitants of Kudrichi were exterminated during the summer of 1941, and just a few abandoned wooden houses remained. Our artists spent a week creating props using local materials, as well as artefacts, that were lent to us by the Russian Museum of Jewish History. An old recording of the Yiddish lullaby "Schlof sche mean vogele" (Sleep Well My Little Bird) was used as the principal musical theme. Rather than use a professional composer, as I had initially intended, I decided to use fragments of Mahler's and Rachmaninov's symphonies. Surprisingly, casting was the easiest part of pre-production. I posted an announcement on my Facebook page asking for a 10-year old red haired boy to play the lead role and within half an hour I received a video by the perfect candidate, whom I approved as my leader character. Coincidentally, he too, is named Yasha.
Short film "Mum's Hairpins":
MICFF INDIA 2020 : 'Film Of The Festival',Best Director,Best International Short','Best Cinematography,Best Actor In Lead Role,
Director Statement:
(Mum's Hairpins)
When I was a young child, my grandfather Yasha (Jacob Fedorovsky) recounted the fascinating story of his escape from Radomyshl, a small Jewish shtetl in Ukraine that was under German occupation in 1941. A small box containing his mother's hairpins, the only thing that remained from his family, helped him and his new friend – a wounded goat – to escape death.
I have wanted to tell this story to my audience ever since I began my career as a filmmaker.
The Second World War, and the atrocities associated to the Holocaust in particular, make for an extremely sensitive topic. Numerous films are made about it every year and, lets face it, some of them exploit these topics, as well as other acute social themes such as domestic violence, refugees, disability, to ensure their acceptance by festivals and cinema critics.
In my "Mum's Hairpins", I tried to avoid direct scenes of violence, brutality, and human suffering. The entire story is seen through the naive perception of my protagonist, a ten-year-old boy, Yasha, who, together with his friend is trying to survive this hopeless situation.
Everything that happened to them over those twenty-four hours is condensed into a short movie.
We endeavoured to create an authentic environment, within which the actors could perform. After a long search, we succeeded in finding a location that has remained unchanged since the 1940s: The small village of Kudrichi in South-Western Belarus, near the Ukrainien border. Much like Radomshyl, all the Jewish inhabitants of Kudrichi were exterminated during the summer of 1941, and just a few abandoned wooden houses remained. Our artists spent a week creating props using local materials, as well as artefacts, that were lent to us by the Russian Museum of Jewish History. An old recording of the Yiddish lullaby "Schlof sche mean vogele" (Sleep Well My Little Bird) was used as the principal musical theme. Rather than use a professional composer, as I had initially intended, I decided to use fragments of Mahler's and Rachmaninov's symphonies. Surprisingly, casting was the easiest part of pre-production. I posted an announcement on my Facebook page asking for a 10-year old red haired boy to play the lead role and within half an hour I received a video by the perfect candidate, whom I approved as my leader character. Coincidentally, he too, is named Yasha.
BEST INDIAN SHORT (WINNERS)
MICFF GOLD
Iddah (Kerala)
Shammas Jamsheer
Film Synopsis:
Imagine a grieving woman who has no choice but to remain virtually confined within the walls of a closed room for months, barred from meeting people who should consoled her and brought her out of grief and sense of loneliness. The movie portrays such a hapless woman, Qamarunnisah. Hailing from a traditional Muslim family, she finds herself within the confines of the room for a period of over four months - ‘Iddah’ (waiting period ) - after her husband's demise. She is disconnected from the outside world for four months and ten days.
Shammas Jamsheer
Film Synopsis:
Imagine a grieving woman who has no choice but to remain virtually confined within the walls of a closed room for months, barred from meeting people who should consoled her and brought her out of grief and sense of loneliness. The movie portrays such a hapless woman, Qamarunnisah. Hailing from a traditional Muslim family, she finds herself within the confines of the room for a period of over four months - ‘Iddah’ (waiting period ) - after her husband's demise. She is disconnected from the outside world for four months and ten days.
MICFF SILVER
Poet In Two Worlds (Pune)
Swapnil Vasant Lata Kapure
Film Synopsis:
Rajendra Shekate - Raja - is an unemployed rural young with M.A. B.Ed. who fells to secure a job. His passion for writing poetry adds to the fury of his father who expects Raja to at least work in their own soya bean farm. Raja's mother is always entangled in the fights between father and son, while Raja is muddled between his love for poetry and inevitable farming.
The village, its traditional order of living, people, their varying emotions and their struggle for existence are the sources of inspiration for Raja's words. Raja witnesses them all empathetically. He pens it differently. Once, Raja gets an invitation for a lit-fest in City and a whole new world is unleashed to him. A world where he would only dream to be. It is a platform where Raja expects his poetry to be appreciated. But at this very hour, village is going through few unexpected incidences which make the whole surroundings hostile, especially to the farmers. Such unpredictable background has always pulled Raja back from stepping ahead. This time Raja prefers to chase his dreams abandoning his rural and agrarian burdens. But this choice ensnarls him into a bitter reality of both these worlds.
Swapnil Vasant Lata Kapure
Film Synopsis:
Rajendra Shekate - Raja - is an unemployed rural young with M.A. B.Ed. who fells to secure a job. His passion for writing poetry adds to the fury of his father who expects Raja to at least work in their own soya bean farm. Raja's mother is always entangled in the fights between father and son, while Raja is muddled between his love for poetry and inevitable farming.
The village, its traditional order of living, people, their varying emotions and their struggle for existence are the sources of inspiration for Raja's words. Raja witnesses them all empathetically. He pens it differently. Once, Raja gets an invitation for a lit-fest in City and a whole new world is unleashed to him. A world where he would only dream to be. It is a platform where Raja expects his poetry to be appreciated. But at this very hour, village is going through few unexpected incidences which make the whole surroundings hostile, especially to the farmers. Such unpredictable background has always pulled Raja back from stepping ahead. This time Raja prefers to chase his dreams abandoning his rural and agrarian burdens. But this choice ensnarls him into a bitter reality of both these worlds.
SPECIAL JURY MENTION
Duggi (Kolkata)
Sagnik Chatterjee
Film Synopsis:
Uma, a 28-year-old corporate employee lives with her husband somewhere near Bagmari bazar (Kolkata). Having a huge professional pressure with several overtimes, night shifts and office tours, she couldn't manage to meet her father since last 1.5 years, even though her father also lives in the same city. Finally, Uma plans to meet her father on the last day of Durga Puja (Bengali festival). But on that day, suddenly her father disappears. Uma spends a whole day in her father's place eagerly waiting for him to come back safe and thus, she discovers some unknown facts about her father's life which leave her shocked.
Sagnik Chatterjee
Film Synopsis:
Uma, a 28-year-old corporate employee lives with her husband somewhere near Bagmari bazar (Kolkata). Having a huge professional pressure with several overtimes, night shifts and office tours, she couldn't manage to meet her father since last 1.5 years, even though her father also lives in the same city. Finally, Uma plans to meet her father on the last day of Durga Puja (Bengali festival). But on that day, suddenly her father disappears. Uma spends a whole day in her father's place eagerly waiting for him to come back safe and thus, she discovers some unknown facts about her father's life which leave her shocked.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Baitullah (Mumbai)
Jitendra Rai
Millions of children are engaged in child labour in India, in an increasingly growing number every year. And with that, millions of childhood dreams are never realised as a result of a lack of education. Baitullah is the story of one such child, with a dream, surviving in the maddening metropolis of Mumbai, waiting for someone to notice.
Jitendra Rai
Millions of children are engaged in child labour in India, in an increasingly growing number every year. And with that, millions of childhood dreams are never realised as a result of a lack of education. Baitullah is the story of one such child, with a dream, surviving in the maddening metropolis of Mumbai, waiting for someone to notice.
SPECIAL MENTION
Paath (Mumbai)
Karan Singh Rathore
the film is a story about a girl who becomes a victim of Bride trafficking that has been taking place in certain parts in India
Karan Singh Rathore
the film is a story about a girl who becomes a victim of Bride trafficking that has been taking place in certain parts in India
HONORABLE MENTION
Love Ishtory (Mumbai)
Veenit Katariia
Film Synopsis:
Love Ishtory is dramatical take on the casteism issue fructifying in our country. It’s a story of a young couple facing opposition on their affair. Chavi is from a brahmin family while Aakash belongs to a backward caste.
Chhavi’s father, Bhaskar Shukla, is an influential personality. His daughter’s desire to marry a lower caste boy has shaken him up. Bhaskar ordered the local inspector Dubey Ji to catch Aakash to rough him up.
It is a story of that day on which all this unfolds. Keeping the adrenaline high, the film progresses to reach a point where Chhavi’s elder brother Vicky is ready to blow Aakash’s head off.
Will this classic tale of casteism end in another honour killing?
Will the society again be a mute spectator to a horrific incident?
Veenit Katariia
Film Synopsis:
Love Ishtory is dramatical take on the casteism issue fructifying in our country. It’s a story of a young couple facing opposition on their affair. Chavi is from a brahmin family while Aakash belongs to a backward caste.
Chhavi’s father, Bhaskar Shukla, is an influential personality. His daughter’s desire to marry a lower caste boy has shaken him up. Bhaskar ordered the local inspector Dubey Ji to catch Aakash to rough him up.
It is a story of that day on which all this unfolds. Keeping the adrenaline high, the film progresses to reach a point where Chhavi’s elder brother Vicky is ready to blow Aakash’s head off.
Will this classic tale of casteism end in another honour killing?
Will the society again be a mute spectator to a horrific incident?
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT (WINNERS)
WINNER MICFF GOLD
Mum's Hairpins (Russia)
Directed by Tatiana Fedorovskaya
Jewish shtetl, Ukraine, 1941. A box with mother’s hairpins – the only thing left from his family – is Yasha’s last chance to escape German invaders and rescue his new friend, a wounded goat kid.
Directed by Tatiana Fedorovskaya
Jewish shtetl, Ukraine, 1941. A box with mother’s hairpins – the only thing left from his family – is Yasha’s last chance to escape German invaders and rescue his new friend, a wounded goat kid.
MICFF SILVER
L'oro Di Famiglia (Italy)
Directed by Emanuele Pisano
Film Synopsis:
A young petty thief and a male robbery. Among the stolen Goods, an object captures his attention: not gold, not silver and not ancient memorabilia, but something much more precious than the worth returning.
Directed by Emanuele Pisano
Film Synopsis:
A young petty thief and a male robbery. Among the stolen Goods, an object captures his attention: not gold, not silver and not ancient memorabilia, but something much more precious than the worth returning.
SPECIAL JURY MENTION
The Request (Mexico)
Directed by Rubí Salles
Film Synopsis:
Luis is nine years old and lives the constant absence of his mother. Mrs. Acela has an unusual job, helps 'to die', but her son does not know exactly what his job is and all the time he is worried. About to turn years Luis makes a request that will mark his life.
Directed by Rubí Salles
Film Synopsis:
Luis is nine years old and lives the constant absence of his mother. Mrs. Acela has an unusual job, helps 'to die', but her son does not know exactly what his job is and all the time he is worried. About to turn years Luis makes a request that will mark his life.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Juicy Girl
Directed by MJ Kim
‘Juicy Girl’ is based on events surrounding the murders of several of the many Korean women committed by US Army personnel since the Korean War of the 1950’s.
Directed by MJ Kim
‘Juicy Girl’ is based on events surrounding the murders of several of the many Korean women committed by US Army personnel since the Korean War of the 1950’s.
HONORABLE MENTION
CLOAK
Directed by Naghmeh Maghsoudlou
A "Cloak" ensures the security of a father and daughter’s livelihood on the roads around Tehran.
Directed by Naghmeh Maghsoudlou
A "Cloak" ensures the security of a father and daughter’s livelihood on the roads around Tehran.
Best Film On Women
WINNER MICFF GOLD
Raheel (Iran)
Directed by Ayat asadi rahbar
Film Synopsis:
Raheel , an Afghan national, has illegally traveled to Iran to look for her husband, but there comes up some problems that leave her no hope to move ahead.
Directed by Ayat asadi rahbar
Film Synopsis:
Raheel , an Afghan national, has illegally traveled to Iran to look for her husband, but there comes up some problems that leave her no hope to move ahead.
MICFF SILVER
Told (Portugal)
Directed by Ainá Rocha
Film Synopsis:
Documentary of the unconscious. A journey through the memory and the ruins.
Directed by Ainá Rocha
Film Synopsis:
Documentary of the unconscious. A journey through the memory and the ruins.
SPECIAL JURY MENTION
ANNA (UK)
Directed by
Dekel Berenson
Cannes Official Selection 19' - Living in war-torn Eastern Ukraine, Anna is an aging single mother who is desperate for a change. Lured by a radio advertisement, she goes to party with a group of American men who are touring the country, searching for love. Nominated for a short Palme d'Or, BIFA award winner for Best British Short Film, was shortlisted for a BAFTA, more than 200 selections and dozens of awards. Thank you for considering our film!!
Directed by
Dekel Berenson
Cannes Official Selection 19' - Living in war-torn Eastern Ukraine, Anna is an aging single mother who is desperate for a change. Lured by a radio advertisement, she goes to party with a group of American men who are touring the country, searching for love. Nominated for a short Palme d'Or, BIFA award winner for Best British Short Film, was shortlisted for a BAFTA, more than 200 selections and dozens of awards. Thank you for considering our film!!
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
To The Unknown God (Italy)
Directed by Rodolfo BisattiI
Film Synopsis:
Lucia lives alone with her 17th years old son Gabriel. Her husband left once their first daughter Anna, died of leukaemia, 8 years ago. Lucia works in a Hospice, where she befriends a retired professor, Redetti (Paolo Bonacelli) and other patients, who are unaware of her personal tragedy and that will become “teachers” for her. Over time, they help her to understand how to “live the unliveable”. Giulio Redetti in particular, will talk to her about his own experiences, showing her how to deal with her angst. Gabriel, Lucia’s son, handles his sufferance for his sister’s loss adopting a fearless way of living, in order to prove to himself and to his mother that to live include the risk of dying. Giulio Redetti’ and Gabriel’ choices overlap inside Lucia, driving her to a new awareness.
Film Synopsis:
Directed by Rodolfo BisattiI
Film Synopsis:
Lucia lives alone with her 17th years old son Gabriel. Her husband left once their first daughter Anna, died of leukaemia, 8 years ago. Lucia works in a Hospice, where she befriends a retired professor, Redetti (Paolo Bonacelli) and other patients, who are unaware of her personal tragedy and that will become “teachers” for her. Over time, they help her to understand how to “live the unliveable”. Giulio Redetti in particular, will talk to her about his own experiences, showing her how to deal with her angst. Gabriel, Lucia’s son, handles his sufferance for his sister’s loss adopting a fearless way of living, in order to prove to himself and to his mother that to live include the risk of dying. Giulio Redetti’ and Gabriel’ choices overlap inside Lucia, driving her to a new awareness.
Film Synopsis:
HONORABLE MENTION
Under The Weight Of Remorse (Brazil)
Lília Moema Santana
Film Synopsis:
Four women, Adelaide, Gloria, Isabel Cristina and Maria Eduarda, are in the reception room of a hospital. Even without knowing each other and taking advantage of this waiting time to be attended, they recount their lives until arriving at that hospital trying to understand what led them there. After several coincidences in their stories, they discover that their lives are linked to the same person, a man named Carlos Cesar. This unusual encounter involves drama, suspense and humor leading the viewer to the same sensations and feelings that the characters experience until culminating in a great discovery.
Lília Moema Santana
Film Synopsis:
Four women, Adelaide, Gloria, Isabel Cristina and Maria Eduarda, are in the reception room of a hospital. Even without knowing each other and taking advantage of this waiting time to be attended, they recount their lives until arriving at that hospital trying to understand what led them there. After several coincidences in their stories, they discover that their lives are linked to the same person, a man named Carlos Cesar. This unusual encounter involves drama, suspense and humor leading the viewer to the same sensations and feelings that the characters experience until culminating in a great discovery.