PLUS CAMERIMAGE FILM FESTIVAL COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Competition winners at PLUS CAMERIMAGE, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography, were revealed today as the milestone 20th anniversary edition came to a close in grand fashion at the Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz.

Student Films Competition

Golden Tadpole winner: BLACKSTORY
The most original and innovative film that opens the gate to the future. Christoph Brunner and Stefan Brunner directors, Robert Oberreiner, cinematographer. Institut fur Film und Fersehen Filmakadmie Wien, Austria and Switzerland.

Silver Tadpole winner: THE ZONE
Brave, bold story, told with cinematographic teamwork. Lauri Randla, director, Mikko Kaumunen, cinematographer. University of Art and Design, Finland.

Bronze Tadpole winner: WITHOUT SNOW
A gentle, beautifully told story, made with sensibility and maturity. Magnus von Horn, director & Magnus Borge, cinematographer. PWSFTiT, Łódź, Poland.

Directors’ Debuts Competition

For having the confidence to trust the audience and to tell a story of unflinching honesty with the simplicity and grace of an artist, the Directors’ Debuts Competition Award goes to Miguel Angel Jimenez for the film CHAIKA.

Cinematographers’ Debuts Competition

The Golden Frog Award goes to CHAIKA. This film deserves the award for the best cinematographer’s debut, because it dares to fulfill the dream of cinema on the big canvas that takes your breath away with beautifully composed vistas in which an intimate human drama unfolds.

Best Music Video

For the best music video award the jury chose a unique video that is using simple means to achieve complex ends, and a startlingly coherent effect. The Best Music Video Award goes to: Roger Ballen and Ninja for Die Antwoord ‘I Fink U Freeky’

Best Cinematography in Music Video

Best Cinematography in a Music Video award goes to an extraordinary video – poetic and with beautiful and original imagery – transcending its location and bitter history. Best Cinematography in a Music Video Award for goes to: Matthew J. Lloyd for Flying Lotus ‘Until The Quiet Comes’

Documentary Shorts Competition

The Jury awards the Golden Frog – Grand Prix to Lorenzo Castore and Adam Cohen for their originality, fearlessness and disturbing weirdness in: NO PEACE WITHOUT WAR.

The Jury awards the Special Mention to Jacek Bławut and Paweł Chorzępa for a film that captured the madness, mystery and paranoia of art in: THE LONELINESS OF SOUND.

Documentary Features Competition

The Jury awards the Golden Frog – Grand Prix to the Cinematographer Seung-Jun Yi and Director Seung-Jun Yi for the sensitive camera work and intimate approach to the subject in: PLANET OF SNAIL.

The Jury awards the Special Mention to Ester Martin Bergsmark and Minka Jakerson for their extraordinary accomplishment of director’s vision and their creative approach to questions of identity in: SHE MALE SNAILS

Polish Films Competition

This emotionally compelling film, open to complex interpretations along with outstanding performances and craftsmanship, makes the Jury’s choice for the Best Polish Film at Plus Camerimage 2012: TO KILL A BEAVER.

Main Competition

Golden Frog winner: WAR WITCH
Director: Kim Nguyen / Canada / 2012 / Cinematographer: Nicolas Bolduc

Silver Frog winner: HOLY MOTORS
Director: Leos Carax / France / 2012 / Cinematographer: Caroline Champetier

Bronze Frog winner: RHINO SEASON
Director: Bahman Ghobadi / Turkey, Kurdistan, Iraq / 2012 / Cinematographer: Touraj Aslani

As promised, the 20th edition of the Festival was the biggest yet, with a lineup of hot new films and considerable star power. 314 films from around the world were showcased from November 24 to December 1 as industry attention turned to Bydgoszcz for a Festival that has earned its stature as one of Europe’s marquee film festivals and destinations for the biggest films, most recognizable talent and the best cinematographers in the world.

The Festival began last Saturday with Keanu Reeves’ new documentary “Side by Side”, followed by the Polish premiere of Ang Lee’s critically acclaimed “Life of Pi.” Both Reeves and ”Life of Pi” cinematographer Claudio Miranda were in attendance for the exciting opening gala.

Special guests this year included four-time Academy Award® nominated director, writer and producer David Lynch (“Mulholland Dr.,” “The Elephant Man,” “Blue Velvet”); Academy Award® winning film editor Alan Heim (“All That Jazz,” “Network,” “The Notebook,” “American History X”); Academy Award® winning director Steven Okazaki (“Day of Waiting,” “The Mushroom Club,” “Unfinished Business”); and Two-time Primetime Emmy nominated director Michael Lindsay-Hogg (“Let It Be,” “The Object of Beauty,” “Master Harold…and the Boys”).

Two-time Academy Award® nominee Gus Van Sant (“Good Will Hunting,” “Milk,” “Elephant”) was present to accept the Festival’s Director Duo Award on behalf of his late friend,  Harris Savides (“American Gangster,” “Zodiac,” “The Game,” “Milk”).

The 20th PLUS CAMERIMAGE Film Festival was proud to have an illustrious jury that included Joel Schumacher, two-time Academy Award® nominated director, writer and producer Alan Parker, Primetime Emmy nominated director and producer Roger Spottiswoode, Primetime Emmy nominated director Michael Lindsay, award-winning director Paweł Łoziński, Academy Award® winning director Steven Okazaki, Academy Award® winning film editor Alan Heim and cinematographer Karl Walter Lindenlaub.

About PLUS CAMERIMAGE

Celebrating its landmark 20th anniversary this year, the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography, PLUS CAMERIMAGE is the most recognized festival dedicated to the art of cinematography and the biggest international film festival in Poland. The unconventional format of the Festival, which awards films according to their visual, aesthetic and technical values, is a unique alternative to traditional film festivals.

PLUS CAMERIMAGE proves to be a great forum not only for presentation but also for further development of international moviemaking and provides a platform for young filmmakers to explore new artistic areas.

In addition to the main competition, the Festival offers a Polish Films Competition, Student Etudes Competition, Documentary Films Competition, Feature Debuts Competition, Music Videos Competition, Plus Camerimage Market, Plus Camerimage Forum, special screenings and premieres, various reviews, retrospectives, meetings and also accompanying events such as art exhibitions and music performances.

Various presentations of modern film equipment and of the latest production and postproduction technologies (both traditional and digital) are also an inherent aspect of the Festival and have been organized with cooperation from companies such as Plus, Arri, Panavision, Kodak, Hawk, K5600, J.L. Fisher, Sony, Panasonic, KinoFlo, Technicolor and Zeiss.

PLUS CAMERIMAGE is an extraordinary event where art and technology meet, creating a unique and unforgettable atmosphere. Please visit http://www.pluscamerimage.pl for more information.