On Wednesday, 27 March the Movies that Matter Festival announced the winners of its 16th edition during the award ceremony at Theater Aan het Spui in the Dutch city of The Hague. The Mexican comedy-drama Radical by Christiopher Zalla and starring Eugenio Derbez nabbed the Grand Jury Fiction Award, worth € 5.000. Set in a Mexican border town plagued by neglect, corruption, and violence, a frustrated teacher tries a radical new method to break through his students’ apathy and unlock their curiosity, their potential and maybe even their genius. Jury members Marnie Blok, Fatih Abay and Elaheh Nobakht stated they were “unanimous” in their choice, celebrating the performances of the young cast and “addressed issues such as social class, gender, authority, inclusion and empowerment in a superior mix of humor and emotions”.
Grand Jury Fiction Award
5.000 EUR
Jury members: Marnie Blok, Fatih Abay, Elaheh Nobakht
Winner: Radical by Christopher Zalla
Jury statement: “We as a jury were unanimous. Although we argued along the way about a possible
winner - and did not always agree, when this film came along - we looked at each other and knew:
we have a winner. For this film addressed issues such as social class, gender, authority, inclusion and
empowerment in a superior mix of humor and emotions. The performances of the young cast
members are impressive. This film addresses the very important basic human right to education,
gives hope for a new generation to stand up and highlights the utmost importance of dedicated
teachers. The winner of the Grand Jury Fiction Award 2024 is the Mexican film Radical by Christopher
Zalla.”
Special mention: Terrestrial Verses by Ali Asgari & Alireza Khatami
The jury also paid tribute to director Agniezska Holland for her film Green Border.
Grand Jury Documentary Award
5.000 EUR
Jury members: Lukasz Konopa, Anadil Hossain and Don Edkins
Winner: The Mother of All Lies by Asmae El Moudir
Jury statement: “We would like to highlight a film that brings to the fore an undocumented massacre
and the retelling of this event to honor the victims and their families, and bring healing and closure
to an open wound. The Mother of All Lies by Asmae El Moudir (Morocco) is innovative, angry, funny
and compassionate. It addresses generational trauma and the power of stolen memories, through a
family and community forced to confront a painful, and unresolved past. Using a hybrid form of
storytelling which takes a bold and creative approach the filmmaker takes us on a journey to excavate
emotions and artefacts to confront human rights violations and freedom of speech in her country.
Recreating a miniature stage for her characters to revisit this unspoken tragedy, this deeply personal
film allows the memories and actions from that time to begin a cathartic healing. The filmmaker
displays a dexterity and ingenuity with which she weaves through a complex narrative and we are
intrigued to see where this will take her in future endeavours.”
Special mention: Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat by Johan Grimonprez.
AWARDS 2024
Activist Documentary Award
5.000 EUR
Jury members: Gita Saedi Kiely, Joseph Curran, Hanne Küpers
Winner: Mediha by Hasan Oswald & Mediha Ibrahim Alhamad
Jury statement: “The activist award goes to a film that left the jury speechless and profoundly
touched. This intimate portrayal, told through first person and observational narrative, pulled you in
immediately and didn’t let you go. And in fact, the filmmaking process itself became a powerful tool
for the activist to discover and build her own voice. With the most poignant and beautifully captured
cinematic moments, this film shares a story of a people - and a young woman - that should not be
forgotten. Mediha will serve as a role model for many young women who have suffered and
survived, and the film will leave you gutted but hopeful through the resilience and joy Mediha and
her brothers continue to present. We are thrilled to give the Activist Award to Mediha and
co-directors Hasan Oswald and Mediha Ibrahim Alhamad.”
Special mention: Our Land, Our Freedom by Meena Nanji & Zippy Kimundu.
Camera Justitia Award
5.000 EUR
Jury members: Doreen Boonekamp, Jennifer Huang
Winner: Kix by Bálint Révész & Dávid Mikulán
Jury statement: “Our choice for the Camera Justitia Award captures globally shared issues on an
intimate scale, offering a unique insight into the human cost when state institutions fail their citizens.
The jury believes the film makes a powerful statement about the realities of poverty,
intergenerational violence and failures of the social welfare system within Europe and around the
world. The film spotlights issues that often fail to capture headlines, leading to entrenched societal
weaknesses resulting in individual, ubiquitous tragedies that are often ignored. Yet it also captures
humor, love, and the hope of redemption for its young protagonist. We commend the filmmakers’
great independence of spirit in their filmmaking approach and their courage in the risk they took
following their protagonist for twelve years. This year, Movies that Matter Camera Justitia Award
goes to Kix by Bálint Révész, Dávid Mikulán.”
Special mention: I Shall Not Hate by Tal Barda
AWARDS 2024
Dutch Movies Matter Award
5.000 EUR
Jury members: Jean-Jaques Peretti, Mercedes Stalenhoef, Bülent Bahri Küçükerdoğan
Winner: Eddyʼs oorlog by Joost van der Valk
“The jury was deeply moved by the films presented in this Dutch selection. Thanks to all the brilliant
filmmakers! The films were very different in their subjects and forms which made the work of the
jury even more difficult. Nevertheless, the jury members agreed that one of the films carried – not
only an important human issue – but also used a very strong narrative form, confronting two types of
images, photos and films. Rather than a confrontation, these two forms reinforced each other,
projecting us into the subject with an incredible feeling of empathy! That being said, the jury is happy
to announce the winner of this Dutch selection: Eddyʼs oorlog directed by Joost van der Valk.”
Shorts Award
1.500 EUR
Jury members: Julian Ross, Clara Helbig, João Carlos Rodrigues
Winner: Mast-del by Maryam Tafakory
Jury statement: “The awarded film is resolutely political, but not in a way that we are used to seeing
in cinema. It plays with what can be shown and what is left to the imagination. Approaching a
sensitive subject through tactile sensuality, this personal recollection of adolescent romance
becomes a tale on prohibited intimacy. The Short Award goes to Maryam Tafakory for Mast-del.”
Special mention: Mute Utopia by Julio Matos
Education Award
Jury members: Annelou Molendijk, Valentino Zaalman, Arthur Gort, Elly de Bruin
Winner: The Mind Game by Sajid Khan Nasiri, Eefje Blankevoort & Els van Driel
Jury statement: The winning film is an incredibly impressive documentary. A must-see for every
young person and adult. It teaches you to consider people who have fled. There are many people,
AWARDS 2024
including many children, on the run. Even today. This documentary takes you through the life story of
the protagonist band the fears he, like many others, unfortunately had to endure for years. Especially
in these times of much polarization and discrimination towards refugees, it is extra valuable that this
film can raise awareness. We have a lot of respect for the protaganist, the friends he has made along
the way, and the crew that has followed and supported him for years. We hope that this
documentary will be watched by many. And that we all become a little kinder to each other.”
Special mention: Waves of War (Kleinkinderen van de Oost) by Daan van Citters
Students’ Choice Award
1.500 EUR
Jury members: Jop Emonts, Irene Altavilla, Timo van Daal
Winner: Photophobia by Pavol Pekarčík & Ivan Ostrochovský
Jury statement: “With unanimous agreement since rather the beginning of a genuinely long
deliberation of around 3 hours. We believe the unanimity to speak for itself in regards to the beauty,
realness, and intentionality in storytelling of this documentary. Congratulations, Pavol Pekarčík and
Ivan Ostrochovský!”
