6-10.12.2023 / Białystok

Here are the winners of the 16th ZUBROFFKA International Short Film Festival!

Here are the winners of the 16th ZUBROFFKA International Short Film Festival!

16th ŻUBROFFKA International Short Film Festival has come to an end in Białystok!

122 movies chosen from a record number of 4.5 thousand submissions from around the world (including Algeria, Botswana, Vietnam, Colombia, Chile, Philippines, Peru, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Panama, Zambia, Uzbekistan, Syria, Singapore, Tajikistan, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Malta, Nepal, Cambodia, Ivory Coast and Luxembourg) competed in 9 ZUBROFFKA completions.

The Main Jury consisted of Nadja Andrasev (Hungary), Michał Marczak (Poland) and Sasha Prokopenko (Ukraine) awarded the following prizes:

The GRAND PRIX of ŻUBROFFKA 2022 Festival – The Award of the Director of the Białystok Culture Center of PLN 8,000 was granted to WARSHA (dir. Dania Bdeir, Lebanon).

Jury’s reasoning: In the realm of scaffolding, building cranes, working uniform jumpsuits, and masculinity, the main character discovers a dangerous yet secluded place where they can finally let themself go and embrace the fluidity within them.

 

The 1st Prize in the international Eastward Window Competition of PLN 3,000 was granted to PA VEND / DISPLACED (dir. Samir Karahoda, Kosovo).

Jury’s reasoning: With characters in constant movement from place to place, table to table, this powerful film shows us through the world of sports what it’s like to keep fighting for success in an environment where one feels alienated and underappreciated.

The 1st Prize in the international Whole Wide World Competition of PLN 3,000 was granted to DATSUN (dir. Mark Albiston, New Zealand).

Jury’s reasoning: A high octane story of coming to terms with an unimaginable loss, crafted with incredible skill on all aspects of the production. A wild tour de force of images and emotions coming together to create a story that grips you from the first to the last image.

The 1st Prize in the national ANIMATION.PL Competition of PLN 3,000 was granted to HOMEBIRD (dir. Ewa Smyk, United Kingdom, Poland).

Jury’s reasoning: For the playful animation and humor that captures the feelings of homesickness and being out of place in a new city.

The 1st Prize in the national FICTION.PL Competition of PLN 3,000 was granted to MARTWE MAŁŻEŃSTWO / A DEAD MARRIAGE (dir. Michał Toczek, Polska).

Jury’s reasoning: This witty and funny film shines the front light at background characters with impeccable style and warmth.

The 1st Prize in the national DOCUMENTARY.PL Competition of PLN 3,000 was granted to OPOWIEDZ MI O MNIE / TELL ME MY STORY (dir. Maciej Miller, Poland).

Jury’s reasoning: We all want to know the truth about where we came from. This film takes us on a young woman’s journey to seek answers, even if without the closure she was hoping for.

The Prize for the Best Documentary (PLN 3,000) was granted to IN FLOW OF WORDS (dir. Eliane Esther Bots, Netherlands).

Jury’s reasoning: This film offers unparalleled circumstances where its characters can only exist while being simultaneously present and absent, and makes us wonder if it is possible to explore the origin of evil while staying neutral.

The Prize for the Best Short Fiction (PLN 3,000) was granted to DIABEŁ / THE DEVIL (dir. Jan Bujnowski, Poland).

Jury’s reasoning: The spot on writing, direction and editing of this film propel us into a strange and poetic world of the early 90’s populated by dubious characters feeding off people’s gullibility ending with a scene showcasing incredible storytelling abilities and empathy of the filmmakers.

The Prize for the Best Animation (PLN 3,000) was granted to MILLENIUM (dir. Daria Godyń, Poland).

Jury’s reasoning: This mesmerizing and visually inventive animated film brings us back to the recent past and captures a terrifying yet gripping leap into the unknown at the turn of century.

Honorable Mention for Cinematography: MOODY (dir. Karolina Karwan, Tomasz Ratter, Poland)

Jury’s reasons: For incredibly captivating images, creating a magical and trans like atmosphere giving us a visceral feel for what it’s like to live at the end of the world.

The Prize for the Best Cinematography (PLN 3,000) was granted to DIABEŁ / THE DEVIL (dir. Jan Bujnowski, cinematography Kasper Lorek, Poland).

Jury’s reasoning: For images that helped propel this story into a little gem of a film. Images that found the perfect balance between visual poetry and storytelling. 

The Prize for the Best Music (PLN 3,000) was granted to DIABEŁ / THE DEVIL (dir. Jan Bujnowski, music: Jan Bujnowski, Bogdan Klat, Poland).

Jury’s reasoning: For the subtle, powerful composition that elevates the eeriness and builds tension.

The ON THE EDGE on the border of experiment and video-art Competition Jury consisted of: Ewa Szabłowska (Poland), Teresa Vieira (Portugal) and Peter Cerovšek (Slovenia) awarded the following prizes:

The 1st Prize of PLN 3,000 was granted to PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE (dir. Lizzy Deacon, Ika Schwander, Netherlands).

Jury’s reasoning: The jury decided to award a film that approaches the cinematic form as an adventure, presenting performative and ritualistic gestures that give a great sense of what female or non/binary ownership of the concept of hysteria can actually look like. A playful but still emotionally turbulant journey, resulting in a refreshing portrait of ladies on fire.

The Honorable Mention was granted to THE SOWER OF STARS / EL SEMBRADOR DE ESTRELLAS (dir. Lois Patiño, Spain).

Jury’s reasoning: The nocturnal visual poetry of the film evokes images that can be explored not only on screen but also in the deeper structures of the mind.

THE WILD BISON AWARD – THE AUDIENCE AWARD of 16. ZUBROFFKA International Short Film Festival of PLN 7,000 zł funded by DrTusz company was granted to MARTWE MAŁŻEŃSTWO / DEAD MARRIAGE (dir. Michał Toczek, Poland).

The prize in the Music Video Competition of PLN 3,000 awarded by the audience was granted to RESIDENTE: THIS IS NOT AMERICA, dir. Gregory Ohrel, USA.

The prize in the Midnight Shorts Competition of PLN 3,000 awarded by the audience was granted to STUFFED, dir. Theo Rhys, United Kingdom.

The prize in the KIDS Competition of PLN 3,000 awarded by the young audience were granted in four categories:

The KIDS 6+ Prize (PLN 3,000) was granted to PICCOLINO. UNA AVENTURA EN LA CIUDAD, dir. Giovanni Maccelli, Spain.

The KIDS 10+ Prize (PLN 3,000) was granted to FUNDAMENTALS OF ART, dir. David Payne, Czech Republic.

The KIDS 12+ Prize (PLN 3,000) was granted to FRIEND, dir. Andrey Svetlov, Belarus.

The KIDS 15+ Prize (PLN 3,000) was granted to UNTITLED PROJECT / BEZ TYTUŁU, dir. Kacper Buratyński, Poland.


The Young Jury
consisted of: Marcin Radomski (president), Amelia Klimiuk, Dominik Lubowicki, Eliza Kowalczuk, Julia Abramowicz and Zofia Ostrowska awarded the following prizes:

The Prize in national competitions (ANIMATION.PL, FICTION.PL, DOCUMENTARY.PL) of PLN 3,000 was granted to LATA ŚWIETLNE / LIGHT YEARS, dir. Monika Proba, Poland.
Jury’s reasoning: For the faith in being yourself in the world shaped with standarization and expectations and for a gentle touch of the beauty of eastern culture.

The Honorable Mention in national competitions (ANIMATION.PL, FICTION.PL, DOCUMENTARY.PL) was granted to MILLENIUM, dir. Daria Godyń, Poland.

Jury’s reasoning: For expressive notion of the approaching end in a story immersed in popculture of 90’s.

The International Journalist Jury consisted of: Elena Rubashevska, Jana Bébarová and Petra Meterc granted the prize for the best Polish movie (among the ones participating in ANIMATION.PL, FICTION.PL, DOCUMENTARY.PL Competitions):

The Prize of PLN 3,000 was granted to LATA ŚWIETLNE / LIGHT YEARS, dir. Monika Proba, Poland.

Jury’s reasoning: The winning film presents us with an unexpected topic and an original main character. Though tackling some sensitive spiritual issues, it is leaving the audience with a positive light-hearted aftertaste of homely warmth, unity, and unconditional support. It unobtrusively combines several genres: ethnographic documentary, family portrait, and challenging personal story.

The Honorable Mention was granted to BYŁO SOBIE MORZE… / ONCE THERE WAS A SEA…, dir. Joanna Kożuch, Poland.

Jury’s reasoning: For its detailed documentary research of an important yet forgotten topic combined with impeccable visual style achieved by various well chosen animation techniques.

The Polish Journalist Jury consisted of: Kuba Armata, Typowy Jędrzej – student filmoznawstwa and Bartek Przybyszewski granted the prize for the best international movie (among the ones participating in EASTWARD WINDOW and WHOLE WIDE WORLD Competitions):

The Prize of PLN 3,000 was granted to THE SEINE’S TEARS (dir. Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard, Nicolas Mayeur, Etienne Moulin, Hadrien Pinot, Lisa Vicente, Philippine Singer, Alice Letailleur, France).
Jury’s reasoning: For a film testimony of a massacre that many wanted to forget about. For the great directorial precision and creating a moving story that keeps suggestiveness despite the almost complete abandonment of showing graphic violence.

The Honorable Mention was granted to HANDBOOK (dir. Pavel Mozhar, Germany, Belarus).
Jury’s reasoning: For a deliberately exhausting film experience captured in an ascetic and shocking form at the same time.

The festival is organized by the Białystok Culture Center –”GAG” Film Discussion Club.
The event was organized thanks to the subsidy from the City of Białystok.