Variations on a Theme, directed by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar, won the Tiger Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
The film, about South African goatherd Ouma Heti, won the €40,000 Tiger Prize and was praised for its “deep poetic language” by judges Soheila Golestani, Marcelo Gomez, Ariane Labed, Christy Matheson and Julika Pavicic.
“We felt this was a thoughtful and moving portrait of a community living under the specter of colonial legacies and familial ties in this world and the next.”
Two Special Jury Prizes worth 10,000 euros each went to Angélica Ruffier for “La Belle Année” (a very unique voice who, with absolute honesty and utter kindness, has taken us on a journey through a generation of loneliness) and for Ana Urshadze for “Supporting Performance”.
The latter sees a faded star eyeing a possible comeback and encountering all sorts of ghosts from his past.
“We enjoyed the detail and texture of cities, the beauty of chance encounters, and the deep emotion of reconciling with the past. The judges were impressed by the film’s deft use as a lens through which to explore the complexities of how we move through the world,” the jury said.
It also won the International Federation of Critics Award. This is Urshadze’s second feature film, following the well-received “Scary Mother.”
In the big screen competition, “Master” directed by Rezwan Shahriar Sumit was named the winner.
“This is a universal story about humans striving to hold on to their moral compass, only to be reshaped by the persuasive and destructive forces of power and capitalism. What began as a deceptively simple story of idealism and corruption… The story becomes more complex and layered,” said jurors Jan Willem van Eijwijk, Sarah Ishak, Roes Luka, Chris Oosterom and Mira Schlingemann.
This year’s edition combined “the most avant-garde films with the most popular films,” as festival director Vanja Kaldjelčić put it.
“There’s no misconception that IFFR is a radical, unconventional film event, but that’s only part of a larger truth,” she told Variety, also noting that the event spotlights the arts.
Carlos Casas, the man behind “Krakatoa,” which is shown as both a film and an art installation, said: “The extensive nature of the research, which includes sound, vibration, light and images, creates the need to present the film in different formats. Multiple formats bring to light different dimensions and possibilities for the project. I cherish the idea of a project with myriad outcomes, where all aspects of the research come fully to life.”
“For me, this job is about finding new ways to influence the physiology of the audience through sound, light and images. Using the platform as a seat and a zone where you can choose between a more traditional cinematic experience or a more immersive sensory experience.”
In addition to the successful launch of the Displaced Film Fund, sponsored by Cate Blanchett to support the work of displaced filmmakers, the event also welcomed John Lithgow and others, and was attended by Jimpa and The Secret Agent director Kleber Mendonça Filho, Yusri Nasrullah, Valeria Golino, and Palestinian actor Hiam Abbas.
Abbas spoke about his experience at the festival’s Big Talk.
“What was the first time I stood in front of a screen? I remember being in the village where I lived and seeing people running with chairs towards the center. There was a big screen and I didn’t even know who had installed it. And I was just standing there looking at something so magical,” she recalled.
“As a Palestinian who grew up with tremendous injustice (…) and who has tried to exist as a woman for myself and not for others, any space that allows me to do that has become a space of freedom,” she said, calling acting “an important place.” “This was a victory for me as a young girl who dreamed of a different life and a different place to exist, to take away all the political and social pressures that were put on my shoulders.”
The 55th anniversary festival was held from January 29th to February 8th.
“Supporting role”
Provided by IFFR
A complete list of awards can be found here.
tiger competition
tiger award
“Variations on a Theme” by Jason Jacobs and Devon Delmar (South Africa, Netherlands, Qatar)
Special Jury Award
“La Belle Année” by Angelica Ruffier (Sweden, Norway)
“Supporting Role” Ana Urushadze (Georgia, Estonia, Türkiye, Switzerland, USA)
big screen contest
“Master” Rezwan Shahriar Sumit (Bangladesh)
International Federation of Critics Award
“Supporting Role” Ana Urushadze (Georgia, Estonia, Türkiye, Switzerland, USA)
NETPAC Award
“When my father passed away, I grew an inch.” PR Monensilo Patindol (Philippines)
Special note
“Seoul Guardians” Kim Jung-woo, Kim Shin-wan, Cho Cheol-young (Korea)
Youth Jury Award
“Ah Girl” Ang Gek Gek Priscilla (Singapore)
