French production wins BIFF trophy in Bucharest

“Far from men” by Daniel Oelhoffen was awarded the best film at the 11^th edition of the Bucharest International Film Festival (BIFF), while “Self-portrait of a Dutiful Daughter” by Ana Lungu received the award for “the best director”.

Six movies raced for BIFF trophy this year. All movies were presented in first premiere and won’t be released in Romanian theaters, except for one: “Self-portrait of a Dutiful Daughter” by Ana Lungu (Romania), “Cold in July” (USA directed by Jim Mickle), A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night” (USA, directed by Ana Lily Amirpour), “Hyena” (UK, by Gerard Johnson), “Kebab & Horoscope” (Poland, by Grzegorz Jaroszuk), ” Loin des homes/Far from men” (France, by David Oelhoffen).

“Far from men” is based in “The Guest” by Albert Camus, telling the story of Daru’s life, a teacher that has to surrender an Algerian man to the French authorities. The story takes place in 1954, before the War of Algeria. Daru, performed by Viggo Mortensen, is neither French nor Algerian, is impartial in this conflict, so he is a stranger and enemy to both sides.

“Self-portrait of a Dutiful Daughter” directed by Romanian Ana Lungu also received the prize of the audience.

“A Girl Walks Home Alone” won a special mention for “the breathtaking visual style, for the impressive black&white image and for the clever manner of telling the story, full of hidden symbols that are stirring the spectator’s imagination”.

BIFF awarding ceremony took place at Cinema Studio in Bucharest on Saturday night.