All of the participating movies at The Panorama of the European Film Festival this year have won several awards in various film festivals. The drama genre took the biggest share of the festival, with movies from all around Europe featuring the struggles of people’s lives. Here are some of the participating movies, which will be screened during the festival.
“45 years”
Director: Andrew Heigh
Starring: Charlotte Rampling, Geraldine James and Tom Courtenay
Description: In around two hours, the dramatic movie features the life of a happy couple who are one week away from celebrating their 45th anniversary, which will be ruined when they receive a letter from an anonymous person that details the husband’s past life. By the time the awaited anniversary arrives, they discover they have nothing left to celebrate.
Awards: Silver Bear for Best Actor and Best Actress – Berlin ale 2015, The Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film, Best Performance in a British Feature Film – Edinburgh IFF.
“Far From the Madding Crowd”
Director: Thomas Vinterberg
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts and Michael Sheen
Description: The movie plot is set in Victorian England in 1870, when a headstrong young girl attracts three different men, each with his own style of living. Between a sheep farmer, a famous sergeant, and a prosperous and mature bachelor, the movie defines the controversy behind love and relationships.
Awards: Nominated for the Golden Tulip Award (International Competition) – Istanbul IFF 2015
“I’m Dead But I Have Friends”
Director: Guillaume and Stéphane Malandrin
Starring: Bouli Lanners, Wim Wilaert, Lyes Salem
Description: Just one night before the four-member band departed for their first concert of their tour, the lead singer of the band dies leaving behind thee loyal friends who decide to go through with the trip in memory of their friend. However, their journey will take an unexpected turn when they meet the lover of their now deceased friend.
Awards: Nominated for the Golden Tulip Award (International Competition) – Istanbul IFF 2015
“Magical Girl”
Director: Carlos Vermut
Starring: Bárbara Lennie, José Sacristán, Luis Bermejo
Description: Alicia, a sick child, is dreaming of wearing the dress of her favourite Japanese series, Magical Girl Yukiko. While her father tries to make her dream come true, his luck leads him to meet another woman with mental disease and a teacher whose past still haunts him. The French film connects all the characters together by showing how all of them are trapped in a world of blackmail, where instincts and reason struggle in a tragic battle, changing their lives forever.
Awards: Gold Shell for Best Film, Silver Shell for Best Director – San Sebastian IFF 2014 Presented in the Discovery Selection – Toronto IFF 2014 Best Leading Actress – Goya Awards 2015
“My Mother”
Director: Nanni Moretti
Starring: Margherita Buy, John Turturro, Nanni Moretti, Giulia Lazzarini
Description: A French film features the life of a very famous director who cannot control the mess in her life – a seriously ill mother and a daughter who is going through adolescence. The 106-minute drama depicts the director while she is trying to get her life on the right track.
Awards: Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress – David di Donatello Awards 2015
“The Magic Mountain”
Director: Anca Damian
Description: The documentary animation movie tells the story of a Polish refugee in France who had fought in Afghanistan. This independent and courageous adventurer is also an artist and a mountaineer who sometimes breaks the law to achieve what he wants.
“RAMS”
Director: Grimur Hakonarson
Starring: Sigurður Sigurjónsson,Theodór Júlíusson, Charlotte Bøving
Awards: Icelandic Submission – Academy Awards 2015
Description: Although they live side by side in the same valley in Denmark to raise their sheep, two brothers, Gummi and Kiddi have not spoken to each other in four decades. A sudden illness overtook one the brother’s sheep and he finds himself in need of the help of the other to save the special breed passed down for generations from extinction. For 90-minutes, the movie will discuss the lifetime relationship between brothers and their way of overcoming troubles.
“The Measure of a Man”
Director: Stéphane Brizé
Starring: Vincent Lindon, Karine de Mirbeck, Matthieu Schalle
Description: After losing his job as a machinist, Thierry struggles to financially support his family. In his 50s, he doesn’t have the technical skills to compete in the modern job market and find himself forced to retain his compassion and integrity at the bottom of the heap. A series of real-time humiliations for an ordinary working man, leading him to compromise his integrity in the name of making ends meet.
Awards: Best Actor, Prize of the Ecumenical Jury Special Mention, In Competition – Cannes IFF 2015Audience Award – Brussels European FF 2015
“Victoria”
Director: Sebastian Schipper
Starring: Laia Costa, Frederick Lau, Franz Rogowski
Description: When young lady Victoria meets four friends at one of Berlin’s nightclubs, she never imagined the fun they were having would turn into a bank robbery by the end of the night. The movie is shot in a single take.
Awards: Silver Bear for an Outstanding Artistic Contribution (Camera), Nominated for Golden Bear – Berlin IFF 2015
