The 45th edition of the Cairo Film Festival concluded with the top prize, the Golden Pyramid Award, going to Bogdan Mureșanu's "The New Year That Never Came." The black comedy, which previously won the Horizons sidebar at the Venice Film Festival, is set in 1989 during the festive season that immediately precedes the downfall of the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu.
The Special Jury Award for best director, the Silver Pyramid, went to Russian director Natalia Nazarova for "Postmarks," which also picked up a best actor award for Maxim Stoyanov and a special mention for the female lead, Alina Khojevanova. The other male lead award went to Lee Kang-Sheng for his performance in "Blue Sun Palace."
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The International Jury led by Danis Tanović ("No Man's Land") also awarded the Bronze Pyramid for best debut or second feature award to Pedro Freire's "Malu." The Rio-set film was inspired by his mother's life as an actress and stars Yara de Novaes in the lead role. De Novaes also received the best actress award. Best screenplay was awarded to the Italian film "Vittoria," a fascinating study in adoption, written by Casey Kauffman and Alessandro Cassigoli, and acted by the people who lived through the real events on which the film is based.
Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi received the best documentary award for their film "State of Passion," which documented the courageous work of the British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah. His inspiring and lifesaving work in the hospitals of Gaza continued in long punishing shifts, even during bombardments. The film also won the best Arab feature award as well as additional prizes, given by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's Radio and Television Union, aimed at promoting the Palestinian cause. The cause was never far from the minds of those present with many sporting the colors of the Palestinian flag in their lapels. Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi was also recognized for his film which opened the festival, "Passing Dreams," and Abu Sittah also received a prize.
Mati Diop continues to pick up prizes with her Berlinale Golden Bear winner "Dahomey," which in Cairo took the African feature award.
The Youssef Chahine Award for best short film was awarded to the directors Kai Xue and Hong Jiexi for their film "David."
The Fipresci Prize for best film went to the acidic comedy - and the only Egyptian film in the International Competition - "Spring Came on Laughing." Director Noha Adel also picked up several additional prizes for her debut film.
Best Actor Award
Actor Lee Kang-Sheng for his performance in "Blue Sun Palace"
Best Actress Award (Special Mention)
Actress Alina Khojevanova for her performance in "Postmarks"
Henry Barakat Award for Best Artistic Contribution
Awarded to the director Necmi Sancak for his film "Ayse"
Henry Barakat Award for Best Artistic Contribution
Awarded to the director Noha Adel for her film "Spring Came on Laughing"
The International Critics Prize (Fipresci Prize)
Film: "Spring Came on Laughing"
Directed by Noha Adel
Saad Eldin Wahba Award for Best Arabic Film with $10,000 prize
Awarded to the producer Carol Mansour, Muna Khalidi for "A State of Passion"
Salah Abu Seif Award for Best Director with $7,000 prize
Film: "Spring Came on Laughing" by Noha Adel
Youssef Sherif Rezkallah Award for Best Screenwriter with $6,000 prize
Film: "Arzé"
Directed by Mira Shaib
Script: Louay Khraish, Faissal Sam Shaib
Best Actor Award with $2,000 prize
Actor Mohamed Khouyi for his role in "The Blue Lake" by Daoud Aoulad-Syad
Best Actress Award with $2,000 prize
Actress Diamand Bou Abboud for her role in "Arzé" by Mira Shaib
Special Mention
Actress Rehab Anan for her role in "Spring Came on Laughing" by Noha Adel
Shafi Abdel Salam Award for Best Film
Awarded to the director Agathe Riedinger for "Wild Diamond"
Youssef Chahine Award for Best Short Film
Awarded to the directors Kai Xue, Hong Jiexi for the film "David"
45th Cairo International Film Festival African Feature Award
To the documentary film "Dahomey"
Directed by Mati Diop
Special Jury Prize
Presented to "Abu Zaabal 89"
Directed by Bassam Mortada
45th Cairo International Film Festival Network for the Promotion of the Asia Pacific Cinema Award. Presented to the Outstanding Asian Feature Film:
"Brief History of a Family"
Directed by Lin Jianjie
Broadcasting and Television Union of Organizations of Islamic Cooperation Award
Presented to the Top Palestinian Documentaries or Short Films with 250,000 Egyptian Pounds:
First Prize: 125,000 Le to "Square Kilometer Dreams"
Director: Qassam Sbeih
Country: Palestine
Special Mention
For Professor Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, the surgeon at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza
Misr International Films (Mif), Youssef Chahine Award
Cash Prizes: $1,000 presented to the best film in the Palestinian film series "Zero Distance":
Film: "No Signal"
By: Muhammad Al Sharif
Misr International Films (Mif), Youssef Chahine Award
Cash Prizes: $1,000 presented to the best film in the Palestinian film series "Zero Distance"
Film: A School Day
By: Ahmed Al Danaf
Feature Documentary Award
Awarded to the film: "Abu Zaabal 89"
Directed by Bassam Mortada
Country: Egypt, Germany
Feature Documentary Award
Awarded to the film: "A State of Passion"
Directed by Carol Mansour, Muna Khalidi
Country: Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, U.K., Kuwait