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Le 16e Festival International
Signes de Nuit
Paris

4 - 14 octobre, 2018

cite universitaire
Main d'oeuvres
Maison du Portugal
Maison du Mexique
Main d'oeuvres
 Bibliotheque Francois Truffaut
 Bibliotheque Francois Truffaut



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AWARD CELEBRATION

Documentary Competition



The 16th International Festival Signes de Nuit
4 - 14 october 2018, Paris

Sunday 14, October, 2018 / 8 pm
Maison du Portugal
Cité internationale universitaire de Paris

 

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Long Documentary Competition

Main Award


Women with Gunpowder Earrings
Zanabi ba gusgvarehaye baruti
Reza Farahmand
  

Women with Gunpowder Earrings

FRENCH PREMIERE


Women with Gunpowder Earrings
Zanabi ba gusgvarehaye baruti
Reza Farahmand

Iran
2018 | 01:17:00

Noor Al Helli, an Iraqi female journalist, covers stories about Syrian and Iraqi women and children in the war against ISIS.

 


Jury Statement :
A dramatic and direct testimony giving speach to different parts of the confict. Reza Farahmand with his courageous camera very close to protagonists, report us the extreme tension of the front line, the suffering of the people, and manage to catch in images and talks the ambiguity in the discours of ISIS supporters.

Director Statement :
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Short Documentary Competition

Main Award


Rewind Forward
Justin Stoneham
  

Rewind Forward

FRENCH PREMIERE


Rewind Forward
Justin Stoneham

Switzerland
2017 | 00:24:00

All his life, Justin managed to escape his own story. But his past catches up with him when he finds a box full of old family VHS tapes. A film that begins as an homage to his deceased father develops into an attempt to no longer be a stranger to his own mother.

 

 


Jury Statement :
A film at the good distance between sensitivity and realism about universal issues of family relationships. Justin Stoneham film very close his mother and, in a voice-over, share with us his reflections in an introspective way which sound true.

Director Statement :
My deepest gratitude for this incredible honour! It feels so surreal. When I started making this film I knew what a huge responsibility I had towards my family and our story. I was so concerned that I couldn’t live up to it. Now the story became bigger than me! Thank you to the Festival, the Jury and the Audience!

 
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Long Documentary Competition

Signs Award


Srbenka
Nebojsa Slijepcevic

Almost Nothing
Anna De Manincor / Zimmerfrei
 The Signs Award for Documentary honors films, which express in a surprising way sensible and perturbing aspects of reality.



Srbenka

Srbenka
Nebojsa Slijepcevic

Croatia
2018 | 01:12:00

During the winter of 1991, Croatia defended itself against the military aggression of neighbouring Serbia. Among the innocent victims of this conflict was Aleksandra Zec, a teenager of Serbian origin, who was hatefully lynched in Zagreb. A generation later, while in Croatian schools, Serbian pupils continue to be taken for the “enemies” of yesterday, Oliver Frlji? adapts “the Zec affair” at the theatre, with Nina, a Serbian, born in 2001, in the title role. In front of Nebojša Slijep?evi?’s camera, the troupe’s rehearsals turn into collective psychotherapy, interspersed by shots of an empty stage haunted by personal accounts that build up in voiceover. Through skilful metatheatre that involves both the troupe’s acting and sense of self as they work on their own memories, distanced by the theatrical device, Srbenka delineates a public space likely to break the cycle of vengeance. Slijep?evi?’s film also constitutes a powerful reflection on one of the possible functions of art: to dry out, metre by metre, the cesspool of hatred fed by the entrepreneurs of ethnic cleansing who continue to act today.

 

 


Jury Statement :
A sharp documentary about a political, divisive theatre play and the involved human beings, the living and the dead. The filmmaker explores recent history and renders present subjectivities with sober images which serves the words of the protagonist in an insightful way.

Director Statement :
.

Almost Nothing

 

PARIS PREMIERE


Almost Nothing
Anna De Manincor / Zimmerfrei

Italy, France, Belgium
2018 / 1:17:00

When we think about science often we focus on the big discoveries: the Higgs Boson! Gravitational waves! Sometimes maybe we forget about what happens in between: there’s a bunch of people doing the systematic work. At the border between Switzerland and France there's a citadel called CERN, a global community of thousands of people working together towards a common objective. How can they work for years - sometimes decades - as a unique and enormous brainpower? What are they looking for?

 

 


Jury Statement :
A classic but operating portrait of a kind of city. Anne de Manincor and "Zimmerfrei" group of cineasts succeed in the description of a community famous for his research on infinity small, by filming with humanity commonplace and humbly dressed and talking scientists.

Director Statement :
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Short Documentary Competition

Signs Award


I Signed the Petition
Mahdi Fleifel
 The Signs Award for Documentary honors films, which express in a surprising way sensible and perturbing aspects of reality.



I Signed the Petition

 

FRENCH PREMIERE


I Signed the Petition
Mahdi Fleifel

Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain
2018 | 00:10:00

A conversation between two friends about the effectiveness and implications of publicly stating support for the cultural boycott of Israel. One friend is wracked with worry having signed a petition asking Radiohead not to play Tel Aviv, the other is more sanguine. Through their conversation we catch a glimpse of what it is to be a Palestinian in today’s world.




 

 


Jury Statement :
A truly original storytelling, requiring all our attention to catch all the shades of a subtle and powerful sociopolitical analysis built during an only apparently ordinary morning call between two friends. A short yet thorough essay about oppression.

Director Statement :
.

 

 
Short Documentary Competition

Signs Award
Special Mention

Inga
Uffe Mulvad


Inga

 

FRENCH PREMIERE


Inga
Uffe Mulvad

Denmark
2018 | 00:07:00

By taking a deep dive into her memories of a long life, Inga reflects over love, aging, and death. She invites us into her home where we take part in her morning rituals, and when she swims in the cold lake. This short portrait shows the artistic and personal images of Inga’s daily life and what it means for her to grow old.

 

 

 

 

Jury Statement :
A poetic and charming short movie. Uffe Mulvad shoot in an anticonformist way, a little shocking and sexy, an excentric old lady: the art of perverting gently film codes of youth and old age.

Director Statement :
I'm very honored about that you have pick my film. I am happy to see that you like films about ordinary people with ordinary life. I think it is important that documentaries not always are about people in need. It is important to think about that all people have a history to tell.

 

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Long Documentary Competition

Night Award


Over the Limite
Marta Prus

  The Night Award for Documentary honors films, which represent reality in an ambivalent and enigmatic way, avoiding stereotypes of representation and simple conclusions. 



Over the Limit

Over the Limite
Marta Prus

Germany
2017 | 01:14:00

Over the Limit shows how the successful Russian system for training athletes transgresses boundaries. Elite rhythmic gymnast Rita Mamun has reached a crucial moment in her career. She’s soon to retire, but has one final goal set out for her: winning Olympic gold. A nail-biting behind-the-scenes drama about the intense physical and mental labor put into a sport that thrives on its beautiful aesthetics.

 

 


Jury Statement :
A revealing portrait in cold blood. Marta Prus manage to show us with beautiful images of rythm gymnastic movements and zooms on faces, the aesthetics of a sport but also the existence of rought tensions between the athlet and the training staff.

Director Statement :
.
 
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Short Documentary Competition

Night Award


Manila High - Living in Company with Death
Simone Andrea Gottschau, Anders Palm Olesen

  The Night Award for Documentary honors films, which represent reality in an ambivalent and enigmatic way, avoiding stereotypes of representation and simple conclusions. 



Manila High - Living in Company with Death

Manila High - Living in Company with Death
Simone Andrea Gottschau, Anders Palm Olesen

Danmark
2017 | 00:12:00

The short documentary portrays four gravediggers from Pasay City Cemetery and their work constructing “Duterte Compund”, a new government funded grave-complex for the victims of Tokhang – Duterte’s so-called war on drugs. In the slums, everyone is a suspected drug addict.

 

 


Jury Statement :
Knowing or reading about Rodrigo Duterte's so-called war on drugs (indeed a pretextuous and deadly pursuit of the less fortunate and more exposed people) will not any longer convey the same feelings or thoughts after watching this shocking and well constructed short film. Gaudy colors, frightening images, the voices of the cemetery residents... some grim yet very human aspects of reality surface through this surprising work.

Director Statement :
.
 

 

 

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Long Documentary Competition

Edward Snowden Award


Cause of Death : Unknown
Anniken Hoel
The Edward Snowden Award honors films, which offer sensible (mostly) unknown informations, facts and phenomenons of eminent importance, for which the festival wishes a wide proliferation in the future.



Cause of Death : Unknown

Cause of Death : Unknown
Anniken Hoel

Norway
2017 | 01:27:00

After her sister died suddenly and unexpectedly while being treated with prescription antipsychotics, director Anniken Hoel begins a global investigation into the crimes of the pharmaceutical industry, the unheralded growth of psychiatric diagnoses and medication, and the corruption of the government regulatory agencies that have failed, repeatedly, to protect us. Made over a ten-year period, the film is simultaneously personal and investigative as it follows Anniken as she seeks answers regarding not only the death of her sister, but of the tens of thousands worldwide who have also met a similar fate. Deaths and damages that until now have been all but ignored. Beginning in a small town in Norway, and journeying through Scandinavia, the EU and the US, the chilling documentary-thriller CAUSE OF DEATH: UNKNOWN exposes the inner workings and motivations of a powerful industry that continually puts profits before people, and has been far too influential in defining who is normal and who is "ill".


 

 


Jury Statement :
A breathtaking and terrifying inquiry about some deadly side effects of antipsychotics, almost unknown. Even more touching because deeply rooted in the filmmaker's personal history. An intense and meaningful quest for justice and for a more compassionate and real perspective on our shared human condition. .


Director Statement :

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Short Documentary Competition

Edward Snowden Award


The Migrating Image
Stefan Kruse
The Edward Snowden Award honors films, which offer sensible (mostly) unknown informations, facts and phenomenons of eminent importance, for which the festival wishes a wide proliferation in the future.



The Migrating Image

 

FRENCH PREMIERE


The Migrating Image
Stefan Kruse

Denmark
2018 | 00:29:00

The Migrating Image follows a ficitional group of refugees as they move their way up through Europe. Each chapter of the film takes its cue from the destination of the refugees. From their home country, the Mediterranean Sea to being stuck in warehouses in Beograd. Who produces images of these refugees? and why?? Which cameras surrounding them and what are the intentions. “Human beings forget they created images in order to orientate themselves in the world. Since they are no longer able to decode them, their lives become a function of their own images: Imagination has turned into hallucination." The film opens with a quote from the German philosopher Vilém Flusser. His media theory and especially his book 'Towards a philosophy of photography' is at the core of the inspiration for THE MIGRATING IMAGE. The film is in short a closer look at the images creating the visualisation of the refugee crisis.




 

 


Jury Statement :
The Migrating Image by Stefan Kruse The filmmaker brilliantly analyses the visual representations - almost always potentially misleading - of the human, geographical and frightening itineraries of migrant people. A brilliant editing and a sober voiceover guide the viewer into decoding the alleged neutrality of these images, always shaped by power.


Director Statement :
Receiving an award that specifically honours the conveying of (mostly) unknown information is a great honour. The idea for making this film came about wondering on how to convey media theory in connection to the refugee situation in Europe and to experience that people connect with the film and its message, is very rewarding to me.ctor Statement :

 

 

 


 

Festival international SIGNES DE NUIT - 18, rue Budé 75004 Paris - France - Tel : +33 (0) 1 40 46 92 25 - +33 (0) 6 84 40 84 38 - cood.int@signesdenuit.com