ROTTERDAM, Feb 2 (ZIZ): The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has unveiled the outstanding filmmakers who have secured the top accolades at the 2024 Tiger Competition and Big Screen Competition. These announcements took place during the IFFR Awards Ceremony on Friday, February 2, alongside the presentation of the FIPRESCI, NETPAC, and Youth Jury awards.
IFFR Tiger Competition 2024
The Tiger Competition, renowned for spotlighting the innovative work of emerging filmmakers, showcased 14 compelling titles in its 2024 edition. The esteemed jury, consisting of Marco Müller, Ena Sendijarević, Nadia Turincev, Billy Woodberry, and Herman Yau, bestowed the Tiger Award, accompanied by a €40,000 prize, upon “Rei” from Japanese director Tanaka Toshihiko. The jury commended Toshihiko’s debut film for its unbounded environment, collaborative approach, and exploration of the constant threat from the outside world. Additionally, “Kiss Wagon” (India) by Midhun Murali received a Special Jury Award for its hypnotic narrative, and “Flathead” (Australia) by Jaydon Martin secured the second Special Jury Award for its powerful portrayal of societal contributors.
The Old Bachelor Triumphs in Big Screen Competition
The Big Screen Competition, designed to bridge the gap between popular, classic, and arthouse cinema, featured 12 remarkable titles. The jury, comprising Samina Khan, Sylvie de Leeuwe, Lisa van der Loos, Marcos Silva, and Ella de Bruijn, honored “The Old Bachelor” (Iran) by Oktay Baraheni with the VPRO Big Screen Award 2024. Praising its gripping storytelling, nuanced dialogue, and powerful performances, the jury described it as a deeply visceral cinematic experience delving into themes of patriarchy, misogyny, love, violence, and tragedy.
Additional Recognitions
- FIPRESCI Award: The FIPRESCI Award for outstanding achievement in the Tiger Competition went to “Kiss Wagon” (India) by Midhun Murali. The international jury, including Ela Bittencourt, Dārta Ceriņa, Panagiotis Kotzathanasis, Antonios Lagarias, and Ronald Rovers, applauded the film for its epic storytelling and bold defiance of cinematic conventions.
- NETPAC Award: The NETPAC Award for the best Asian feature film was awarded to “Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust” (India, France, Germany) by Ishan Shukla. The jury, comprised of Elena Larionova Haug, Donsaron Kovitvanitcha, and Andreas Ungerböck, praised the film’s courageous exploration of contemporary political and social issues.
- Youth Jury Award: The Youth Jury Award, chosen by local film enthusiasts aged 16 to 22, was presented to “Levante” (Brazil, France, Uruguay) by Lillah Halla. The jury applauded the film’s daring representation of young people’s experiences and emotions.
- Tiger Short Competition: Winners of the Tiger Short Competition were announced at a dedicated ceremony on Monday, January 29.
Stay tuned for the announcement of the IFFR 2024 Audience Award winner, scheduled for Saturday, February 3.
