2009 | Olympia Festival

Awards and Special Mentions

of the 12^th Olympia International Film Festival for children and young people
Pyrgos, 12^th of December 2009

The Jury of the 12^th Olympia International Film Festival for children and young people

Rose-Marie Strand, president, head of the Children and Youth film department at Art House Distributor Folkets Bio AB located in Stockholm, Sweden, Jean Roke Patoudem, director, film producer and owner of the PATOU FILMS INTERNATIONAL company in France, Wangtae Lim, director, professor in the film art department of DIMA (Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts) in Anseong, South Korea and board member of CIFEJ (International Center of Film for Children and Young People), Ariane Metzner producer, today directs the production company COUCH in Austria. Vaia Pangea, set and costume designer in Cologne.

The speech of Rose- Marie Strand (president)

On behalf of the jury of the 12^th Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People, I wish to extend our gratitude to the three-member committee of this wonderful event: Dimitris Spyrou, Nikos Theodosiou and Christos Konstandopoulos.

We are honored by the hospitality of the Prefect and Mayor of the city of Pyrgos and equally so, that, of the dedication of everyone who worked, in order for this event to successfully materialize.

During this week we have seen a lot of good films, of various genres, lengths, national and geographical origins.

Some of them made us laugh, some of them made us cry, and some did both.

These productions need our support, and through them, educational films will hopefully balance the outpour of Hollywood blockbusters. The audience is one of our biggest sources of support and it was a pleasure for us to experience your reactions, to feel your emotion, laughter and enthusiasm.

In the 12 years from its inauguration this festival has grown and we are left with the certainty that it will continue to do so in years to come.

Thank you.

Jury Awards

Best Feature Film

A Time to Love, by Ebrahim Forouzesh, Iran, 2008, 90’

As it was a story about the brutality of discrimination and the victorious power of acceptance.

Best Short Fiction Film

Kavi, by GreggHelvey, USA, 2009,19’

A well-directed short film, which exposes the brutal and unjust world of millions of children extorted by the adults. The film also offers hope toward change.

Best Short Animated Film