On the evening of March 13, the 13th edition of the Mobile Film Festival ended at MK2 Library, an original cinephile event dedicated to (very) short films made with a mobile phone (1 Mobile, 1 Minute, 1 Film). The 2018 vintage has 1055 films from 88 different countries and has recorded more than 10 million views. The 50 works in official competition marked by their commitment, quality and originality. JustFocus was present at the announcement of the winners and tells you about this beautiful closing evening.
An award ceremony under the sign of emotion
It was around 20:30 that the ceremony began. After the speech of the founder of the event, Bruno Smadja, place to the projection of Louis in all its states, a short by Violette Gitton and Paul Marques Duarte (winners of the 2017 Grand Prix France), realized thanks to the 15,000 euros of the award. The opportunity for Violette Gitton, present on stage, to talk about her experience and give some advice to the future 2018 winners: "Write what you want, give free rein to your imagination, for once the money comes before the idea". And to tackle in passing the news: "Want your actors … but not too much!".
Then came the screening of the 50 films in competition. The moment to (re)discover the strong, poignant, powerful and funny short works that made the 2018 edition. Films that have not hesitated, once again, to echo the problems of the world: migration crisis, violence against women, disability, gender issues, fate reserved for homosexuals… More than successful short films to which the jury, chaired by Patrice Leconte and composed of Ruben Alves, Anne-Sophie Bion, Stéfi Celma, Amelle Chahbi, Alice David, Lola Dewaere, Pascal Elbé and Céline Kamina, wanted to pay a global tribute, highlighting a thirteenth edition of quality, and choices of awards hard to decide.
The awards, which rewarded seven films from as many different countries, mark by its audacity and committed character. If gravity prevails – drama of migrants through Raahha, fears buried in Monsters , question of gender with Leo Never Gives Up , consent in Yes, No – comedy, optimism and hope also have the prominence. Jury's Favorite and SensCritque Prize for the endearing and funny Brother, International Grand Prize and Audience Prize for the extraordinary Unsung Hero and Digital Jury Prize for the luminous Zulu Rema. Finally, for the first time this year, the jury decided to combine the Best Actress and Best Actor awards into one category and transgender actress Csillag Tamara Szilvia (Leo never gives up) was crowned with the award.
At the end of the award ceremony, we were able to ask some questions to some of the winners. Their wishes and projects? For the director of Leo Never Gives Up, extend the adventure of this short film by making a documentary about Csillag Tamara Szilvia, the transgender actress of the film. As for the director of Unsung Hero, now accustomed to festivals and awards, he wants to continue "simply to tell stories, whether they are short, big, simple or universal".
This is the end of the Mobile Film Festival 2018. A thirteenth edition that confirmed that with a minute and a smartphone, he can tell himself stories and live emotions… A successful bet for this festival of shorts that has become Grand.
The 2018 winners:
- International Grand Prize and Audience Award: Unsung hero by Vinamra Pancharia (India): how an abandoned object will become the way to do great things for a child
- Grand Prix France: Monsters by Manon Gaurin: an aesthetic illustration that revisits the theme of monsters under the bed… and elsewhere
- Best Screenplay: Yes, No by Matteo Tibiletti (Italy ): inspired by Samuel Beckett's Not I , this original short film focuses on consent and the meaning of words
- Best Director: Raahha by Farshad Qaffari and Payam Laghari (Iran): a dive into the drama of migrants at sea
- Best Actor: Csillag Tamara Szilvia in Leo Never Gives Up by Balint Klopfstein-Laszlo (Hungary): when the tenacity of a child will turn everything upside down
- Jury's Favorite Prize and SensCritique Prize: Brother by Boldbaatar Baasanjav (Mongolia): a touching declaration to the spirit of solidarity between brothers and sisters
- Digital Jury Prize with Golden Blog Awards: Zulu Rema by Haithel Sakouhi (Tunisia): a real lesson in optimism through the steps of a breakdance
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