The 15th edition of the Macau International Short Film Festival concluded yesterday at Teatro Capitol, with Rotterdam-based visual artist and filmmaker Katarina Jazbec from Slovenia winning the “Best Film of the Festival” award in the SHORTS category for “Know Your Stones”, a documentary she directed.
The film was an entry from Germany.
The free admission festival was held from December 3 to 10 at the cinema on the top floor of Capitol in the city centre, with a total of 121 short films and music videos showcased in over 30 screenings. Entries were chosen from among 5,836 submissions from over 130 countries and regions.
The synopsis of Jazbec’s 21-minute documentary sees young activists, steelworkers, and a geologist teaming up “in a time-travelling space to confront climate change and its consequences”, according to information provided at the festival.
The cash prize for the “Best Film of the Festival”, a recent Creative Macau statement said, is 20,000 patacas. Remarking on her win at yesterday’s Gala Award ceremony at the cinema, Jazbec said via video message that she felt proud, honoured and grateful, as well as that it was “really special” for the film to have won an award in Macau. She went on to say that she and her team had worked hard on the film, noting: “This is a really nice confirmation for our efforts”.
Meanwhile, in the VOLUME category, the “Best Music Video” award, which has a cash prize of 10,000 patacas, went to “Interstellar Love” directed by Macau’s Bryan Chio and sung by Sean Pang.
A total of 17 awards were distributed during yesterday’s ceremony. Director Wieke Kapteijns from the Netherlands won “Best Documentary” for “When She Is Not Here”, while “Best Fiction” went to Hong Kong director So Chak Long for “Migratory Bird”. Director Marta Monteiro from Portugal meanwhile bagged the “Best Animation” award for the short animated film “Cold Soup”.
Moreover, the “Macau Cultural Identity” award went to “Finding Hou Ying in…What is it?” directed by Tracy Choi Ian Sin and Xu Wei from Macau and the mainland respectively; “Best Local Entry” was won by director Chao Koi Wang for “Chuff Chuff Chuff”; while local director Si Weng Chan took home the “Audience Choice” award for “Lifelong Finale”.
The other prizes awarded comprised the “Best Student Film” and a total of six SHORTS Prestigious Awards, including “Best Director” and “Best Visual Effects”, as well as two VOLUME Prestigious Awards comprising “Best Song” and “Best Visual Effects”.
Grand Jury Panel Members Lúcia Lemos (right) and João Francisco Pinto (left) present the trophy with Institute of European Studies of Macau (IEEM) President Paulo Canelas de Castro in the absence of “Best Film of the Festival” winner Katarina Jazbec. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
Visual artist and filmmaker Katarina Jazbec delivers a message via video during yesterday’s Macau International Short Film Festival Gala Award Ceremony at Teatro Capitol.
