KIIFF Team
Sep 10, 2022
2nd Kurdistan International Independent Film Festival Winners - 2022
WINNERS
Best Of Fest
“MALPELO: MOUNTAIN OF SHARKS”
Writer, Director & Producer: Kevin Mannens
Country of Origin: United States
Days away from the closest land, lies a mythical underwater volcano. Beneath the waves: a bonanza of life. Massive shoals of fish darken the water and hundreds of sharks patrol the seamount.
But like all wild places, this one too is in grave danger. Illegal fishing and sharkfinning might soon deplete this natural wonder and UNESCO heritage site of its natural wonders.
Best Feature Film
“MOTHER OF APOSTLES”
Director: Zaza Buadze
Writers: Ratha Makeenkova, Zaza Buadze
Producer: Dmytro Ovechkin
Country of Origin: Ukrain
In 2014, Sofia's peaceful life was invaded by the war, when she received a news informing her that the humanitarian plane that her son was flying was shot down over the occupied territory, where there is war.
After receiving an unsatisfactory response from the military regarding her son's life, she packs a small suitcase and travels to the occupied territory, to find her son.
Sofia understands the danger, however is determined to find her son. While traveling by bus, at the border, she gets saved from the militants by a local resident - Fedir.
Fedir treats Sofia with sympathy, takes care of her and agrees to help her with finding her son. Sofia finds out from Fedir that the pilots are being hunted by the russian mercenary by the name of Malahin and his squad, as you can trade a pilot for a russian officer from the ukrainian side, or get a hefty bounty from the russian side. However, Malahin is not the only one on the bounty hunt for pilots, as is the local mercenary leader by the nickname Coyote, who used to be a local detective that chose to travel on the mercenary path, for monetary gain, and is not afraid to go against Malahin.
The news channels have shared a news story, that Coyote has picked up a wounded pilot, and placed him in a local hospital under his own security. Sofia, not minding the risk, runs to the hospital. At the same time, Malahin travels to the hospital, and has a conflict with Coyote.
Disguised as a nurse, Sofia goes past the security and ends up in the same room as the wounded. He turns out to be a friend of her son, one of the members of the plane crew that got shot down. Sofia decides to get the wounded out of the hospital as soon as possible. With help of Fedir, they are able to get him out, however, during the chase, Fedir is wounded. They end up in an empty village engulfed in war, in Fedir's parents house.
Sofia, understanding the danger of staying too long in this village, got in contact with ukrainian scouts and handed over the wounded to them, and they transported him to Ukraine.....
Best Feature Documentary
“PUSHING BOUNDARIES”
Writer & Director: Lesia Kordonets
Producer: Karin Koch
Country of Origin: Switzerland, Ukrain
PUSHING BOUNDARIES accompanies athletes from the Ukrainian Paralympic National Team who have lost their training base in Crimea due to the Russian annexation. They try to adapt to the new historic conditions in their private as well as in their professional lives and to qualify for the next games.
The film shows people who grow beyond their physical limits on a daily basis while around them political boundaries are pushed back and forth. And the country they represent at international competitions is invalided by the amputation of its territories.
Best Short Film
“COGNITION”
Director: Ravi Ajit Chopra
Writers: Gavin McClenaghan, Ravi Ajit Chopra
Producers: Ravi Ajit Chopra, Colin Goudie, Michael Wood, Michael R Demmerle, Zhe Zhang, John Lesand, Zein Kurdi, Rob van den Bragt
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
The story follows a son's (Jeremy Irvine) psychological journey as he confronts his past trauma to reconnect with the father he loves (Andrew Scott).
Best Short Documentary
“MALPELO: MOUNTAIN OF SHARKS”
Writer, Director & Producer: Kevin Mannens
Country of Origin: United States
Days away from the closest land, lies a mythical underwater volcano. Beneath the waves: a bonanza of life. Massive shoals of fish darken the water and hundreds of sharks patrol the seamount.
But like all wild places, this one too is in grave danger. Illegal fishing and sharkfinning might soon deplete this natural wonder and UNESCO heritage site of its natural wonders.
Best Short Animation
“SHADOWLAND”
Writer, Director & Producer: Bellopropello
Country of Origin: Switzerland
The diverse communication options offered by a cell phone influence our social and consumer behavior. Excessive use changes the design of “head-down people’s” life and lifestyle habits.
Best Feature Screenplay
“QUEEN OF MARS”
Writer: George Washington Orange III
Country of Origin: United States
An arrogant prince seeks the unrequited love of a haughty Martian queen, discovering their destiny as star-crossed lovers and rulers of the red planet.
Best Short Script
“FATAL AMBITION”
Writer: Angel Connell
Country of Origin: United States
A politically ambitious district attorney pursuing a serial murderer is confronted by the killer himself with a demand that the DA publicly retract her false yet exploitative claim about a crime he never committed.
Best Director
“VALERIE ZANOLI”
Film: Not To Forget
Country of Origin: United States
Best Leading Actor
“JEREMY IRVINE”
Film: Cognition
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Best Leading Actress
“NATALIA POLOVINKA”
Film: Mother of Apostles
Country of Origin: Ukrain
Best Supporting Actor
“BOGDAN BENYUK”
Film: Mother of Apostles
Country of Origin: Ukrain
Best Supporting Actress
“JENN KIRK”
Film: Remnants
Country of Origin: Australia
Best DOP
“HERVE CHARRAZAC”
Film: Public Enemy Number Zero (L Ennemi Public Numéro Zéro)
Country of Origin: France
Best Editor
“HERVE CHARRAZAC”
Film: Public Enemy Number Zero (L Ennemi Public Numéro Zéro)
Country of Origin: France
Best Original Score
“SAMUEL KARL BOHN”
Film: Cognition
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Best Sound
“M.S. ARAVIND, RAMJI SOMA”
Film: The Great Man (Maamanithan)
Country of Origin: India
Best Costume Designer
“HEIDI MILLER”
Film: Cognition
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Best Screenwriter
“MARTIN K ZITTER”
Screenplay: The Truth Serum
Country of Origin: United States