MakeDox took place June 15 - 22 in Skopje, Macedonia, screening over 60 documentary films. This year, as part of the Balkan Onion programme, the festival took a closer look at films from the Balkans.
The Onion Award for best film in international competition was presented to Argentinian Lesson, one the most successful East European docs of the past festival season. Wojciech Staroń won several awards at the Krakow Film Festival, the Silver Dove Award at the DOK Leipzig, Best Director Award at Festival dei Popoli, and the Grand Prize at the Guangzhou IDFF in China. The film was nominated for the 2011 Silver Eye Award and is now included in the East Silver catalogue. How did Wojciech navigate the sensitive film terrain that involved his own family? Read more in our interview.
The Spring Onion for best film by a newcomer went to the Swedish film He Thinks He's the Best by Maria Kuhlberg.
The Onion Seed for best film for children and youth went to Nicky's Family by Slovak filmmaker Matěj Mináč.
A Cell Phone Movie by Nedžad Begović received Special Award for best film dealing with ethical ideas. Another Special Award for best doc on human rights issues went to Patricio Guzmán's Nostalgia for the Light.
Trailers & details on 2012 MakeDox award winners by East European filmmakers here:
Argentinian Lesson
Argentyńska lekcja , Poland, 2011, 56 min, Digi Beta, Creative, Personal View, Society, Travel
In 1998 Wojciech Staroń made the documentary film "The Siberian Lesson". The film told the story of a young teacher who emigrated to the vicinity of Lake Baikal in order to teach Polish deportees’ descendants their native language. Many years later, as a married couple with two children, the director and his wife are leaving for Argentina. For their little son, this trip will not only be an encounter with an unknown language. Influenced by their Argentinian friend, Janek enters the fascinating world of imagination, and is introduced to the bitterness of childhood prematurely contaminated by the problems of grown-ups.
Silver Eye Award nominee 2011 / East Silver 2011
Nicky's Family
Nickyho rodina , Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, 2011, 96 min, 35 mm, DCP, Docu drama, History
Dramatic follow-up of the documentary The Power of Good about Nicholas Winton’s Kindertransport rescue mission. This film enhances the original story with a number of dramatic re-enactments narrated by the rescued children and Sir Winton himself, rare archival footage and interviews with some of today’s most influential personalities. Joe Schlesinger, a CBC reporter and one of the rescued children, is the guide in the film, who presents not only how Winton’s act changed his life, but also how it continues to influence the lives of thousands of others worldwide. As the young generation, inspired by Winton’s story, tries to cope with present-day problems and actively tries to help make the world a better place.
A Cell Phone Movie
Film mobitelom , Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2011, 63 min, Creative
The author is exploring the areas of artistic freedom within the limitations of the mobile phone. He uses the voice recording option and records everyday phone conversations. In this way, he develops a spontaneous, amusing and emotional ‘spy’ story about the daily routine. The film is based on the idea of a pronounced minimal realization, in rudimentary form, neglecting the rules of classical film expression. With respect to the fact that there are five billion active mobile phones on the planet, the author makes a film which sports contemporary ‘youtube’ or ‘mobile’ aesthetics.
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