The winners of the “Breaking Down Barriers” film festival have been announced

Winners were chosen in 17 categories and two special prizes.

23.11.2022

The goal of the International Disability Film Festival “Breaking Down Barriers” is to change stereotypes about people with disabilities and teach acceptance and tolerance. The festival brought together over 3,000 participants — with and without disabilities — from all over the world.

“We are all different and have the right to self-expression. The path of civilization has been one from intolerance to tolerance. The ‘Breaking Down Barriers’ film festival passionately shatters these barriers to help us be kinder to and more tolerant of one another” said Nikolai Lebedev, director and chairman of the festival’s jury.

Russian and foreign films were listed among the winners and runners-up. “The Special” (directed by Ignacio Marquez, Venezuela) won Best Full-Length Feature Film; Best Animated Film went to “Behind the Fence” (Naria Koga-Lerner, Russia); and Best Short Feature Film was “Detach” (Yi Wang, China).

The full list of winners:

Best Feature Film — “The Special” (dir. Ignacio Marquez, Venezuela)

Best Short Feature Film — “Detach” (dir. Yi Wang, China)

Best Documentary Feature Film — “Imperfect” (dir. Bryan Malone, Regan Linton, USA)

Best Short Documentary — “At Night I Walk” (dir. Helena Malack, France)

Best Animated Film — “Behind the Fence” (dir. Maria Kogan-Lerner, Russia)

Best Stereotype-breaking Film — “Crutch” (dir. by Sachi Cunningham, Chandler Evans (Wayabobo), USA)

Most Life-affirming Ailm — “The Artist and the Power of Thought” (dir. Elder Fraga, Brazil)

Best Film About Love — “65 Rose” (dir. Davide Del Marais, Italy)

Best Children’s Film — “Louis’ Shoes” (dir. Theo Zhamin, Caiou Leung, Marion Philippe, Jean-Gerode Blanc, France)

Best Film about Children — “Zulali” (dir. Hayk Ordyan, Armenia)

Best Teenager-created Film — “The Big Story of a Little Man” (Original team: Anastasia Ilyina, Julia Makhovskaya, Anastasia Tikhonova, Russia)

Best film about the rights of disabled people — “Not Going Quietly” (dir Nicholas Bruckman, USA) and “Lida” (dir Konstantin Raikh, Russia)

Best Director — “Scars” (dir. Alex Anna, Canada)

Best Camerawork — “Theo and Metamorphosis” (Damien Audoul and Sylvain Rodriguez, France)

Best Actor — Juan Manuel Montilla “Langi” for his role in “The Trying One” (Spain)

Best Actress — Miriam Garlo for her role in “Deaf” (Spain)

Audience’s Choice Award — “Only I Am Normal” (dir. Anton Bogdanov, Russia)

Special Jury Prize — “Breathe” (dir. Gulnaz Galimullina, Russia)

Special Jury Prize — “Only I Can Hear” (dir. Itaru Matsui, Heath Cozens, Japan)

Grand Prix — “Paralympian” (dir. Aldiyar Bayrakimov, Kazakhstan)

The winners received a “Breaking Down Barriers” statuette and prizes from sponsors of the event. The closing ceremony of the 11^th International Disability Film Festival “Breaking Down Barriers” took place on November 21^st. “Perspektiva,” a Russian non-governmental organisation, arranged the event.

Link: https://www.asi.org.ru/news/2022/11/23/obyavili-pobeditelej-kinofestivalya-o-zhizni-lyudej-s-invalidnostyu-kino-bez-barerov/

Translated by: Spencer Michaels