“Amedspor” and “Lover, Not a Fighter” were among the winners at the Eastern Promises awards, part of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival’s industry section, held on Tuesday.
The Works in Progress Visual Post-Production Award was given to the Turkish documentary “Amedspor,” directed by Rezan Yesilbas and produced by Ahmet Gurata. The film chronicles Amedspor, a minor soccer club from the Turkish second league, which gained attention for reclaiming its Kurdish identity. The jury praised the documentary as “an important and enthralling look at the intersection of sports and politics in modern-day Turkey,” highlighting its portrayal of the Turkish-Kurdish conflict through the lens of football rather than direct political discourse.
The Works in Progress Sound Post-Production Award went to “Lover, Not a Fighter,” a co-production from the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic. Directed by Martina Buchelová and produced by Michaela Kaliská, Erika Paulinská, and Julie Marková Žáčková, the film tells a love story about troubled youth Andrej and Miša. The jury commended the project for its “fresh and honest depiction of young love” and described it as a “tender, cruel, and crazy coming-of-age trip.”
The Works in Progress Award was won by “Virtual Girlfriends,” another co-production from the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Directed by Barbora Chalupová and produced by Pavla Klimešová, Monika Lošťáková, and Simona Hrušovská, the film explores an unconventional love triangle. The jury described it as “a revealing, touching, and complex depiction of individuals in the Czech Republic who have turned to the world’s oldest profession (with a twist) on today’s online and social marketplace, questioning identity, sexuality, normality, performance, and more in the effort to make a living.”
The Midpoint & KVIFF Development Award was awarded to “Klára Is Here” from Hungary, directed and written by Dávid Csicskár and produced by Balázs Zachar. The jury noted that the project “explores the poignant story of a man’s quest for happiness amidst a heartbreaking reality, capturing the tragedy of letting go of love and the bravery to start over at any age.”
The Eurimages Co-production Development Award, which includes a 20,000 Euros cash prize, went to “Antonie” from the Czech Republic. Directed and written by Rozálie Kohoutová and produced by Martina Knoblochová and Martin Hůlovec, the jury praised the project for “challenging conventional ideas about parenthood with humor and heart” and for motivating audiences to rethink societal norms.
Other winners included:
– Connecting Cottbus Award: “Eli and Them” (Czech Republic), directed and written by Petr Pylypčuk and produced by Kryštof Burda.
– Rotterdam Lab Award: Martina Knoblochová, producer of “Antonie” (Czech Republic).
– KVIFF Talents: Feature Pool: “Inbetween Worlds” (Czech Republic, Slovakia), directed by Diana Cam Van Nguyen, written by Diana Cam Van Nguyen, Milada Těšitelová, and produced by Karolína Davidová and Jakub Viktorín; “Letters to the Future” (Czech Republic), directed and written by Myro Klochko, produced by Marek Čermák, Karolína Fránková; “Rusalka” (Czech Republic), written by Hana Neničková.
– KVIFF Talents: Creative Pool: “Casting” (Czech Republic), limited series directed by Terézia Halamová, written by Jan Černý, and produced by Natália Pavlove; “Into the Endless Unknowns” (Czech Republic), miniseries written and directed by Veronika Jelšíková and Petr Vlček; “Spectrum” (Czech Republic), dramedy series directed by Igor Smitka, written by Adél Škvrna, produced by Klára Mamojková, Wanda Kaprálová, and Matej Sotník.
– First Cut+ Works in Progress Award: “Numakage Public Swimming Pool” (Japan), directed and written by Shingo Ota and produced by Kyoko Takenaka.
– First Cut+ Works in Progress: Special Mention: “Mayflies” (Hungary, Slovak Republic), directed and written by Emília Goldberg and produced by Ferenc Pusztai and Linda Pfeiffer.
– KVIFF Eastern Promises – Marché du Film Producers Network Award: Michaela Kaliská, producer of “Lover, Not a Fighter” (Slovakia), and Patryk Sielecki, producer of “Anxiety of the Heart” (Poland).
Source: Variety
