Best Film
In Velvet Jessica Kennedy, Megan Kennedy
Ireland 2021 | 00:10:53
A journey of a child and a man, driving through the Irish landscape of green parks and stunted suburbs. There is an unsettled empty space that hangs between them. Will they continue on the road together or separate?
Directors, Choreographers: Jessica Kennedy, Megan Kennedy | Dancers: Ryan O’Neill, Izarra Kennedy-Kay, Dennis Kennedy | Cinematographer: Luca Truffarelli | Music: Michael Fleming | Producer: Zlata Filipovic
Jury Statement
This film is full of details. It fills its tangible, recognisable locations – streets, parks, a beach – with metaphor and ambiguity.
The film is carried by its strong central performances: Ryan O’Neill delivers an evocative performance, as a mover and actor, giving voice to what we would call physical theatre. The young performer’s movement is directed and captured skilfully and elegantly.
In Velvet strikes the difficult balance of taking us, the audience, into an ambiguous space, while at the same time holding us firmly throughout. We are led into an uncomfortable space of uncertainty and are asked to decide how we want to complete the picture.
Best Choreography for Film
SHE Emil Dam Seidel
Sweden 2021 | 00:07:35
Caught in a room the protagonist, Clarice, unfolds a vision of her own identity through a mirror interrogator.
Inspired by the book „The Passion According to G.H.“ by Clarice Lispector.
Director: Emil Dam Seidel | Writer, Dancer, actor: Dorotea Saykaly | Cinematographer: Kristoffer Engholm Aabo | Composer: Louis Dufort | VFX Artist: Andreas Clausen | Producers: Emil Dam Seidel, Dorotea Saykaly | Country of filming: Denmark
Jury Statement
“She” translates the character’s inner conflict into physicality through a choreographic, personal, precise language, away from spectacle, instead original, essential, deliberate, and precise. The choreography has a strong sense of ‘today‘. It conveys doubt powerfully, displacing the audience through contradictions, doubling up of words, of meanings, and of movements.
It highlights the connection between word, performance and choreography: the performance of words and the performance of movement are enfolded and entwined in each other.
Audience Award
Why I Dance Andreas Strand Renberg
Norway 2021 | 00:24:24
Dance documentary.
French choreographer Louis Clément da Costa worked with young dancers in Kigali, Rwanda. Exploring the theme of “freedom”, they show their passion and commitment to dance.
Director, Producer: Andreas Strand Renberg | Choreographer: Louis Clément da Costa | Dancers: J. Valens, I. Iradukunda, C. Ntaganda, O. Mutuga, S. Nyirimanzi, M. Uwamungu, T. Twishime, A. Djuma | Cinematographer: I. Styrkestad | Country of filming: Rwanda