Photo credit: a shot from Kira Kovalenko's "Unclenching His Fists" / GTRK Alania / youtube.com
The main award of the Honfleur Festival of Russian Cinema in France went to "Unclenching His Fists", TASS reports. Kira Kovalenko's drama was filmed in North Ossetia and in the Ossetian language. Most of the roles in the film were played by non-professional actors. The feature tells the story of a family moving to another city after tragic events. Father's strictness forces his daughter to run away.
"Unclenching His Fists" will represent Russia at the Oscars. Prior to that, the film won Grand Prix in the Uncleared View category at the Cannes Film Festival.
Milana Aguzarova, was named the best leading actress. She shared the award with Victoria Tolstoganova, who was noted for her work in Maxim Dashkin's drama ''Far Frontiers.'' Dashkin's film also received the special award of the jury.
The audience prize went to "Vladivostok" by Anton Bormatov. "Flight Over Russia" by Petra Höfer and Freddy Röckenhaus was named the best documentary. Director Anna Sayannaya was recognized as the best debutant with the "#S_school" film.
Andrei Zaitsev's "The Siege Diary", timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Siege of Leningrad, was screened out of competition.
French film critic Joel Chapron was noted for his great contribution to the development of Russian cinema in France.
Russkiy Mir
