The Ukrainian film “Homeward”, the Winner of BIFF 2019

     The film Homeward (2019), the feature directorial debut of the Tatar-born Ukrainian film director Nariman Aliev, won the Big Trophy of the 15th edition competition of the Bucharest International Film Festival (BIFF), awarded during the gala which took place on Sunday evening at the Elvire Popesco Cinema. The Trophy was given to the director Nariman Aliev by His Royal Highness Prince Radu, under whose High Patronage the festival took place.
     The Best Director Award was received by the Italian Claudio Giovannesi, the director of the film La Paranza dei Bambini, (2019). The same film also received the Best Screenplay Award, offered to the screenwriters Claudio Giovannesi, Roberto Saviano and Maurizio Braucci.
     The Big Trophy (4,000 Euro), the Best Director Award (2,500 Euro) and the Best Screenplay Award (2,500 Euro) were offered by the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR), the traditional partner and supporter of BIFF.
     The jury formed of the artistic director of the Haifa International Film Festival, Pnina Blayer (president), the actor Dan Nuţu, the German director Sandra Nettelbeck, the director Paul Negoescu and the French producer Anthony Bobeau also decided to give a special award to Brillante Mendoza`s film, Alpha: the Right to Kill (2019).
     During the gala, Hélène Roos, the director of the French Institute in Romania, addressed the audience. Virgil Nițulescu, the director of the Romanian Peasant Museum and Marina Roman, the counsellor of the Romanian Cultural Institute  vice-president followed. More than 3,000 viewers attended the screenings and the events of the 15th edition of BIFF, which took place from June 24 to 30, 2019, at the Romanian Peasant Museum Cinema, Elvire Popesco Cinema and the Garden with Films – Cinema&More.
     18 films split into more sections (Competition, Panorama, Focus France and the Retrospective Vivi Drăgan Vasile and Cristian Niculescu), could be seen in almost 30 screenings. The viewers also had the chance to attend different Q&As with the guests and two masterclasses held by the Filipino film director and by the cinematographer Vivi Drăgan Vasile.
     Bucharest International Film Festival (BIFF) is organized by Fundația Charta under the High Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Radu. The event is part of the Romania-France Season 2019.      The cultural project is financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Identity. Supported by:  the City Hall of Bucharest through Creart – the Centre of Creation, Art and Tradition, Grădina cu filme – Cinema & More, Teatrelli, Institutul Cultural Român, Centrul National al Cinematografiei, Institutul Francez, Cinema Elvire Popesco, Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român, Cinema Muzeul Țăranului, Uniunea Cineaștilor din România – UCIN, Dacin Sara. Partners: DHL Express Romania, Independența Film, Icon Films, Grand Hotel Continental, Journey Pub, El Grande Comandante, Doncafe Brasserie, La Mama, Restaurant DaDa, Green Hours jazz&theatre-café, Simbio, Le Boutique Hotel Moxa – Bucharest, Reber, NESCAFÉ, Cerealele Nestlé, Tiriac Auto și Hyunday. Media parteners: Radio Guerrilla, Zile și Nopți București, TV5Monde Romania, Cațavencii, Blitz TV, Ziarul Metropolis, Aarc.ro – All About Romanian Cinema, LiterNet.ro, CineGhid, Verbs describe us, Pink Stripe Group & Zenith Media România.