Press releases

31 Jan 2019

velcom Smartfilm Grand Prix goes to Belarus

Photo courtesy smartfilm.by

MINSK, 31 January (BelTA) – The Grand Prix of the 8th edition of the international mobile film festival velcom Smartfilm went to the movie Periphery by Belarusian director Varvara Shchuka, BelTA reports from the awards ceremony.

The first prize went to Gwylvos; Forests Beneath the Waves by Matt Biggs (England). Wong Hoi’s Sonatina (China) landed second. The third prize went to Temptation by Belarusian director Valery Artemiev.

Russian film Journey by Arina Salakhutdinova won the People’s Choice Award. The Best Script Award went to Colombia’s Frank Benitez. The film Radio by Ahmed Allam from Egypt was named the Best Biopic.

“The audience and I are delighted by what we have seen. I am absolutely happy. The Culture Ministry can help some directors go on with their movie careers,” head of the cinematography department at the Culture Ministry Alexander Rydvan said.

Taking part in the contest this year were 334 entries, up 23 contestants compared with the previous year. Belarus submitted 71 films. Sixty two countries took part in the movie forum, including Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, the United States, Japan, and France. Twenty two countries took part in velcom Smartfilm 2018 for the first time, including Hungary, Venezuela, Syria, Switzerland and South Africa. The contest cut across a broad range of genres, including drama, comedy, horror and cartoons.

The motto of the 8th edition of the international mobile film festival velcom Smartfilm is Based on a True Story.

The festival is supported by the Belarusian Culture Ministry