The 46th edition of the Giffoni Film Festival wraps up with the winners of the films in competition which were announced during the closing press conference [complete list here], by Festival director Claudio Gubitosi and by the artistic staff Manlio Castagna, Luca Apolito, Gianvincenzo Nastasi, Antonia Grimaldi and Tony Guarino who saw and selected the titles. The films tell stories where friendship go beyond all prejudice. Courage and determination, teenage issues and desire to fight back, were the main themes describing daily life of youth from all over the world. 105 titles in competition (selected out of over 4.600 productions) were presented in the competitive sections Elements +3 (3-5 years), Elements +6 (6-9 years), Elements +10 (10-12 years), Generator +13 (13-15 years), Generator +16 (16-17 years), Generator +18 (from 18 years and above) and Gex Doc.
In Generator +18 URBAN HYMN won the Gryphon Award for best feature lenght film. The film directed by Michael Caton-Jones received a standing ovation by the jurors. He had already directed Leonardo di Caprio and Robert De Niro in "This boy's life" (1993), Tim Roth in "Rob Roy" (1995), Bruce Willis e Richard Gere in "The Jackal" (1997), and "Scandal" (1989). “URBAN HYMN”, set against the backdrop of the British Summer riots in 2011, is a story about a redemption set in South East London. The leading player is rebel Jamie who is encouraged to use singing as a means to free herself by off-beat social service attendant Kate. Jamie's affection will soon be fought for by Kate and Leanne, her possessive and unstable friend. CHICKEN by English director Joe Stephenson took second place.
The Gryphon Award for Generator +16 went to THE VIOLIN TEACHER by Brazilian Sérgio Machado. Violinist Laerte has been preparing for an audition with the most important symphonic orchestra in South America for years. The stakes are high and he stops playing after a nervous breakdown. After a temporary bewilderment he starts to feel the joy of playing again however when all seems to be going fine Laerte is told about a new audition. He has to face a dilemma and the choice is a difficult one to make.. MY NAME IS EMILY by Irish director Simon Fitzmaurice came second.
Generator +13 was won by FANNY'S JOURNEY by French director Lola Doillon. The story is set in 1943, France is occupied by Germany. Fanny, 13 and her little sisters have been sent by her parents to an orphanage for Jewish children. When the nazis get to Italy, OSE quickly arrange for the children to leave for Switzerland. Fanny and her sisters are amongst those who travel towards the borders. Eleven children, suddenly left all alone will do all they can in order to reach the border with Switzerland and survive. FOG IN AUGUST by Kai Wessel came second.
The Gryphon Award for Elements +10 went to NELLY'S ADVENTURE by German Dominik Wessely. The journey of thirteen year old Nelly in Romania has to go through a dramatic turn when she finds out her family secret. While she is on the run she ends up in the hands of kidnappers! They are helmed by German engineer who plots to destroy her father's enerfy project, forcing her family to leave the Country who search for the girl together with Mr. Holzinger. Nelly makes friends with two Romanian children, Tibi and Roxana, who help her elope. They climb mountains and cross rivers together and set off on a serious of adventures that turn them into heroesi! TSATSIKI, DAD AND THE OLIVE WAR by Lisa James-Larsson came second.
Elements +6 was won by THE WILD SOCCER BUNCH - THE LEGEND LIVES! by German Joachim Masannek. Leo, shis brother Elias, Finn, Oskar, Joshua and Matze are obsessed by football. Though they have heard about the legend ooof the Football Tribe, they don't believe a single thing till one day they find a mysterious map that leads them to a weird place that proves its existence and they end up amongst the legendary "Wild boys". The kids start training hard and hire a coach, Willie. Eventually they are joined by a seventh player Müller, who turns out to be a girl. ZIP & ZAP AND THE CAPTAIN'S ISLAND by Spanish Oskar Santos came second.
Gex Doc was won by then documentary REAL BOY by American director Shaleece Haas, it is the story of Bennett Wallace, a teenage transgender who sets off on a journey in search for his creative voice as a musician. During his journey he comes across his idol Joe Stevens, famous transgender musician who also needs to face his own demons and they become close friends. DREAMING OF DENMARK by Michael Graversen took second place.
Last but not least in the shorts competitive sections the Gryphon Award was won by BEAUTIFUL by Alessandro Capitani (Italy) for Generator +18 (fiction), BLIND VAYSHA by Theodore Ushev (Canada) for Generator +18 (animation), ZOMBRIELLA by Benjamin Gutsche (Germany) for Elements+10, REAL STRENGHT by Svend Colding (Denmark) for Elements+6, CROCODILE by Julia Ocker (Germany) for Elements +3. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE by Italian Valerio Attanasio for Parental Control “Destinazione Italia".
