DUSHANBE, October 17, 2008, Asia-Plus — An awarding ceremony for the winners of the Third Tajikistan International Film Festival, Didor 2008, was held on October 16.
The festival was held on October 12-16 and its main sponsors were the Tajik Branch of Open Society/Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF-Tajikistan) and Office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Tajikistan.
Works by filmmakers from Central Asia’s states, Transcaucasia, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia, Germany and Turkey were in the festival that worked in several sections, including an international competition (12 full-length and short-length movies). The festival program also included a competition among Tajik movies (15 full-length and short length movies) made in 2006-2008.
The festival’s program furthered the concept of the first two Didor festivals, which were intended to be a cultural bridge between eastern and western cultures and remove any critical attitudes of the West to the East and vice versa.
The SDC Dushanbe Office awarded a grant of US$15,000 for the festival. The Swiss grant went for awards presented for contestants in the following nominations: grand prize “Best Full-length Film”; 2) grand prize “Best Short-length Film”; 3) Special International Jury Award; and 4) Swiss Award “Best Tajik Film”.
Iran’s center for documentaries and experimental movie instituted two awards in the Common Heritage section. The awards are provided to support young Tajik filmmakers.
Another prize was instituted by Tajikistan’s creative association, Borgohi Sukhan, for the best Tajik movie of 2007-2008.
In the special section, Sympathy of the Press, the winner was announced via journalists’ voting.
By decision of an international jury that included well-known filmmakers, actors and critics “Apple from Paradise” by Afghan filmmaker Muruvat Humayun and “Unknown Route” by Kyrgyz filmmaker were recognized as the best full-length movies. They received grand prize of US$2,000 each.
Iran’s “Exclusive Circle” and “Knot” by Azeri filmmaker Isa Jabbarov were recognized the best in the “Best Short-length Film” category and received US$1,500 each.
Special International Jury Award (US$1,000) was given to Uzbek filmmaker Ayub Shahobiddionv for his movie “Yurt.”
The prize “Umed” (Hope), instituted by Tajik film critics, was awarded to “The 113th” by Kazakh filmmaker Talgat Bektrusynov.
The Swiss Award “Best Tajik Film” in an amount of US$2,000 was given to “Happiness” by Alisher Khoushvakhtov.
Two awards instituted by Iran’s center for documentaries and experimental movie in the “Common Heritage” section, US$2,000 each, were given to “Harom and Halol” (The Prohibited and the Permissible) by Iskadnar Usmonov and “Flower” by Zulfiya Sodiqova.
The prize is instituted by Tajikistan’s Cultural Center, Borgohi Sukhan, for the best Tajik movie of 2007-2008 was awarded to “The Last Hope” by Saidjon Qodiri.
Tajik filmmaker Ozod Malikov was announced the winner in the Sympathy of the Press section for his movie “I Could Say “No.”
