I've finally added the list of winners at the 2006 edition of the Festival do Rio, the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival.
Curiously, the festival may be "international" when it comes to the screened films but it's definitely "national" when giving out awards. With the exception of a FIPRESCI (International Film Critics) Prize for the Best Latin American Film, and an Audience Award for the films shown in the "Generation" sidebar, all other awards are restricted to Brazilian productions. Hopefully, festival organizers will sooner rather than later turn the Festival do Rio into a truly international event by opening up the awards ceremony to non-Brazilians.
This year's Best (Brazilian) Film winner was Karim Aïnouz's O Céu de Suely / Suely in the Sky, the story of a woman from the Brazilian Northeast who dreams of a better life elsewhere. O Céu de Suely also won awards for Best Direction and Best Actress (Hermilla Guedes).
Heitor Dhalia's O Cheiro do Ralo / Drained, about a pawnbroker who must eventually come to terms with both his greed and his "customers," won both the Special Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Award.
The Best Actor award was shared between Selton Mello, for his ruthless pawnbroker in O Cheiro do Ralo / Drained, and Sidney Santiago, playing a poor São Paulo denizen who must perform 12 labors — while trying to overcome assorted obstacles and prejudices — in order to land a job in Os 12 Trabalhos / The 12 Labors.
The Audience Award went to Cao Hamburger's O Ano em Que Meus Pais Saíram de Férias / The Year My Parents Went on Vacation, the tale of a 12-year-old boy who, after his parents "go on vacation" during the years of Brazil's military dictatorship, finds himself living with his grandfather in one of São Paulo's ethnic districts.
And finally, Arne Lindtner Næss' Venner for livet / Finding Friends received the "Generation" sidebar award. Venner for livet follows a 12-year-old city boy who finds a new life in the Norwegian countryside.
Full list of winners at the 2006 Rio de Janeiro Film Festival
British Independent Film Awards 2006 Nominations
Gotham Film Awards 2006 Nominations
Jessica,
The Rio Film Festival will be held between Sept. 20 and Oct. 4, 2007.
Their website:
http://www.festivaldorio.com.br/f2007/pre/
Do you know when the 2007 Rio de Jainero International Film Festival will take place?
Thank you,
Jessica