Pandora's Box surprise winner at San Sebastián
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The varied jury of the San Sebastian Film Festival – comprising Jonathan Demme (USA), Michael Ballhaus (Germany), Martina Gusman (Argentina), Masato Harada (Japan), Nadine Labaki (Lebanon), Clare Peploe (UK) and Leonor Watling (Spain) – surprised even the most courageous guesses, to present the Golden Shell to Pandora's Box by Turkish director Yesim Ustaoglu, a co-production between Ustaoglu Film
Yapim (Turkey), Les Petites Lumieres (France), The Match Factory (Germany), Silkroad Production (France) and Stromboli Pictures (Belgium).
The film was made from support from numerous European film promotion funds, including Eurimages, the MEDIA Programme, the Balkan Fund, Cross Road and the Ministries of Culture of Turkey, France, Germany and Belgium.
The jury’s decision was in distinct opposition to the opinions of the public, which made its dissent known during the film’s screenings.
The Silver Shell for Best Director went to Michael Winterbottom for Genova, while the a Special Mention went to Samira Makhmalbaf’s Iranian film Two-Legged Horse.
Daniel Burman’s Empty Nest was a double winner – for Best Actor (Oscar Martínez) and Best Cinematography. The Best Actress prize was shared by Melissa Leo (Frozen River, USA) and veteran Tsilla Chelton (Pandora's Box).
Carlo d'Ursi cineuropa.org