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Next Reel International Film Festival Announces 2005 Award Winners

October 10, 2005 (New York, NY) – New York University’s Next Reel International Film Festival presented awards to international filmmakers during the closing night ceremony on Sunday, October 1 in Cantor Film Center (36 E. 8th Street).

Selected from among 111 films – including narrative, documentary, experimental and animation – from more than 30 countries, the award-winning films were chosen by an international jury of film school deans, professors, and filmmakers. 

  • First prize was awarded to Holger Ernst of Germany for his film RAIN IS FALLING.  The prize includes a $10,000 cash award from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Kodak film stock and Roots leather luggage.
  • Second prize was given to Leiv Igor Devold from the Polish National Film School for his film TOMORROW.  The prize includes a $7,000 cash award from Tisch, Kodak film stock, and Roots leather luggage.
  • Third prize was awarded to the film GRINDING MACHINE, directed by Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni of the Film and TV Institute, India.  The prize includes a $5,000 cash award from Tisch and Roots luggage.

Other prizes awarded include:

  • The Best Fiction Film award, accompanied by a $1,500 cash prize from Tisch, was given to the film GLASS JAW, directed by Zaida Bergoth from Finland.
  • The Best Documentary Film award, accompanied by a $1,500 cash prize from Tisch, was given to GRANDPARENTS, directed by Nicole Scherg of the Zelig School for Documentary in Italy.
  • The Best Animation prize, accompanied by a $1,500 cash award from Tisch, was given to the film 9 directed by UCLA’s Shane Acker.
  • The Best Experimental Film prize, accompanied by a $1,500 cash prize from Tisch, was awarded to PASTIME, directed by Francesco Lagi of Italy.
  • The Best Political Film, presented by the United Nations Hospitality Committee, was awarded to CRICKETS, directed by Matan Guggenheim of Tel Aviv University.
  • Best Cinematography, accompanied by a $1,000 cash prize, was awarded to the film BEFORE LIFE, AFTER LIFE directed by Dragonir Sholev of the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in Bulgaria.
  • Director Waldo Ramirez of Cuba garnered Special Recognition from the Jury for his film FREDDY: EL SUENO DE NOEL.

Pari Shirazi, Vice Dean of Tisch School of the Arts says, “When we started this festival in 1993, one of our primary goals was to create an international platform where aspiring filmmakers can be recognized for their skill and creativity.  It is so vital to honor and support young filmmakers for the accomplishments they make early in their careers.”

Next Reel International Film Festival, formerly known as the International Student Film Festival, is a biannual event which acts as the international counterpart to the NYU/Tisch School of the Arts First Run Festival.  Many of the exhibited films will continue on to screen at premier international film festivals, including Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, and Tribeca.