In the evening of Saturday August the 23rd, at the closing ceremony of World Cinema Amsterdam, the jury of our fifth edition has announced both the winner of the Jury Award along with a Special Mention.
The Jury has decided to give a Special Mention for its originality in its narrative form and its social and psychological depth. And also for its brilliant karaoke scene to: THE THIRD SIDE OF THE RIVER by Celina Murga (Argentina). And the World Cinema Amsterdam Jury Award 2014 for being a daring and innovative film that explores the human universal need for tenderness though showing the struggle of its characters against solitude. For the different realistic portrayal of the city in quenstion, the excellent acting of its cast, specially the protagonist played by Gustavo Sanchez, and its strong and powerful storytelling to: LAS BÚSQUEDAS by José Luis Valle (Mexico).
In 2013 the debute film of Jose Luis Valle, Workers, was presented at World Cinema Amsterdam. This year his second film Las Búsquedas is one of the nine competition films at the festival.
Director José Luis Valle is in Sarajevo at the moment, attending the Cinelink co-production market of the Sarajevo International Film Festival. Together with the national Mexican Filmfund Imcine he is hoping to find the money for his next film project, with the working title BABY. Because this co-production market continues until tomorrow, he unfortunally was not able to attend the festival for this closing and award ceremony. Here his response to the happy news of winning the World Cinema Amsterdam Jury Award, which he will use for his next film...
"Dear friends of World Cinema Amsterdam, members of the jury, friendly audience: the happy news of the 2014 Jury Award to my second feature LAS BÚSQUEDAS takes me by surprise, busy preparing for my new film. I apologize for not being able to attend in person this special occasion.
Making movies out of the formulas is like walk through an unknown territory without a map or compass, and awards like this tell us that we are going in the right direction and encourage us to continue down this path so personal.
I am grateful and honored. In behalf of myself and of my small team of work, thank you very much and receive a hug from Sarajevo".
José Luis Valle
Both of the awarded films will again be screened at the festival.
THE THIRD SIDE OF THE RIVER Sunday 24 August 21.00h in De Balie
LAS BÚSQUEDAS Sunday 24 August 21.30h in Rialto