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By Emma Thom on

Winners of this year’s Shine Short Film and European Features Awards

The European Features Award is given to an outstanding fictional feature film currently without UK distribution, and the Shine Short Film Competition honours the best short film by an emerging director.

Last Sunday we announced the winners of the 2013 Shine Short Film and European Features awards at the 19th Bradford International Film Festival.


Winner of the European Features Competition

This year’s winner is Kill Me, a German/French/Swiss production directed by Emily Atef, starring up-and-coming German actress Maria Dragus.

Previously seen as supporting character Klara in Michael Haneke’s White Ribbon, Maria takes centre stage in Kill Me as depressed farm girl Adele, whose life changes when she meets an escaped murderer.

Maria attended the award ceremony to collect the award on behalf of director Emily Atef.

Maria Dragus at Bradford International Film Festival 2013
Maria Dragus at Bradford International Film Festival 2013

European Features Competition jury member Stephanie Bunbury said:

Although every film in competition had its strengths, Kill Me impressed us with its strong sense of cinematic expression, its delicacy, pacing and a completely persuasive performance from young Maria Dragus. Atif has taken subjects you might think had been exhausted—adolescent depression, a family destroyed by grief, the bond forming between two of society’s outsiders—and put them in the context of the most tried and true narrative of them all, a journey of escape. Familiar though these ingredients are, nothing in Kill Me is predictable; right until the end, with its glimmer of hope, we feel anything could happen. Plus, we loved the football scene!

The European Features jury also gave a special mention to Czech film A Night Too Young, directed by Olmo Omerzu.

Olmo Omerzu at Bradford International Film Festival 2013
Olmo Omerzu at Bradford International Film Festival 2013

The 2013 European Features Competition jury comprised Australian journalist and film critic Stephanie Bunbury; writer, journalist, film festival programmer and former Artistic Director of the Edinburgh Film Festival Hannah McGill; and Dutch film-maker Martijn Maria Smits.


Winner of the Shine Short Film Competition

The Shine Short Film award went to Four Hours Barefoot [Quatro horas descalco], a Portuguese/French co-production directed by Frederico Costa.

Inspired by a true story and set in the harsh mountains of northern Portugal, the film follows the journey of a 16-year-old boy who endures 30 kilometres across difficult terrain with no footwear in a desperate escape after a murder is committed.

Frederico Costa was in attendance to collect his award.

Frederico Costa (left) and Michael Wood, Shine Short Film Competition jury member
Frederico Costa (left) and Michael Wood, Shine Short Film Competition juror

Shine Short Competition juror Claire Hampton said of Four Hours Barefoot:

The Shine jury agreed that the winning film was the most original short in the competition. It was an interesting take on a brutal murder. The opening was incredibly powerful and intense, setting the mood for the rest of the film, and it showcased an accomplished style and technique.

The Shine jury also gave a special mention to Out of Frame [Titloi telous] from Greek director Yorgos Zois.

The 2013 Shine Short Competition jury comprised specialist in Chinese independent cinema Carol Mei Barker; director and Head Film Programmer at Minicine Michael Wood; independent film producer Howard Dawson; head of the International Student Film Organisation Franzi Florack; and Curator of Film and Broadcast at this museum Claire Hampton.

The award ceremony was presented by David Wilson, Director of Bradford City of Film.

David Wilson - Director, Bradford City of Film (centre)
David Wilson, Director, Bradford City of Film (centre)

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