Rams takes top prize in Un Certain Regard

Rams (Hrútar), directed by Grímur Hákonarson, won the Prize of Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2015 Photo: © Netop Films 2015

As awards are announced thick fast on the last weekend of this year’s Cannes Film Festival and pending tonight’s announcement of the winner of the Palme d’Or and other Competition awards, the jury of Un Certain Regard, headed by Isabella Rossellini have revealed their top titles.

Icelandic film Rams (Hrútar) by Grímur Hákonarson took the top accolade Prize of Un Certain Regard for its tale of two conflicted brothers who despite living next door to each seem worlds apart until events conspire to bring them together.

Cannes 2015 Un Certain Regard jury president Isabella Rossellini: " Any anthropologist would be envious of us.” Photo: Richard Mowe

The Jury Prize was awarded to The High Sun (Zvizdan) by Dalibor Matanić, which looks at the dangers and enduring strength of forbidden love. It follows three different love stories set in three consecutive decades, in two neighbouring Balkan villages burdened with a long history of inter-ethnic hatred.

Tokyo Sonata director Kiyoshi Kurosawa was named Best Director for Journey To The Shore (Kishibe No Tabi), a moving Japanese ghost story about a piano teacher whose husband suddenly returns after dying at sea three years earlier.

The Un Certain Talent Prize went to Romanian director Corneliu Porumboiu’s Treasure (Comoara). He focuses on a literal and figurative hunt for buried treasure with comedic results.

UCR’s Promising Future Prizes, was given in a tie to Neeraj Ghaywan’s Indian drama Fly Away Solo (Masaan), which was also a FIPRESCI winner, and Ida Panahandeh’s Nahid from Iran.

Rossellini said watching 19 films from 21 countries “was like taking a flight over our planet and its inhabitants… Any anthropologist would be envious of us.” She added: “I cannot refrain from expressing also my personal gratitude to the Festival for having chosen my mother Ingrid Bergman for the poster of the 68th edition of this festival. Mamma seems to have hovered over all of us, filmmakers and film lovers, as a guardian angel.”

Also on the jury were Saudi Arabian filmmaker Haifaa al-Mansour; Greek director Panos H. Koutras; Lebanese actress/director Nadine Labaki; and French actor Tahar Rahim.

PRIZE OF UN CERTAIN REGARD
Rams (Béliers/Hrútar) by Grímur Hákonarson

JURY PRIZE
The High Sun (Soleil de plomb/Zvizdan) by Dalibor Matanić

BEST DIRECTOR PRIZE
Kiyoshi Kurosawa for Journey to the Shore (Vers l’autre rive/Kishabi No Tabi)

UN CERTAIN TALENT PRIZE
Treasure (Le Trésor/Comoara) by Corneliu Porumboiu

PROMISING FUTURE PRIZE
Fly Away Solo (Masaan) by Neeraj Ghaywan
Ex aequo
Nahid by Ida Panahandeh

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