The children's juries' favourites
The Friese Award goes to Australia, the Mo Award to Belgium
The 15th Mo&Friese Children's Short Film Festival, which takes place every year with the InternationalShortFilmFestival Hamburg, celebrated the ending of an amazing birthday week with a thunderous awards ceremony on Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 2 pm. Two prizes were handed out: the Friese Award for films from our programmes for 4 and 6 years old ones as well as the Mo Award for films from our programmes for 9 and 12 years old ones. Both awards were endowed with 1500 Euro each.
The filmmakers hadn't prepared an easy decision for the children's juries: 68 fantastic short films from 22 countries had been accepted for the competetion and wanted to be critically watched at. THANKS to you, dear jurors! You have done a great job!
- The Amber Amulet (Matthew Moore)
This year's Friese Award goes to Australia again. The children's jury has decided to award the film "The Amber Amulet" by Matthew Moore (Australia 2013):
"We were very excited about this funny, thrilling and entertaining film, that made us reflect and also a little sad. The boy with his dog is a hilarious super hero and it is very brave of him to help strange people. We didn't expect the happy end."
Many thanks to our prize donator Levantehaus.
- Mateso (Collective Camera etc.)
The Mo-Jury has selected the film "Mateso" by Collective Camera etc. (Belgium 2012):
"The film shows the true and moving story out of young Mateso's perspective, who fled the war in Africa with his mother and moved to Europe. We give the director great credit for chosing such an important current topic and illustrating it in an animation. The film has a unique and thought-provoking dramatic composition. Right until the very end it is uncertain whether Mateso and his mother will find a new home in Europe. A sad, but true ending."
- Esca Viva (Susanna Nicchiarelli)
As it has really been no easy decision for the children's jury, they are also speaking out a Special Mention to the film "Live Bait" ("Esca Viva") by Susanna Nicchiarelli (Italy 2012):
"The animation in "Live Bait" has convinced us. A very funny and smart film! It is fascinating to watch the little fish outwit the bigger fish who wants to eat him."
The HIGH FIVE!-winners
Already for the 8th time we have now awarded self-made films by children and teenagers, too. This year's HIGH FIVE!-competition themed "Be bold, be brave".
Thanks to GEOlino we could hand out three prizes with a total value of 600 Euro:
- Netze (Margareta Kosmol)
1st Place: Netze (Nets)
(Documentary by Margareta Kosmol)
The first prize of this year's HIGH FIVE!-competition goes to the film "Netze":
"Netze" is a moving documentary short with lovely nature portraits and an astonishing insight into life. The film shows the importance of being brave and facing the truth, reminding us that we have to deal with pollution. The cinematography and film editing depicts the topic well and moved us very much."
- Echappé (Moritz Musa and Nick Hempel)
2nd Place: Echappé
(Short Fiction by Moritz Musa and Nick Hempel)
The second prize goes to the film "Echappé":
"The story is gripping and we liked the style of the film. We appreciated that there was less talk, instead more imagery in the story telling. The boy is very brave and it is good that we get an idea of how terrible abuse by the parents can be. Luckily there are shelters for children and youngsters."
- Vernen (Lukas, Charlotte und Anton Klung sowie Eric Robbin)
3rd Place: Vernen
(Animation by Lukas, Charlotte and Anton Klung as well as Eric Robbin)
The third prize goes to the film "Vernen":
"The hand-made clay characters are very amusing and the cinematography is terrific. The film is very creative, as well as the special effects. The fact that the scaredy-cat saves the town shows us that no human is a pussy but that anybody can have the guts."
- Hasi (Paulikids)
Hamburg's best newcomer film
Furthermore, the team of Hamburg's abgedreht!-festival has honoured the best newcomer film of its city from this year's HIGH FIVE!-competition: "Hasi", a short fiction made by the Paulikids. The prize invites the young makers – besides of enjoying the appreciation – to screen their film again on Decembre 11-13, 2013 in the Metropolis Cinema at the abgedreht!-festival:
"The film has convinced us with its impressive actors, very well-considered settings and editing. A wonderfully calm flow invites the viewer despite the film's shortness to dip into the moment – without any dispensible pictures."
We congratulate all the prize winners wholeheartedly, are squealing with glee for being able to screen such great films and are already excited about the 16th Mo&Friese Children's Short Film Festival on June 1-8, 2014and the HIGH FIVE!-competition 2014 themed "Traumtänze"!
