The Lithuanian ‘Closer’ wins Ca' Foscari’s Short Film Festival

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Augustė Gerikaitė

The Lithuanian short film Artumo jausmas (Closer) directed by Augustė Gerikaitė won the International Competition of the 14th Ca' Foscari Short Film Festival, held in various Venetian venues. Ca' Foscari University was the principal organiser of the festival and received support from Avani Rio Novo Venice Hotel, WeShort and Carpenè-Malvolti.

'Closer' presents a complex love story that follows the characters from the beginning of their unusual relationship through unpredictable twists and turns. The film successfully condenses the potential of a single location mixed with a few characters and a wealth of detail in a short time. The film is extremely intelligent and keeps one's attention right to the end. It tells the story of Bernard and Silvija, a couple whose marriage has ended but whose feelings persist. Director Augustė Gerikaitė skilfully uses flashbacks to show the sweetness of a love story born out of loneliness, with humorous ventures into sexuality and jealousy.
The award ceremony was accompanied by a musical performance and was attended by various personalities from the film industry.

The festival was attended by an international jury and offered various prizes, including special mentions for works that stand out for their cinematic experimentation, artistic contribution and multiculturalism. Other prizes were awarded for best screenplay, cinematography, soundtrack and animation. The festival also presented the CINIT Music Video Competition and the High School Competition winners, demonstrating Ca' Foscari University's commitment to promoting emerging film talent. Over 200 volunteer students of Ca’ Foscari contributed with their enthusiasm, passion and commitment to the realisation of this Festival’s edition.

Complete list of prizes and winners

  1.  International Competition of the Ca’ Foscari Short Film Festival:
    - First Prize for the best short film in the competition: Artumo Jausmas - Closer by Augustė   Gerikaitė (Lithuania)
    - Special mention "WeShort": We Should All Be Futurists by Angela Norelli (Italy)
    - Special mention "National Cinema Museum": Romeo by Tynystan Temirzhan (Kyrgyzstan)

  2. Best Screenplay in the Competition
    - “Carpenè-Malvolti - Ca' Foscari Special Mention Historia Vitae": Khutaa'ab - Father's Footsteps by Mohamad W. Ali (Syria)

  3. Special Mention "Le Giornate della Luce" for best cinematography: Romeo by Tynystan Temirzhan (Kyrgyzstan)

  4. Special mention "Conservatorio di Vicenza" for best soundtrack: Baggage directed by Hamid Bahrami (Iran)

  5. Prize “Pateh Sabally" for multiculturalism: Alvida - The Last Goodbye by Dilu Maliackal (India)

  6. Special mention "South Italy International Film Festival" for best interpretation: Fragments of Us by Ido Gotlib (Germany)

  7. Special mention "VeneziaComix" for best animation: La Notte by Martina Generali, Simone Pratola, Francesca Sofia Rosso (Italy)

  8. CINIT Music Video Competition:
    - Winner: You Will Forget in a Week - Let Me Have Peace by Ekaterina Nikiforova (Russia)

  9.  High School Competition:
    - Winner: Heroine by Gabriela Čížková (Czech Republic)


More information on the Festival's website