» Click here for the awards of the 2011 edition

» Click here for the awards of the 2010 edition
» Click here for the awards of the 2009 edition
» Click here for the awards of the 2008 edition
» Click here for the awards of previous editions

The 2012 Winners On 20 October 2012, at Teatro San Marco in Trento, the Prizes of the XV Religion Today Film Festival were awarded to the winners.

The INTERNATIONAL JURY, composed of Farzam Amin Salehi, Roberta Cortella, Lassaad Jamoussi, Kjartan Leer Salvesen and Gilli Mendel, confered the following awards:

Religion Today Award "In the Spirit of Faith":
FOOTBALL IS GOD, by Ole Bendtzen, Denmark, 2010, doc, 53'
As the Jury members believe that cinema belongs to the common people and this documentary is deeply concerned with their lives and beliefs.

Best Feature Film:
THE MILL & THE CROSS, by Lech Majewski, Sweden-Poland, 2010, 96'
For its grand narrative and picturesque style and for its profound look inside the history of the life and art of Flemish people.
Special Mention:
SA GRASCIA, by Bonifacio Angius, Italy, 2011, 73'
Because of its nice review of the history of Italian cinema and the deep relationship Sardinian people have with religion.

Best Short Feature Film:
SISTER OF MINE, by Oshrat Meirovitch, Israel, 2011, 24'
Because of its profound gaze into the life of a young woman and the prejudices around her.

Best Documentary:
FOOTBALL IS GOD, by Ole Bendtzen, Denmark, 2010, 53'
Because of its new approach towards religion and its relation to common peopleÕs lives and its cinematographical values.
Special Mention:
GUNNAR GOES GOD, by Gunnar Hall Jensen, Norway, 2011, 86'
Because of its new and curious approach towards documentary film-making.


This year a special prize has again been awarded by a SIGNIS JURY (World Catholic Association for Communication), composed of Jenna Hill, Fr. Alessandro Lafranconi and Maria Dulce Araujo Evora , who have assigned the following award and mentions:

Signis Award:
THE PILLARS, by Moustafa Zakaria, EAU, 2012, short feature film, 16'
For its skillful combination of cinematographic aesthetics with a theme which is both very current and somewhat problematic: that of the emancipation of women, at the same time revealing the crisis of men and the beauty of the family. All this within the framework of religious values in contrast with real life.

Signis Special Mention:
FOOTBALL IS GOD, by Ole Bendtzen, Denmark, 2010, doc, 53'
The director captures the instinctive need for something absolute through the unbridled enthusiasm of the documentary's protagonists for their favourite team. Boca becomes a catalyst for the need for happiness which is ultimately a need for God to try and escape from poverty and hardship.

Signis Special Mention:
KADDISH FOR A FRIEND, by Leo Khasin, Germany, 2011, feature film, 93'
Despite many difficulties the film tries to reveal the positive things which are in all people and which enable us to live together in peace.


Other prizes were awarded by the SPECIAL JURIES in the cities of the Festival:


Conflicts. Religions and (non)-violence
Province of Trento Special Jury in memory of Massimo Prevedello
DOLPHIN BOY, by Dani Menkin and Yonatan Nir, USA, 2011, doc, 72'

Dialogue and Identity
Don Silvio Franch Inter-religious Jury - Trento
Prize: TORN, by Ronit Kerstner, Israel, 2011, doc, 72'
Special Mention:
KADDISH FOR A FRIEND, by Leo Khasin, Germania, 2011, feature film, 93'

Religion and Society
Journalists of the City of Trento Special Jury
Ex aequo:
THE FURIOUS PROPHET, by David Sipos, Slovenia, 2011, doc, 20'
URBAN TUNDRA, by Robi Uppin and Maria Kivirand, Estonia, 2012, doc, 14'

Women, Couples, Religions
Arco Special Jury
MOTHER INDIA, by Raffaele Brunetti, Italy, 2011, doc, 61'
Special Mention:
THE GIFT, by Evgenij Isachenko, Belarus, 2011, short feature film, 12'

Religions and Cinematographic Styles
Pergine Valsugana Youth Jury
LIMEN (OMISSION), by Emiliano Dante, Italy, 2012, feature film, 93'
Special Mention:
SA GRASCIA, by Bonifacio Angius, Italy, 2011, feature film, 73'

Love thy Neighbour
Fondazione Unico1 Special Jury
MODEST RECEPTION, by Mani Haghighi, Iran, 2012, feature film, 95'

Exploring the differences
Lisignago Special Jury
Ex aequo:
MASHTI ESMAEIL, by Mahdi Zamanpoor, Iran, 2012, doc, 30'
MY AUSTRALIA, by Ami Drozd, Israele, 2011, feature film, 96'

Fraternity of Nomadelfia
Students Special Jury
DAVID, by Joel Fendelman-Patrick Daly, USA, 2011, feature film, 90'
Menzione speciale:
STAND UP!, by Asi Tzobel, Israel, 2011, short feature film, 29'
Via Santa Croce, 63 – 38122 Trento (Italia) - tel. e Fax +39 0461 981853
e-mail segreteria: segreteria@religionfilm.com - e-mail ufficio stampa: religion.today@gmail.com