Berlinale Awards

[Mark Nornes]

Japan was shut out of all the major awards at Berlin, confirming what  
I'd already heard about the Japanese films being screened. As far as  
I can tell, the only award-winner was Momoi Kaori for the Netpac Award:

Ichijiku no kao (Faces of a Fig Tree)
by Momoi Kaori

"The film shows peculiar customs in Japanese society set in the  
unique yet quaint family. Through Momoi’s brilliant acting,  
directing, and script writing, the film gives the subtle aspects of  
Japanese culture in which emotions and desires are hidden in the  
superficial daily interactions. Unsurprisingly, the film has a  
richness of narrative layers and moods coloured with experimental  
passions."

http://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/ 
preise_unabhaengigen_jurys/index.html

Anyone out there returning from Berlin? It'd be great to hear a  
report or two.

Markus