22nd Tromso International Film Festival, 2012

Fipresci winner: "Elena" (Andrei Zvyagintsev)

The 22nd Tromso International Film Festival took place January 17-22, 2012. It was a singular experience for the international visiting members of the audience, as the sun never rises through the festival in this cold northern Norwegian town. But the warmth of the people, particularly the festival organisers and the legions of volunteers offset the ice and the darkness outside. The selection of films in the competition was satisfying, albeit somewhat depressing content-wise.

Despite the great selection of films and the excellent organisation at TIFF, I have to admit that the best show took place outside the theatres in Tromso: after the closing dinner, visitors were delighted by a particularly impressive display of Aurora Borealis, which made the event truly unforgettable.

22nd Tromso International Film Festival (Norway, Tromso, Jan 17-22, 2012, www.tiff.no). Prize: Elena by Andrej Zvjagintsev (Russia, 2011, 35mm, 105 min). Jury: Melis Behlil, Turkey ("Sinefil", "Altyazi Film Magazine"), Bodo Schönfelder, Germany ("EPD-Film"), Tord Olander Pedersen, Norway ("Bladet Nordlys"). World Sales: Pyramide International, 5, rue du Chevalier de Saint George, Paris 75008, France, T +33 1 42 96 02 20, Fax: +33 1 40 20 05 51, yoann@pyramidefilms.com, www.pyramidefilms.com.

Reports

Leonine Women. Melis Behlil writes about strong women characters found in some of the films in competition.
Sokurov's Faust. Bodo Schönfelder analizes Aleksandr Sokurov's adaptation of Goethe's cannonical masterpiece from a German perspective.