By Malti Sahai/Cannes
The Un Certain Regard sidebar of the 68th Cannes film festival announced its awards on Saturday. The jury led by Isabella Rossellini awarded the top prize to Iceland’s Rams (Hrutar) by Grímur Hákorson.
The film is about two aging and unmarried brothers who haven’t spoken in 40 years who come together in a remote Icelandic valley in order to save their rams.
The Un Certain Regard Special Jury prize for debut films (pix de l’avenir) was shared by Indian director Neeraj Ghaywan for Massan and Iranian director Ida Pahandeh for hid. This was the second award won by the film Massan which earlier in the day was also awarded the Fiprescei award given by the critics jury. The film which had recovered a standing ovation for five minutes after it’s premier screening in Cannes follows a group of people living on the banks of the river Ganges in Beres who obrake with traditions and face the consequences. hid is a story of a woman’s efforts to retain both her freedom and the custody of her child.
The Jury prize went to ‘The High Sun’ by Croatian director Dalibor Matanic.The film focuses on three different love stories, set in three consecutive decades, in two neighboring Balkan villages.
The best direction award went to Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s ‘Journey to the Shore’. This Japanese film is about a widow who is reunited with her husband three years after his death.
The Un Certain Talent prize was awarded to Corneliu Porumboiu’s ‘The Treasure (Comoara),’ a film about a man whose neighbor asks him to help find the treasure buried in his grandparents’ garden.
The top prizes for the main selection will be awarded on Sunday night during the closing ceremony at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. Jury presidents Joel and Ethan Coen will announce the winners.