Locarno International Film Festival 2007

Cho Sang-Yoon awarded

There's more about Switzerland than watches and chocolates. Between the 1 st and the 11th of August, Locarno has once more hosted its International Film Festival. Numbers show that there is a growing business activity for films competing, and winning, at Locarno's. The festival is not mistaken for any other festival in Europe offering distributors low budget films with respectable quality. Therefore, they prove to be a good investment for distributors.

Celebrating its 60 th anniversary the "Golden Leopard" went to Ai No Yokan/ The Rebirth (http://www.ainoyokan.com/) , a Japanese production. The film was directed by Masahiro Kobayashi and had the collaboration of cinematographer Koichi Nichikubo . The director has been previously awarded with Special Prize at Locarno in 2003 by The Hairdresser . Previously a folk singer and scenario writer Kobayashi started his directing career in 1996, having now 53 years old. This is the first time a Japanese film wins at this category since 1970 (when director Akio Jissoji was awarded the prize for "Mujo.")

This year's "Special Mention" was granted to cinematographer Cho Sang-Yoon by Boys of Tomorrow (2006) directed by Noh Dong-seok, shot in HD format. Having previously studied at the Korean Academy of Film Arts, the 34 years old director has previously done a long feature ( My Generation (2004)) that he himself has also directed, written and edited. According to available data Boys of Tomorrow was Sang-Yoon's first long feature.

Boys of Tomorrow synopsis - "Earning a living as a driver for rent, Kisu lives in a studio flat in the basement floor. When he feels choked up, he tries not to let go of hope by playing on the drums. Out of guilt that he might have made Jongdae sexually handicapped during their younger days, Kisu took on a role as Jongdae's guardian on top of being his friend. Jongdae's dream is to keep a revolver that can make him stronger than the small-time gangsters around town. One day Kisu's older brother shows up and leave behind his son Yohan to Kisu's care."

Click here to see Boys of Tomorrow trailer.

The jury for this year Locarno's Interational Competition was: Walter Carvalho , cinematographer and director, Brazil; Saverio Costanzo , director, Italy; Irène Jacob , actress, France; Jia Zhang-Ke , director, China; Romuald Karmakar , director, Germany; Bruno Todeschini , actor, Switzerland / France.

Other Awards at Locarno 2007:

Special Jury Prize :

MEMORIES by Pedro Costa, Harun Farockis, Eugène Green (South Korea)

Best Director:

Philippe Ramos for CAPITAINE ACHAB (France / Sweden)

Leopard for Best Actress :

Marian Alvares in LO MEJOR DE MI (Spain)

Leopard for Best Actor :

Joint winners :

Michel Piccoli in SOUS LES TOITS DE PARIS by Hiner Saleem (France)

And

Michele Veni tucci in FUORI DALLE CORDE by Fulvio Bernasconi (Switzerland / Italy)

Diana Soeiro