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The international jury was presided by French actress Sandrine Bonnaire (3rd left) and included (l-r), Luxembourg production designer Christina Schaffer, actors Finnegan Oldfield and Lolita Chammah, director Mounia Meddour and producer Marie-Ange Luciani. Also on the jury was screenwriter Gilles Marchand.Photo: Olivier Vigerie 

An international jury presided by French actress Sandrine Bonnaire chose Jasmila Žbanić’s Quo Vadis, Aida? as the recipient of the Grand Prix – by Orange award at this year’s Luxembourg City Film Festival. The awards ceremony took place on Saturday evening.

A harrowing drama, Quo Vadis, Aida? details the build-up to the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. The titular Aida (a stunning performance by Jasna Đuričić) is an interpreter for the Dutch UN contingent. It is what Bonnaire, speaking for the jury via video at Saturday’s awards ceremony, called “a committed film, a necessary, useful film.”

The critics’ jury, comprised of local film writers France Clarinval, Loïc Millot and Geoff Thompson, also gave their top award to Žbanić’s film. “The aesthetic qualities of this film, which intertwines historical and family tragedies, as well as the marvellous performance of the Serbian actress Jasna Đuričić, have particularly moved us [...],” they said.

Watch the trailer for Quo Vadis, Aida?

The festival’s Documentary Award – by BGL BNP Paribas was won by Swiss film Nemesis, directed by Thomas Imbach. Filmed over seven years entirely from the same window in his home, Nemesis details the demolition of a former train station and the construction of a prison and police station in its place. The jury, made up of representatives from the Europa Film Festivals federation, praise the film for “its humorous images, its funny and intelligent editing, as well as for its highly original sound work.”

Watch the trailer for Nemesis.

Despite social distancing and strict hygiene measures, the festival attracted an audience of over 4,000 to cinema screenings. In addition, more than 20,000 online screenings were booked.

The Audience Award – by Orange went to The Wolves (Los Lobos), which also received a “special mention” from the critics’ jury. Samuel Kishi Leopo’s film is a poetic and very human drama about a mother and her two young sons emigrating to the States from Mexico.

Watch the trailer for The Wolves.

Full list of winners

  • GRAND PRIX – BY ORANGE: QUO VADIS, AIDA? by Jasmila Žbanić
  • DOCUMENTARY AWARD – BY BGL BNP PARIBAS: NEMESIS by Thomas Imbach
  • CRITICS’ AWARD: QUO VADIS, AIDA? by Jasmila Žbanić
    Special Mention: THE WOLVES (LOS LOBOS) by Samuel Kishi Leopo
  • AUDIENCE AWARD – BY ORANGE : THE WOLVES (LOS LOBOS) by Samuel Kishi Leopo
  • YOUTH JURY AWARD – BY KINEPOLIS: ANTIGONE by Sophie Deraspe
  • SCHOOL JURY AWARD: ANTIGONE by Sophie Deraspe
  • KIDS’ JURY AWARD: ROCCA CHANGES THE WORLD (ROCCA VERÄNDERT DIE WELT) by Katja Benrath

The 12th edition of the Luxembourg City Film Festival will take place from 3 to 13 March 2022.