The Argentinean film Refugiado by Diego Lerman was the winner of the Havana Star Prize Best Film at the Havana Film Festival New York, it was announced Friday. The jury composed by the Havana Film Festival director Iván Giroud, screenwriter/filmmaker Alberto Ferreras, and actress/vocalist Cristina Morrison also offered a Special Jury Mention to the Cuban film Venecia by Kiki Álvarez.
Refugiado, Lerman’s fourth feature film, tells the story of 7-year-old Matías and his newly pregnant mother, Laura, who flee their house after another outburst of violence from his father. Through the eyes of Matías, the story follows their escape and their search for a new, secure home.
Cuban film Boccaccerías Habaneras / Boccaccio in Havana by Arturo Sotto was awarded with the prize for Best Director and Best Screenplay.
In the documentary competition, the jury -composed by film scholar Michelle Farrell, filmmaker Catherine Murphy, cinematographer Germán Gutiérrez, and film scholar/programmer Richard Peña- gave the prize for Best Documentary to the Cuban film La otra isla by Heidi Hassan.
Colombian film Un asunto de tierras / A Matter of Land by Patricia Ayala and Venezuelan film El silencio de las moscas / The Silence of the Flies were presented with a Special Jury Mention.
The 16th edition of the Havana Film Festival New York took place April 9-17.
