The prestigious main prize of €15,000 at the Cottbus Film Festival has been awarded to Serbian director Iva Radivojević for her film 'When The Phone Rang'. The jury praised the film's authentic storytelling, which captures the essence of a country in turmoil through the poignant tale of a girl receiving a significant phone call.
The 34th Cottbus Film Festival, which concluded on Sunday, focuses primarily on Eastern European productions. Ukrainian director Pavlo Ostrikov received the Special Jury Award for Best Direction, accompanied by a €7,500 prize, for his science-fiction drama 'U Are The Universe'. Additionally, actress Eva Samioti was honored with a €5,000 award for Outstanding Individual Performance for her role in 'Riviera'.
This year's festival showcased the rich diversity of Eastern European cinema, highlighting the unique narratives and artistic expressions emerging from the region.