“The Giant Buddhas” wins prize in Prizren (Kosovo)
14.08.2006
The Swiss documentary film “The Giant Buddhas” took home an award at the 5th International Documentary and Short Film Festival “Dokufest” in Prizren, which ended on August 13, 2006. The jury bestowed the first prize ex aequo to the two documentary films “The Giant Buddhas” and “Voices of Bam.” Both films have already received several prizes internationally and will share the prize sum of 1,000 Euro.
The Dokufest took place in Prizren from August 8 – 13, 2006. It counts as one of the most important cultural events in Kosovo, and, due to the high quality of the works presented, has gained reputation far beyond its regional borders since its inauguration a few years ago. The festival receives financial support from local businesses and the media, as well as from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSZE), and from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In 2003, Christian Frei also won the first prize with his film “War Photographer.”
Since its world premiere at the 2005 Locarno International Film Festival, over thirty international film festivals on all continents have shown Frei’s film about the destruction of the Buddha statues. Earlier, the film won the Silver Dove at Leipzig, a Silver Gentian in Trento, and the Swiss Cultural Pearle. The film was also successfully released in German movie theatres on August 3rd, with the number of 35mm copies doubled from four to eight during its second week.
Zurich, August 14, 2006
Since its world premiere at the 2005 Locarno International Film Festival, over thirty international film festivals on all continents have shown Frei’s film about the destruction of the Buddha statues. Earlier, the film won the Silver Dove at Leipzig, a Silver Gentian in Trento, and the Swiss Cultural Pearle. The film was also successfully released in German movie theatres on August 3rd, with the number of 35mm copies doubled from four to eight during its second week.
Zurich, August 14, 2006