Review

This is a movie with an excellent observation gaze and restraint that possesses powerful tension that draws us into the character’s story. The message that you must live on with composure although every moment in life is difficult is well conveyed. It is a great movie that touches the heart tenderly and leaves a lingering impression.

Review

A masterpiece of the genre created from historical images from over 60 years ago. The film captures a treacherous expedition of what seems like the end of the earth, the Big Ben on Heard Island. Singer and storyteller John Creek was the youngest member of the expedition, and narrates the bold tale in an unforgettable, captivating manner.
Nature’s absolute power, and the climbers who must confront their physical and mental limits despite their fear and curiosity are very well expressed.
The humane and humorous characters inspire us and highlight the importance of resilience in overcoming adversity. It also conveys that the best way to preserve the diverse lifeforms on Heard Island is to leave it undisturbed.

Review

The filmmaker takes a warm gaze without overdoing it at the lives of their parents who have done the same work in the same place in an era where everything changes quickly. The fact that they spent their entire lives doing the same thing in the same place is already amazing but the film goes further and incorporates the issues of climate change, the environment, and the current state of machines replacing humans in a natural way to make the film even more complete. We are in awe at the sensitive imagery and and the way the director unravels the story and it makes us look forward to seeing what they will do next.

Review

For the sympathetic yet stunning quality of images that a daughter paints into a touching, delicate and intimate portrait of a long-time couple, in a modern fairytale in a bubble far from the modern life stress, which is at the same time an homage to her parents and their intangible heritage and requiem for disappearing job and world… the BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY award goes to The last Observers by Maja Karlsson Mikkelsen.

Review

This film is a calm depiction of the life of one man who has lived in a remote valley in Canada for over 40 years. It is touching as it shows the “good influence” of the 85-year-old man has on the people he has visited.

Review

For the powerful yet delicate portrait of the difficult challenges to rise after many falls, in the tricky teenager’s moment, under parent's strict and difficult eyes, in a coming-of-age adventure that seems more and more like a “climbing” most complicated and final proof, the SPECIAL JURY MENTION goes to Ashima by Kenji Tsukamoto.

Review

Yi-Shan Lo’s compelling directorial debut confronts the nature of personal loss through a highly-composed style, from the perspective of those that shared a common past.

Review

To us, mountains are something seen afar and always there - nothing more, nothing less. Yet, the mountains embrace us unconditionally. They keep just a right distance - never rushing - and draw us closer with their own stories.
After the Snowmelt is a lyrical expression of the guilt and loss one feels when returning to a place where traces of a friend linger. In this film, nature becomes more than just a backdrop, but an important medium for conveying emotions. Along with the melting snow, the memories of the friend slowly fade away, but through it all, the protagonist heals herself by keeping her promise to her friend.
After losing someone, different emotions such as despair, loss, regret, and guilt fall upon us like snow. They settle on the heart, weighing us down and slowly eroding us, but we all have lost or will lose someone eventually. When faced with the inevitable fate, After the Snowmelt will be a small piece of warmth that melts the snow in our hearts, even just a little.