Georgian director Zaza Urushadze’s “Tangerines” is running for the 87^th Academy Awards, that will be assigned February 22nd in Los Angeles. The Estonian-Georgian movie was selected among the 9 shortlisted for the Best Foreign Language Film.

Last April, Tangerines received the International Bif&st Award, assigned by an audience Jury chaired by director Francesco Bruni – with the following citation: “The movie has the great value of dealing, in a simple yet refined way, with the nonsense of war: especially when it happens between people who have the same face, speak the same language, and often find it extremely hard to perceive themselves as enemies. Here two soldiers, one Abkhazian and the other Georgian, both severely wounded, are sheltered under the same roof by an old and patient Estonian peasant. While forced to live together, they share many minor moments of the day – and the fierce hate among them is destined to become meaningless – for you can only hate what you do not know.” Right after, Zaza Urushadze released the following declaration: “I warmly thank you for this extraordinary Award. It is an authentic privilege to me. It is an honour granted not only to myself, but to the entirety of both Georgian and Estonian Cinema. Gratitude and best wishes for your Festival from us all”.

Another movie triumphantly welcomed and awarded at Bari which has recently gained International recognition is: La mafia uccide solo d’estate by Pif (Pierfrancesco Diliberto). The film, which has just received the European Film Award for Best Comedy of 2014, won the Francesco Laudadio Award for First Time Director. The prize was assigned by an Audience Jury chaired by director Giuliano Montaldo, with the following citation: “For the touching novelty with which the movie deals with the theme of mafia – through a biting and ironical, mostly incisive and head on style”. On that occasion, Pif starred in the crowded Bif&st 2014 closing Cinema Masterclass with Andrea Camilleri at Teatro Petruzzelli.