Oaza

Jury statement: We, the FIPRESCI jury of the 30th Cottbus Film Festival, award this year's prize to OASIS by Ivan Ikić. It's an attentive and compassionate sophomore feature with a sensitive look at people with mental impairments and their “normal” need for closeness and understanding. The film's aesthetics are subtle but proficient, painting a heartfelt portrait of inclusivity and the struggle accompanying it.

5.000 EUR donated by Sparkasse Spree-Neiße

Jury statement: Three touching performances revealing their characters' unique personalities and rendering alive the complexity of adolescent epe of innocence, love, envy and desire – which have no option but to exit within a setting of constant surveillance. For taking us on an emotion journey while revealing some of the real life struggles of life in a youth special care institution, the jury would like to award best acting performance to first time actors Marijana Novakov, Tijana Markovic and Valentino Zenuni in the film OASIS by director Ivan Ikić.

This film portrays people who have been isolated all their lives and who rarely get a chance to be best at something. This film transcends the best film category and limits of best actors, and by doing so it offers a helping hand to the ones who need it most, giving them the chance not only to become exceptional actors, but also to express themselves and show that love doesn’t require much and that they’re capable of it. The Golden Pram Award goes to the director and his team who managed not to betray the trust they’ve gained to be the ones who will convey to the world the cries of those no one wants to hear.

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