"For a performance that is patient, intelligent and graceful, that captured the liberation of a ... More

"For a performance that is patient, intelligent and graceful, that captured the liberation of a young woman the Best Actress Award goes to Marie Leuenberger for The Divine Order."

"For its intrepid and compassionate storytelling, beautiful cinematography (DP-ed by a woman), ... More

"For its intrepid and compassionate storytelling, beautiful cinematography (DP-ed by a woman), complex characterization of the female experience, seamless navigation of both drama and comedy, and true embodiment of the personal being political, we award the Nora Ephron Prize to Petra Volpe for her film The Divine Order."

Jury Comment: "This award goes to a well-crafted, entertaining scenario, with deep character ... More

Jury Comment: "This award goes to a well-crafted, entertaining scenario, with deep character development. It's an original story about private lives and hidden secrets."

In her elegant portrayal of a profoundly conflicted wife and mother, this actress crafts a complex ... More

In her elegant portrayal of a profoundly conflicted wife and mother, this actress crafts a complex performance of a woman wrestling between love, family and obligation. She layers both strength and fragility without self-consciousness, with a fearlessness to exercise both subtlety and restraint.

We've selected a woman who shows herself to be a totally committed and fiercely versatile actress. ... More

We've selected a woman who shows herself to be a totally committed and fiercely versatile actress. Veerle Baetens' character goes from a sunny free spirit to grieving wife and mother, and no matter where we are in the course of that journey, this actress shows us the light burning inside her character, one that both sustains and destroys. She is the heart and soul of the movie, and her performance is nothing short of a tour de force.

The Broken Circle Breakdown is a true original, starting with the eclectic ingredients in its ... More

The Broken Circle Breakdown is a true original, starting with the eclectic ingredients in its dynamic screenplay: a romance of opposites, a battle between spiritual faith and secular humanism, triggered by unthinkable tragedy, a Flemish bluegrass band. With dialogue that spans the sweetly flirtatious and the operatically confrontational -- and with dollops of humor and a pure, deep love of music - the film leaps nimbly back and forth in time to conjure vivid characters who face down literal life-or-death issues. They win both our rapt interest and our greatest empathy; they make us both think and feel.

"The universality of the characters and themes and the director's riveting grasp of this story make... More

"The universality of the characters and themes and the director's riveting grasp of this story make About Elly a film that collapses barriers and deepens our understanding of the world we share."