And the Golden Puffin Goes to…

This year’s RIFF is coming to an end and the jurors have decided on which films to reward this year.
Cameron Bailey, Co-director of Toronto International Film Festival, Valdís Óskarsdóttir, noted Icelandic director and editor, and Film Comment’s Managing Editor, Laura Kern chose ‘The Four Times’ to be the best film of the main category, New Visions. The film by Italian filmmaker Michelangelo Frammartino takes place in the hills of Calabria and tells the story of a shepherd and his goats in an extraordinary way. The jury calls it:
“An ambitious and meditative second feature, Michelangelo Four Times explores Pythagoras’ views on transmigration through four tales of rural life involving an old shepherd, a goat, a tree and charcoal, all connected by the soul that travels through them. Beautifully shot, the film provokes through without a single line of dialogue, and with unexpected humor.”
The FIPRESCI Price, awarded by International Federation of Film Critics came to the same decision and honoured ‘The Four Times’ with a second award.
The RIFF Audience Award went to ‘Littlerock’ by American director Mike Ott, a tale of a Japanese tourist stranded in a small town in California.
Marian Crisan’s ‘Tomorrow’ received The Church of Iceland Award, the RIFF Environmental Award went to the documentary ‘Earth Keepers’ by Canadian director Sylvie Van Brabant and Faroe Islands director Sakaris Fridi Stora was rewarded with the RIFF Golden EGG Award, an award to encourage young talent.
Filmstill: ‘The Four Times’