On Friday evening, the awards ceremony of the 7th annual Luxembourg City Film Festival were announced prior to the screening of the film Django at Utopolis-Kirchberg.

THE WINNERS

THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE by Aki Kaurismäki won the €10,000 Grand Prix by Orange.

I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO by Raoul Peck won the €5,000 BGP BNP PARIBAS Documentary Prize.

DARK NIGHT by Tim Sutton won the Public Prize by Orange.

GLORY by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov won the Critics' Award, with I AM NOT MADAME BOVARY by Feng Xiaogang receiving a special mention.

The International Jury composed of SANTIAGO AMIGORENA, FAOUZI BENSAÏDI, DOMINIQUE BESNEHARD, MONIA CHOKRI, HANDE KODJA and CHRISTOPHE WAGNER awarded the Grand Prix by Orange to THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE. "The film to which we awarded the Grand Prize, because it made us laugh, because it moved us, because it tackles a subject that seems essential to us in these dark times, (...) is the most thoroughly relevant and highly original way of dealing with the subject, is Aki Kaurismäki's THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE."

The Documentary Jury composed by VLADIMIR KOKH, ARNAUD LAMBERT, JÉRÔME LASSERRE and MATHIAS THÉRY awarded I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO by Raoul Peck. "Most of the films we have seen are challenging questions about the relationships between people, racism, difference, and the difficulty of listening to others in our modern democratic societies. One of these films is distinguished, as much by its controlled form as by the limpidity and the scope of its purpose. Not only did he succeed in restoring James Baldwin's prodigious thought and formidable power of elucidation, while the adaptation of a text to the cinema was never an easy task, but he succeeded in revealing, with a narrative Written several decades ago, the history of the struggle of the American black population up to its most current developments. By reviving this deeply singular voice, he articulates some of the most decisive issues for our troubling present and, in many respects, regressive. Dealing with the depth of the human soul, he invites each of us, beyond social and racial affiliation, to question himself about his life, his point of view, his beliefs and his deepest convictions. This film opens our eyes and helps us think the other. Through this award, we invite everyone to discover Raoul Peck's film, I Am Not Your Negro!"

The Luxembourg Association of the Cinematographic Press (ALPC) awarded the PRIZE OF LA CRITIQUE to GLORY by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov. "The choice of the jury of the press, representing the Association Luxembourgeoise de la Presse Cinematographique, focused on a film about current events that can not be indifferent. This is a corruption story where politicians do not hear the voices of their fellow citizens, even ignoring them, humiliating them. In addition, the ALPC jury was therefore affected by the quality of interpretation of Stefan Denolyubov in the role of the railroadman who was too honest to succeed in a society of unscrupulous vultures, but also by the writing quality of the scenario And the accuracy of the staging. For all these reasons, the Prize of the Jury of the Press is awarded to the film "Glory" of the Bulgarian directors Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov" aaid ISABELLE DEBUCHY, THIBAUT DEMEYER, JEAN-PIERRE THILGES and RAUL REIS before continuing with the special mention for I AM NOT MADAME BOVARY. "The formal beauty of this melodramatic comedy and the paced rhythm of a narrative that unravels the threads of a legal imbroglio in a society where women have to resign themselves to their fate have prompted us to award a special mention to the Jury of The press, for the film "I Am Not Madame Bovary" from the Chinese Feng Xiaogang".

The JURY for the YOUTH PRIZE announced SAMI BLOOD as the winner. "We watched a selection of films marked by themes that specifically addressed politics, the dangers of the Internet, discrimination, revolt, love and freedom of expression. After long and lively discussions due to our different perspectives, we finally agreed on a film. Through the touching journey of a young girl, this film speaks of a dark chapter in history. An authentic and moving scenario leading to a deep reflection and an exceptional performance of actors. We award the Jury Prize 2017 to SAMI BLOOD," said ALEXANDRA BERING, OSCAR DAVID, HANNAH GREVIS, JULIEN HANIN, BENJAMIN PEDERSEN, CHRISTOPHE SCHAMMEL and MÉLANIE SCHONS.

For the first time at the festival, a class of children between 8 and 12 years old (4th year of primary school in Cents) was invited to watch a selection of five Young Public films. The CHILDREN JURY AWARD was awarded to AUF AUGENHÖHE directed by Joachim Dollhopf.

The CHILDREN'S HEART prize was awarded to RICHARD DER STORCH by Tobias Genkel and Reza Memari.

An extra opportunity to see the top films awarded has been announced as follows:

- GLORY, Critics' Prize, will be re-screened on Sunday 12 March at the Cinémathèque at 17:00

- I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, Documentary Prize By BGL BNP PARIBAS, will be re-screened on Sunday 12 March at the Cinémathèque at 19:00.

- THE OTHER SIDE OF HOPE, Grand Prix by Orange, will be re-screened on Sunday 12 March at the Cinémathèque at 21:00