The new Critics Week Visionary Prize, backed by pubcaster France 4, went to Bulgarian Ilian Metev’s Sofia’s Last Ambulance, a darkly-comedic documentary following three overworked paramedics in Sofia, a city of more than 2 million people where there are only a dozen ambulances.
The docu sheds light on Burgaria’s crumbling medical system.
It is produced by Sia, in association with Chaconna Films, Sutor Kolonko and Nukleus Film.
The Visionary Prize jury was headed by French director Celine Sciamma and was made up of young film critics.
Israeli Meni Yaesh’s theological thriller, “God’s Neighbors,” won the nod of Gaul’s Society of Authors, Directors and Composers, decided by a jury of filmmakers that included Bertrand Tavernier.
“God’s Neighbors” is sold by Gaul’s Rezo, which will also distribute it in France.
The ACID/CCAS support for distribution was awarded to “The Wild Ones,” the directorial debut of Argentinean screenwriter Alejandro Fadel, who co-wrote Pablo Trapero’s “White Elephant.”
A platform for emerging talents, this year’s Critics’ Week was the first under its new artistic director Charles Tesson.
Only selecting first and second films, Critics’ Week has discovered numerous helmers, notably Olivier Assayas and Jeff Nichols, whose “Take Shelter” won last year’s Critics’ Week Grand Prize.
Nichols’ second film, “Mud,” screens in the 2012 Cannes Fest’s Main Competition.