"Kairos", directed by Paul Barakat, has won the top prize at the XXII Tertio Millennio Film Fest, an interreligious dialogue festival whose theme this year was "Days of Uprising: War, Revolution, and Redemption".
The documentary "Mother Fortress", directed by Maria Luisa Forenza, received a special mention. The awards ceremony took place on December 15 in Rome at the Trevi cinema. The jury, composed of Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, and Islamic representatives, was chaired by Claudia Di Giovanni.
"The film tells the story of Danny, a young man with Down syndrome and a former artistic gymnastics champion, who cleans at a boxing gym but dreams of stepping into the ring", explained Elena Ribet, jury member representing the Protestant film association "Roberto Sbaffi". "A secret will change his fate. It's a visionary, innovative, challenging film in which the lead role is played by Chris Bunton, an actor with trisomy 21. Time itself is suspended in kairos—suspended between the supreme moment and the infinite, where love and life dwell".
The XXII Tertio Millennio Film Fest, organized by the Foundation Ente dello Spettacolo (FEdS), brings together Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, and Islamic communities in dialogue across cultures and religions. "Nine films competed, from distant parts of the world. They tackled urgent questions that often divide us: war, religious fundamentalism, family, welcome, dialogue. The festival sought instead to foster conversation on these themes and send an important message: cinema brings us closer to one another", read the final statement.
Here is the jury's rationale:
Kairos, directed by Paul Barakat. Drama, Australia; 2018 – 87'
Kairos shatters the stereotype of Down syndrome as a physical, mental, psychological, relational, or social limitation. The film reveals multiple dimensions of love and friendship, with all the complications that human weakness brings. It shows us, finally, that we can love our neighbor only by first loving ourselves: true existential strength lies in the courage to be true to our values and visions, in accepting defeat and learning from it, in self-respect that leads to growth, redemption, improvement, and becoming a good example of life for others.
Mother Fortress, directed by Maria Luisa Forenza. Documentary, Italy, Syria; 2018 – 78'
This documentary reveals the filmmaker's gift for opening shafts of light in the horror of war in Syria. Despite the time of bombs, violence, and the anguish of survivors facing death, the reflection of the human spirit endures. Despair becomes hope. Horror becomes forgiveness. Passive resignation becomes stubborn determination for a higher purpose: shared humanity, redemption through love, peace, and brotherhood.
Source: Nev