Baby Blues by Kasia Rosłaniec, Poland 2012, was awarded the Crystal Bear for the Best Film by the the members of the Youth Jury in Generation 14plus at the 2013 Berlin International Film Festival.  The jury commented, “In this film we were completely unprepared for the extreme way the story unfolds. Its bold editing style, colorful cinematography and innovative direction gave the film great dynamism. The film showed us strong and complex characters who often behaved in contradictory ways. These teenagers seem to be unable to acknowledge their mistakes and take responsibility for them. They are caught between the desire for freedom and the duties of being a young parent.”

The members of the new International Jury Generation 14plus awarded The Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the best feature film, to Shopping by Mark Albiston, Louis Sutherland, New Zealand 2013. The Jury described the film as ” An extremely compelling first film with a fantastic lead actor. We loved watching him on screen and felt a deep empathy with him. Sharp editing, strong visual choices and a complex, painful and loving portrayal of family. We appreciated the specificity of the world you brought us into. Your dedication to your vision is palpable.”

Other winners (with Jury comments) include:

The members of the Youth Jury in Generation 14plus give the following awards:

Crystal Bear for the Best Film: Special Mention: Pluto
by Shin Su-won, Republic of Korea 2012
Jury commented “Our special mention goes to a film that critiques the educational structures and more broadly society in an original way, reflecting its deep injustices. The characters in this film draw us into a universe of isolation and powerlessness in the face of brutal peer pressure to conform. We felt the cosmic dimensions of the story and the protagonist’s sense that, although being alone in school is harsh, being alone in the universe is devastating.”

Crystal Bear for the Best Short Film: Rabbitland
by Ana Nedeljković, Nikola Majdak, Serbia 2012
Jury commented: “This year’s winner conveyed a thought-provoking theme to us combined with ironic merit and dark humor. Simply and effectively, it critiques the political structures we live under and makes us feel slightly uncomfortable about our everyday lives. The film is of worldwide relevance and was presented to us in a highly skilled and original fashion.”

Special Mention: Treffit
by Jenni Toivoniemi, Finland 2012
Jury commented: “Two young people cross paths in an unusual situation. Before you know it, a common procedure develops into an unconventional date. We were convinced by the film’s ability to tell us far more than it showed. It presented us with a humorous interaction that didn’t immediately reveal the complexity of its themes. The multi-layered meanings of the film stayed with us long after we left the cinema.”

The members of the new International Jury Generation 14plus give the following awards:

The Grand Prix of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the best feature film
Special Mention: Baby Blues
by Kasia Rosłaniec, Poland 2012
Jury commented: “We celebrate a fantastic, strong cinematic voice that confronts harsh realities with unexpected humour and style. Your strong imagery, compelling characters and a hard-hitting narrative captivated us.”

The Special Prize of the Generation 14plus International Jury for the best short film
by Anders Hazelius, Sweden 2013
Jury commented: “For Best Short Film we would like to recognize a funny and surprising film that defies expectations. Insecurity and social pressure force two awkward people together to share a moment of beautiful and genuine honesty. This film displays a strong visual style and is the work of an insightful and relevant filmmaker.”

Special Mention: Barefoot
by Danis Goulet, Canada 2012
Jury commented: “In the short film category the jury would like to thank this filmmaker for taking us into a fascinating world seldom shown on screen. This is a sensitive portrayal of a girl going to extreme and painful lengths to fit in. Your storytelling is important and has strong emotional impact. We are very much looking forward to seeing your future work.”