Sengedorj Janchivdorj’s Silent City Driver was awarded the Grand Prix for Best Film along with the Best Production Design Award at the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. The Mongolian film follows a man who, after enduring 14 brutal years in prison, lives in isolation with his only companions, the stray dogs he has rescued over time. His life takes an unexpected turn when he finds work as a hearse driver and encounters two people who will reshape his existence.
The jury chaired by Christoph Hochhäusler commented on the film saying, “This dark fairy tale from Mongolia took us by surprise. From the very first shot on, we felt the sensation of a film breaking new ground. Silent City Driver is a very stylish film, but style here is substance, the formal choices are not used to divert, but to deepen this very cinematic universe, populated by unique characters, bigger than life, but very very human. The Grand Prix for the best film goes to Silent City Driver by Sengedorj Janchivdorj.”
The Best Director Award was given to Nir Bergman, for Pink Lady; Empire of the Rabbits directed by Seyfettin Tokmak won Best Cinematography Award for Claudia Becerril Bulos along with Best Script Award for Seyfettin Tokmak.
The Best Actress Award was divided between Pirjo Lonka and Elina Knihtilä for their roles in 100 Liters of Gold, directed by Teemu Nikki; and the Best Actor Award went to Lee Hyo-Ye for his role in The Loop.
In the First Feature Competition, Best Film Award was given to Steve Bache (director), Marcos Kantis, Martin Lehwald, Felix Ruple (producers) for their feature-debut No Dogs Allowed; and the Best Director award was given to Diego Figueroa for his first feature A Yard of Jackals.
The audiences of the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival voted Vinod Kapri’s Pyre as their favorite; and the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award was given to Yerome Yoo’s Mongrels.
Full list of the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival award winners:
Official Selection – Competition
Grand Prix for the Best Film
Silent City Driver, 2024, Mongolia, director: Sengedorj Janchivdorj, prod. Ganbaatar Narantsetseg, Naranbat Bayasgalan, Bold Ganbat.
Best Director
Pink Lady, 2024, Israel, Italy; director: Nir Bergman.
Best Cinematography
Claudia Becerril Bulos for Empire Of The Rabbits, 2024, Turkey, Croatia, Mexico, Lebanon; director: Seyfettin Tokmak.
Best Script
Seyfettin Tokmak for Empire Of The Rabbits, 2024, Turkey, Croatia, Mexico, Lebanon; director: Seyfettin Tokmak.
Best Actor
Hyo Je LEE for The Loop, 2024, South Korea, director: Sang Beom Koo.
Best Actress(es)
Pirjo Lonka, Elina Knihtilä for 100 Liters Of Gold, 2024, Finland, Italy, director: Teemu Nikki.
Best Original Score
Alyana Cabral, Moe Cabral for Some Nights I Feel Like Walking, 2024, Philippines, Singapore, Italy, director: Petersen Vargas.
Best Production Design
Munkhbat Shirnen for Silent City Driver, 2024, Mongolia, director: Sengedorj Janchivdorj.
First Feature Competition
Best Film Award
No Dogs Allowed, 2024, Germany, director: Steve Bache, producers: Marcos Kantis, Martin Lehwald, Felix Ruple.
Best Director
A Yard Of Jackals, 2024, Chile, Spain; director: Diego Figueroa.
Jury Special Prize for the Cast
Sein Jin, Jae-Hyun Kim, Da-Nu Nam, Candyce Weir, Jedd Sharp, Morgan Derera, Sangbum Kang for Mongrels, 2024, Canada, director: Jerome Yoo.
Jury Special Prize for the Director
Ciao Bambino, 2024, Italy, director: Edgardo Pistone
Baltic Film Competition
Best Baltic Film Award
Southern Chronicles, 2024, Lithuania, Estonia; director: Ignas Miškinis, producers: Lukas Trimonis
Best Director
Drowning Dry, 2024, Latvia, Lithuania; director: Laurynas Bareiša
Critics’ Picks Competition
Best Film Award
The Brothers Kitaura, 2024, Japan; director: Masaki Tsujino, producers: Masaaki Nakano, Masaki Tsujino.
Best Director Award
I, The Song, 2024, Bhutan, Norway, Italy, France;
director: Dechen Roder.
Jury Special Mention
Fishgirl, 2024, Ecuador; director: Javier Cutrona
Rebels With a Cause Competition
Best Film Award
Protected Men, 2024, Germany; director: Irene von Alberti; producer: Frieder Schlaich.
Best Director
Contact Lens, 2024, China; director: Ruiqi Lu.
DOC@PÖFF Competition
Best Film Award
The Watchman, 2024, France, Belgium, directors: Victoire Bonin, Lou de Pontavice
Best Cinematographer
Linas Žiūra for Murmuring Hearts, 2024, Lithuania, France; director: Vytautas Puidokas.
Jury Special Prize
Black Gold, 2024, Portugal, director: Takashi Sugimoto.
International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award
Mongrels, 2024, Canada, director: Jerome Yoo
Audience Award (Grant for 3000 Euros)
Pyre, 2024, India, director: Vinod Kapri
Youth and Children Film Festival Just Film Awards
JUST FILM #YOUNGFILMMAKER AWARD
40 Days For Inge
Director: Betra Käsper
Estonia, 2024
JUST FILM TODDLER’S JURY BEST FILM AWARD
Niko – Beyond the Northern Light
Director: Kari Juusonen
Finland, Germany, Ireland, Denmark, 2024
JUST FILM CHILDREN’S BEST FILM AWARD
I Accidentally Wrote A Book!
Director: Nóra Lakos
Hungary, Holland, 2024
JUST FILM YOUTH JURY BEST FILM AWARD
Kontra
Director: Jonas Risvig
Denmark, 2024
Jury special mention:
Rolling Papers
Director: Meel Paliale
Estonia, 2024
JUST FILM ECFA AWARD
Living Large
Director: Kristina Dufková
Czech Republic, France, Slovakia, 2024
JUST FILM GRAND PRIX
Kontra
Director: Jonas Risvig
Denmark, 2024
Additional Awards
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
#1 Peeter Simm
#2 Lana Gogoberidze
BRUNO O’YA YOUNG ACTOR SCHOLARSHIP
Märten Metsaviir