The Ecumenical Jury Prize, awarded at the Cottbus Film Festival, celebrates films that foster moral and humanistic values. This year, the award went to The Good Children (Dobra djeca), directed by Filip Peruzovic from Croatia.
The Ecumenical Jury, appointed by SIGNIS and INTERFILM, “was impressed by the unagitated and quiet presentation of different approaches to grieve together with the sounds of the house and nature, which repeatedly dissolved into silence. That created a unique atmosphere. We were also struck by the complex sibling relationship on the one hand, which at the same time was reflected in the simplicity of the visual and cinematic language.”
The Ecumenical Jury was composed of Inês Gil (Portugal), Christian Olding (Germany), Katrin Rudolph (Germany), and Gabriella Rácsok (Hungary).
The Cottbus Festival, a vital platform for Eastern European cinema, recognizes cinematic excellence and encourages cultural dialogue and a deeper understanding of the region’s diversity. The Ecumenical Jury Prize, in particular, honors works that echo these values. It seeks films that resonate on ethical and philosophical levels, often encouraging viewers to reflect on life’s core relationships and challenges.