2011 African Film Festival of Tarifa winners announced

2011 award winners

• Best feature-length movie - "Microphone" by Ahmad Abdalla, Egypt for its energy and shedding of light on the potential of the new Egypt and also because it reflects the role of art in political and social change.
  
• Best direction - "A JAMAÂ" by Daoud Aoulad-Syad, Morocco/France for its naturalistic use of non-professional actors. Furthermore, the film found a way to speak about the taboo topic of religion with sensitivity and humour.
  
• Best actress - Denise Newman for "Shirley Adams" - Oliver Hermanus, South Africa. The actress is believable in her complex, sober and sombre portrayal of the film character. With her construction of the character she was able to access the most essential core of humanity.
  
• Best actor - Youssouf Djaoro for "Un Homme Qui Crie" - Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Chad/France/Belgium). The actor's portrayal is very charismatic and tender. It truly shows his mastery of the artform.
  
• Best documentary feature film - "Koundi et le Jeudi National" - Ariani Astrid Atodji, Cameroon for his rigorous and tender look at the subject matter, which highlights the great opportunities that traditional cultures offer to Africa's future.
  
• Best short movie - "Mwansa the Great" - Rungano Nyoni, Zambia/UK for its ability to draw us into a child's imagination and the world of magic, combining courage and talent.
  
• The RTVA award for Audiovisual Creation, the best short film award - "Mwansa the Great" - Rungano Nyoni, Zambia/UK - for having been able to portray the noble nature of characters whose actions are imbued with a sense of social responsibility. The story is a metaphor of a certain social reality in a specific part of the world.
  
• Audience award for the best feature length movie - "Un Homme Qui Crie" - Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Chad/France/Belgium.
  
• SIGNIS award for the best fiction feature film - "A JAMAÂ" - Daoud Aoulad-Syad, Morocco/France for its humorous look at injustice and corruption and for showing the courage and determination of a simple man who stands up to all who stand in his way in order to defend his rights and denounce the abuse of power by politicians and false prophets.

Special mentions by the jury:

• "Hawi" (fiction, Ibrahim El-Batout, Egypt/Qatar) for its serious research, its tender look at the past and its link with the current problematic political climate in Egypt.
  
• "Ashlaa" (document, Hakim Belabbes, Morocco) for its ability to reconcile magnificently a personal story and a topic of universal interest. A tribute to all filmmakers.
  
• "Drexciya" (document, Akosua Adoma Owusu, Ghana) for the radical nature of the project, its effective use of limited economic resourcesand its poetic insight.
  
• "State of Violence" (fiction, Khalo Matabane, South Africa/France) for showing how peace can only be achieved through forgiveness and reconciliation.
  
• "Microphone" (fiction, Ahmad Abdalla, Egypt) for reflecting the arrival of the wind of change in Egyptian society, as well as the importance of culture as part of a democratic system which respects freedom above all else.