At the occasion of the Palm Springs International Film Festival (USA, January 3-13, 2014), the "International Critics' Prize (FIPRESCI Prize)for the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year (2013)" has been presented to "The Broken Circle Breakdown" directed by Felix Van Groeningen (Belgium, 2012, 111 mins).
The jury stated: "A country song of a film - with all the love, pain, tragedy, and headache life can throw at you. A testament to the human spirit and how we can endure almost anything as long as there is even a sliver of hope or faith. Set in the tiny country of Belgium, a very personal story mirroring the ultimate decline of the American dream."
Prize for the best actor:
Mads Mikkelsen in "The Hunt" (Jagten) directed by Thomas Vinterberg (Denmark, 2013, 115 mins).
Prize for the best actress:
Bérénice Bejo in "The Past" (Le Passé) directed by Asghar Farhadi (Italy, France, 2013, 130 mins).
Print Source "The Broken Circle Breakdown":
The Match Factory, Balthasarstr 79-81, Cologne 50670, Germany, T +49 22 15 39 70 90, Fax +49 22 15 39 70 910, www.the-match-factory.com/, info@matchfactory.de.
Jury members were:
György Kárpáti, Hungary
Karsten Kastelan, Germany
Steven Rea, USA