10 celovečerních snímků v hlavní soutěži, 10 příběhů, 10 neopakovatelných zážitků. Ale vítěz může být jen jeden. O nejlepším filmu 13. ročníku Queer filmového festivalu Mezipatra právě rozhodla tříčlenná mezinárodní porota. Stal se jím americký nezávislý film Neodcházej (Keep the Lights On, 2012) režiséra a scenáristy Iry Sachse.

The jury appreciated the naturalistic drama Keep the Lights On because of its "decent use of the film grammar and plausible acting of the main characters driven by the turbulent eight-year relationship full of ups and downs". Highly autobiographical picture Keep the Lights On is currently collecting enthusiastic reviews all over the world, being applauded by the critics and satisfying the viewers. This sonde of the relationship between the neurotic filmmaker Eric and unpredictable lawyer Paul was awarded Teddy for the best queer feature narrative at this year's Berlinale.

„The main film competition was full of quality. Every film was different, every one of them was exceptionally successful. Eventually, we decided to award Keep the Lights On. It is neither shocking, nor revelatory, nevertheless, the classical film grammar is its main triumph," means the main jury member and Jindřich Chalupecký Award holder Mark Ther. The other members of jury were a film critic Cerise Howard and a director Kaveh Daneshmand. Aleš Rumpel, the festival director, also appreciates the film Keep the Lights On. „It is yet another kind of Weekend (last year's Viewers Award winner), thus beloved by both the audience and the critics. It represents the new wave of naturalism in gay film, does not exclude the excruciating topics and depcits gay relationships as they really are. In addition, Ira Sachs has sent a very nice personal video message," states Rumpel.

However, Keep the Lights On was not the only awarded work of art. Special mention of the Main Jury was given to the non-conventional Danish-Swedish She Male Snails directed by Ester Martin Bergsmark. „The film innovatively breaks down genre boundaries, erases the difference between the film and videoart," explains Ther. The three-member Student Jury then traditionally presented the Best Short Film Award. They decided for the Serbian-German film Dont brejk maj Turbofolk hart, because it is "playful, yet depicting intolerance punishing the individual for any free decision which is against the traditions." The special mention goes to the film Tsuyako.

The Viewers Award will be presented at the closing ceremony of Brno part of the 13th Mezipatra; the viewers so still have a chance to vote for their favourite. The voting slips are to be found in the café of Lucerna cinema.

"I am very glad that, despite this year's change in program, we have high attendance. We programmed eight blocks of short films, which means a great amount of shorts. We increased the proportion of documentaries. All this was appreciated by the visitors," says the festival director Rumpel.

The 13th Mezipatra Queer Film Festival bears the name Power, Manipulation, Madness. It brought about a hunderd of films of diferrent genres to Prague, now it aims at Brno. The main guest of Mezipatra was a jurnalist David France, who brought his suggestive documentary debut named How to Survive a Plague. The audience lure was, among others, the long awaited opus of Xavier Dolan Laurence Anyways. The visual image of this year was provided by the famous designers and the Czech Grand Design Award Zdeněk Vacek and Daniel Pošta.
Mezipatra also offers an abundant off program including lectures, parties and even theater.

The press release to be also found at: www.mezipatra.cz/press.
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