Athens, Greece – The 1st Athens International Documentary Festival on Disability EMOTION PICTURES had its closing ceremony on Monday 18 June 32 films were selected among over 350 entries from 45 different countries for the competition section of the festival.

The Festival Jury, consisting of the writer, poet, producer, film director and ex-Director of the Athens French Institute Jean-Marie Drot, the disabled artist, co-founder and ex-Artistic Director of the London Disability Film Festival Caglar Kimyoncu, the film director and citizen with disability Antonis Rellas and the president of the Attica Cultural Company Eleni Moustaira (the fifth member of the Jury, music composer Dimitris Papadimitriou, could not participate in the proceedings due to personal reasons), awarded the following films:

First Prize for Best Documentary Film
Invitation to the Dance , by the film director Gerhard Schick and the producer Reinhard Wulf (Germany).The film shows how art creates bridges between people with and without disabilities, between continents, races and cultures.

Second Prize for Best Documentary Film
Braindamadj’d…Take II , by the filmmaker Paul Nadler and the producer Jonathan Finkelstein (Canada). Paul invites us into his journey as he embraces the changes in his life and moves on.

Prize for originality and innovative direction
Phoenix Dance , by the filmmaker and producer Karina Epperlein (USA) In recognition of Homer’s strength to surpass himself, for his determination, talent, courage and for the quality of the film.

Prize for technical and innovative direction
Dreaming Sideways , by the filmmaker and producer Heidi Vilkman (UK). A film that both artistically and technically challenges us to see beyond sight.

Special Jury Prize
MasterPiece Part I , by the filmmaker Stefanos Mondelos and the producer Vasiliki Argiropoulou (Hellas). Stelios takes control of his image in a direct way and tells us how he wants to be accepted, all with a touch of humour.

Moreover, the Jury of the Festival credited three more films with special merit:

Like a Butterfly by Ewa Pieta (Poland)
My Eyes by Erlend E. Mo (Denmark)
How do you Eat and Elephant? by Rick Randall (Australia)

The festival renewed its appointment with audience and filmmakers for next year. The organizers of the festival are the Secretariat General of Communication-Secretariat General of Information of the Hellenic Republic and the Greek Film Centre.