Monday July 1st, the awards for the graduation films 2013 of the Netherlands Film Academy (NFA) were announced during the presentation at the EYE Film Institute. Cowboys janken ook won the Topkapi Films Fiction Award.
The jury was unanimous on the film by director Mees Peijnenburg. Cowboys janken ook is a film on friendship, guilt and violence. Sven and Gijs are best friends. When they get involved in a fight during a night out, Gijs gets beaten into a coma.
Jury report: “The jury watched this year’s graduation films with a lot of pleasure and praises the diversity, the technical quality and the level of ambition. A special mention for the strong visual intensity and sound design of Sacred Defence and the excellent acting of Elise van ‘t Laar, the young and very promising actress in Vloeibaar Staal.
One film stands out this year in screenplay and directing. With a moving story, strong acting and a confident cinematography the director creates a world of 18 year old boys, which is credible in each detail, which enthralls, makes you laugh and cry, but never becomes sentimental. This director shows courage.”
(jury: Laurette Schillings, Robert Jan Westdijk, Hedwig Agterbos)
Cowboys janken ook is made by Mees Peijnenburg (director), Merinde Verbeek (screenplay), Layla Meijman, Stephan Polman, Benjamin Sparschuh, Tim Balk, Nelli Bodt, Maxa van Panhuis & Vita Mees, Dennis Alink, Taco Drijfhout, Imre Reutelingsperger, Lotte Bronshoff & Paul Overste, in coproduction with VPRO and Pupkin Film.
Winner of the VCP Student Commercial Award was Super genoeg. IK won the VPRO Documentary Award.