The Critics Jury in Cannes (France, May 11-22, 2016) presented three prizes: to a film in Competition; to a film in "Un Certain Regard"; and a third one for either the Critics Week or Directors' Fortnight.
Prize, in Competition: "Toni Erdmann" by Maren Ade (Germany, 2016, 162 minutes). Motivation: "A film gorgeously crafted, made with a fresh and a sensitive approach, that captures the complex relationship between father and daughter and comments on the lunacy of today's world."
Prize, Un Certain Regard: "Caini" (Dogs) by Bogdan Mirica (France, Romania, Bulgaria - Argo Film, Qatar, 2016, 104 minutes). Motivation: "A promising first feature that skillfully mixes crime and western genres, giving us insight into conflicts of contemporary Romania."
Prize, Parallel Sections: "Grave" (Raw) by Julia Ducournau (France, Belgium, 2016, 95 min. Motivation: "An impressive debut with a strong visual language. The director tells a dark coming of age story and uses themes from horror movies to express the solitude and sexual awakening of a troubled teenage girl."
The jury was composed of Alin Tasciyan, Turkey, President; Pamela Biénzobas, Chile; Tereza Brdeckova, Czech Republic; Michael Kienzl, Germany; Noémie Luciani, France; Bujor Ion Ripeanu, Romania; Rita di Santo, UK; Vecdi Sayar, Turkey; and Leo Soesanto, France.
During the award ceremony Alin Tasciyan, president of FIPRESCI, presented to Thierry Frémaux, the General Delegate of the Cannes Film Festival, a special award to thank him and the Festival for 70 years of hospitality and cooperation, from 1946 to nowadays. The plate was engraved with the wording: "For keeping cinema in our memories as the art of our times".