Romanian film director Adrian Sitaru received the Best Film Award for “Colivia” (The Cage), at the 18th edition of Vila do Conde International Short Film Festival in Portugal. The prize was a cheque of € 2.000.

The 17 minutes film, staring two well-known Romanian actors Clara Vodă and Adrian Titieni, is a story about family reconciliation, symbolically brought by a dove. Alex starts a conflict with his father, Mihăeş, when he brings home an injured bird. After a fight without winners, the sick pigeon finds a place for his own on the balcony, but the little boy wants a cage for it.

Film director, producer, screenwriter and actor, Adrian Sitaru was also awarded the DAAD Scholarship at the 60th Berlinale: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin 2010, as well as the Best Romanian Short Film Prize at the Transylvanian International Film Festival (TIFF) for his movie “Colivia”. He is not at his first international success. In 2007, he won the Golden Leopard in the “Leopards of Tomorrow” Section at the 60th edition of the Locarno International Film Festival for “Valuri” (Waves). In 2008, he received two awards at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the Jury Award at the 2nd edition of the Estoril Film Festival and the prize for “New Voices” Section at the Palm Spring International Film Festival, for “Hooked” short film.

One of the most prestigious festivals in Europe, Vila do Conde International Short Film Festival took place between the 3rd and the 11th of July. Nearly 200 movies of diverse genres – fiction, documentary, animation, experimental and musical – participated at the event. The jury was composed by Katell Quillevere, Daniel Blaufuks, Laurent Guerrier, Balint Kenyeres and Manuel Mozos.

Diana-Adela Ionita / La.Specula.com