'Sama' and 'Lobos' triumph at the 16th Colonya Palma Montaña Film Fest
The Audience Award went to 'Abrint camí. Kangtega 84', which revisits the first all-female expedition in the Himalayas.
PalmThe 16th edition of the Colonya Palma Muntanya Film Fest already has winners. The closing ceremony, held on Sunday afternoon at the Xesc Forteza municipal theater in Palma, served to announce the award-winning films from among the 463 films from 74 countries competing this year.
The award for the best mountain short film, sponsored by the Balearic Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing, went to Sama, by German director Bachar Khattar. The film tells the story of Hiba, a Syrian refugee, and Sabine, a Lebanese citizen, two young women united by their passion for climbing in a context of social tension in Lebanon. According to the jury, Sama "It is a story of friendship, trust and future," far from hopelessness.
The award for the best short film on nature and ethnography, sponsored by Kenia Outdoor, has been given to Wolves, by director Marina G. Andreu. The film portrays the ranchers of an Asturian village faced with the legal protection of the wolf, an animal surrounded by myths and fears that continues to shape rural life.
In addition, the jury – made up of Bartomeu Tomàs, Esther Sabadell, Laura Riera, Marta Hierro, Cesc Mulet and Miquel Rayó – has awarded a special mention to The eagle hunters of Mongolia, by Catalan Lucas Virgili, which shows the journey of two photographers to the Altai Mountains to document the centuries-old tradition of eagle hunting among the Khazak community.
The public award, sponsored by Colonya Caixa Pollença, went to Paving the Way. Kangtega 84, by Mallorcan Miquel Pérez, which revisits the first all-female Catalan expedition to the Himalayas, in 1984. Pérez, accompanied by two of the protagonists of that adventure, Piti Capella and Carme Magdalena Coconut, collected the award in front of the audience.
Capella, also the documentary's producer, expressed her gratitude for the recognition and noted that the project "has been an adventure and a challenge for a small production company." Pérez emphasized that "the audience is a very tough and knowledgeable jury," particularly appreciating their support.