Norwegian Film 'The Almost Man' Wins the Grand Prix Crystal Award at Karlovy Vary

Earlier today, Norwegian director Martin Lund's Mer eller mindre mann a.k.a The Almost Man won the Grand Prix Crystal Award for Best Film at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the largest event of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe.

The festival's Best Actor Award is shared by Henrik Rafaelsen, who plays the main protagonist in Lund's film, and Eryk Lubos, for his performance in Jan Jakub Kolski's Zabić bobra a.k.a To Kill a Beaver.

Iranian actress Leila Hatami won Best Actress Award for role in Ali Mosaffa's Peleh akhar a.k.a The Last Step.

The Special Jury Prize was awarded to Italian director Marco Tullio Giordana for his Romanzo di una strage a.k.a Piazza Fontana: The Italian Conspiracy.

French-Canadian filmmaker Rafael Ouellet won Best Director Award for Camion, a drama about a family that is brought together after a tragic accident.

East of the West Award, for which only films from Eastern Europe compete, went to Eva Neymann's Ukrainian production Dom s bashenkoy a.k.a House with a Turret.

The festival's Best Documentary Film (over 30 minutes long) Award went to Bulgarian director Ilian Metev's Poslednata lineika na Sofia a.k.a Sofia's Last Ambulance. Sergio Oksman took the Best Short Documentary Film (under 30 minutes long) Award for A Story for the Modlins.

Belgian director Geoffrey Enthoven's dark comedy Come as You Are won the festival's audience award.

Helen Mirren and Susan Sarandon were recognized with Crystal Globe Awards for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to World Cinema.