Festival internazionale Segni della Notte - Urbino
International Festival Signs of the Night - Urbino





9° Festival internazionale Segni della Notte - Urbino - April 2 - 6, 2025

23th International Festival Signs of the Night - Italy

9




MAIN AWARD


Being John Smith

John Smith
United Kingdom, England / 2024 / 0:26:40

After enduring many decades of embarrassment and discomfort, the artist finally admits to the negative impact that possessing the commonest name in the English-speaking world has had on his psyche. Peppered with disparate fragments of autobiography, ‘Being John Smith’ takes us on a confessional journey that reveals just how important a name can be.




 


JURY DECLARATION


For its razor-sharp irony and inventive formal play, using captions and self-aware narration to explore identity, creativity, and illness in a collapsing world. With both humour and poignancy, it dissects the idea of the “ordinary” self, questioning how names shape perception and meaning. It’s a bold, intelligent work that turns familiar storytelling on its head while remaining deeply human.


DIRECTOR STATEMENTS


Although I spent much time and care editing and refining it, Being John Smith was one of the easiest and fastest films that I’ve ever scripted. When I started writing, I discovered that I had so much to say about life, identity and the state of the world that the words gushed out in a stream of consciousness. Talking about the past is easy, but doing something about the present is much more difficult. We must keep trying.


SIGNS AWARD

The Signs Award honours films, which treat an important subject in an original and convincing way




Who Loves The Sun

Arshia Shakiba
Canada, Quebec / 2024 / 0:19:25

In war-torn northern Syria, WHO LOVES THE SUN delves into the world of makeshift oil refineries and the stark realities of life within this post-apocalyptic landscape. Mohammad is a prominent figure in these operations, navigating harsh working conditions and complex local dynamics.

ITALIAN PREMIERE

 


JURY DECLARATION

For its enigmatic representation of an issue and a context that are extremely relevant to the political context of the world. Through the distant lens of Mohammad’s life, the film reveals the harsh working conditions and tense dynamics of an almost dystopian landscape, using the bleakness of the environment to underscore the resilience of those who inhabit it. In its quiet, poetic observation, the film forces us to reflect on the cost of existence in a world defined by conflict and crisis.





SPECIAL MENTION FOR THE SIGNS AWARD

The Signs Award honours films, which treat an important subject in an original and convincing way




O

Rúnar Rúnarsson
Iceland, Sweden / 2024 / 0:19:00

"O" is a humanistic and poetic story of a fragile man trying to achieve a simple task where his main obstacle is within himself.



 


JURY DECLARATION

For its unflinching portrayal of the complexities of addiction and family relationships, its raw emotional depth, and its ability to capture the subtleties of human struggle through its masterful direction and stark, powerful imagery. Shot in a series of greys that capture the nuances of humanity, the film captures the harrowing tensions of the man’s attempts to change. With a brutally raw performance and moments of quiet heartbreak, the film offers a haunting exploration of self-doubt, alienation, and the painful realities of addiction.






NIGHT AWARD

The Night Award honours films, which are able to balance ambiguity and complexity characterized by enigmatic mysteriousness
and subtleness, which keeps mind and consideration moving


Family Man

Kalani Gacon
Australia, Nepal / 2024 / 017:23

During a storm in a remote Nepalese village, a mysterious man finds refuge in the house of a family haunted by their father's disappearance years before. Strangely unwilling to leave, he slowly reawakens lost memories of the missing father..



 


JURY DECLARATION


For its delicate exploration of grief and impermanence through the story of a mysterious man who enters a family’s life, with a deliberate absence of narrative exposition. As he assumes the role of the missing figure, the film moves between the delicate reassurance of his presence, its impact on the community, and the inevitable reminder of absence. With striking, evocative imagery, including a powerful sequence in the rain, the film meditates on the fragility of life and the quiet, ghostly ways in which loss lingers.




MENTION FOR THE NIGHT AWARD

The Night Award honours films, which are able to balance ambiguity and complexity characterized by enigmatic mysteriousness
and subtleness, which keeps mind and consideration moving


Adieu tortue

Selin Öksüzoglu
France / Turkey / 2024 / 0:24:00

Inci’s mother died during the night. The five-year-old wanders alone through the vast hilly landscape by the Black Sea. She meets a young woman in a red sweater and is fascinated by her. Zeynep, who grew up here as well, has returned after many years away. Her luggage is heavy and the journey is long. Together, they walk through the sunshine and the clouds, from one father to another, from dawn until darkness.

 


JURY DECLARATION


For its enigmatic narrative and hauntingly surreal imagery, following a young girl as she encounters a mysterious woman returning to her small Turkish village after years abroad. With little context provided, the film invites viewers to delve into the complex emotions of loss, departure, and unspoken regret, while the striking landscapes mirror the characters’ internal isolation. The film’s ambiguity, combined with its lingering sense of unresolved tension, makes it a standout in its exploration of human connection and emotional distance.


JURY AWARD FOR THE FOR ITS STRIKING IMAGE OF LONELINESS TODAY


3° DRT

Bruno Suares
Portugal / 2024 / 0:20:03

Trapped in his aging body, Francisco embarks on a silent journey between two worlds. His inner struggle is a confrontation between old age and loneliness, set against the backdrop of Lisbon’s suburban reality, which he refuses to accept. In the midst of this battle, he finds solace in an unexpected correspondence: a letter from Esmeralda, the former owner of the apartment where he now lives out of favor, bringing him a new sense of hope.


INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE