«Facing Mecca», the short film directed by Jan-Eric Mack, celebrated its world premiere at the 23rd Palm Springs International ShortFest and won two awards at the festival’s closing ceremony on Sunday, June 25.
The film about a Syrian refugee who faces the hardships of Swiss bureaucracy following the death of his wife was named “Best of Festival” and “Best Student Live Action Short Over 15 Minutes”. Winning these awards, the film is eligible for a submission to the 90th Academy Awards in 2018.
Jan-Eric Mack was present at the ceremony and was accompanied by the co-writer of the film Anna Schinz and the leading actor Jay Abdo.
The ShortFest jury members who selected the awarded films were David Ansen (film critic/PSIFF Lead Programmer), Lindsey Bahr (Associated Press), Kate Bosworth (actress/producer), Ian Durkin (Vimeo), Sam Lansky (Time Magazine), and Heidi Zwicker (Sundance).
Swiss Director Jan-Eric Mack has already won national and international awards for his critically acclaimed short films «Ronaldo» (2010) and «Alfonso» (2013).
For Producer Joël Jent this marks the second year in a row that one of his films have been awarded at Palm Springs after «Bon Voyage», directed by Marc Wilkins, won in 2016 in the category «Best Live Action Short Over 15 Minutes» being later on Academy Awards ShortListed beginning of 2017.
«Facing Mecca» was produced by Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion and coproduced by ZHdK Zurich University of the Arts and SRF Swiss Radio and Television.
→ Palm Springs ShortFest
