The film by Basil da Cunha was voted Best European Film at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
The short film 2720 won the 36th International Competition at the 46th edition of the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, the largest short film festival in the world, which took place from February 2nd to 10th: Basil da Cunha's film was presented with the Award for Best European Film ('Prix du Meilleur Film Européen').
2720 (2023, Portugal / Switzerland, FIC, 24'44''), produced by Arquipélago Filmes and commissioned and co-produced by Batalha Centro de Cinema, is a film that follows the intersection of two characters: seven-year-old Camila, who sets off in search of her missing brother after a police raid, and Jysone, who is free after serving a prison sentence, who walks around the neighbourhood looking for a lift to work.
The film directed by Basil da Cunha has been shown at dozens of festivals around the world, winning multiple awards and honourable mentions, such as: Audience Award (International Competition) and Best Portuguese Director (Curtas Vila do Conde — International Film Festival), Best Film Award (Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur), Bester Kurzfilm (Journées de Soleure) and the FIPRESCI Prize (International Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen).
With this recent award, 2720 is now a candidate for the short film category for the 37th European Film Awards (EFA).
Here is the statement that was made when the award was handed out by the International Jury (Jihan El Tahri, Kukla, Irene Moray, Kim Keukeleire): "The film immediately throws us into the center of a world that - usually - only its inhabitants get to feel the extent of both its beauty and its horror. The filmmaker generously allows us to be part of this neighborhood, to get to know the characters and share their hopes and worries. Through the eyes of 7-year-old Camila we zigzag through the web of narrow alleys on an intimate and masterfully crafted journey that captures the essence of its inhabitants trapped in a vicious circle."
