Isabelle Huppert in “Macadam Stories” (Stockholm Film Festival)

Stockholm (Sweden, International Film Festival, November 11-22, 2015). The FIPRESCI Prize goes to a film in the “Open Zone” section. The 2015 winner is “Macadam Stories” (Asphalte) by Samuel Benchetrit (France, 2015, 100 minutes). Motivation: “An insightful, melancholic and tender comedy, filled with quirky deadpan humor. Three separate stories are seamlessly interwoven around the theme of urban loneliness and the longing for human connection, all beautifully drawn, highly nuanced and perfectly paced, while the excellent performances allow the characters humanity to shine through the cracks.”

Jury members were Yael Shuv, Israel (“Time Out Tel Aviv”), Kristin Aalen, Norway (“Stavanger Aftenblad”), Dariia Badior, Ukraine (“LB.ua”).

Festival: www.stockholmfilmfestival.se