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Golden Tower at the 33rd European Film Festival Palić Goes to Nino in Paradise by Laurent Micheli

22.07.2026.

At the final press conference of the 33rd European Film Festival Palić, held on July 22 at the Grand Terrace, the winners of several prestigious awards were announced. These include the Golden Tower for Best Film, the Palić Tower for Best Director, two Special Mentions by the International Jury, Best Film Award and Special Mention in the Parallels and Encounters programme, and the FIPRESCI Jury Award for Best Film in the Official Selection programme. The awards will be presented at the closing ceremony of the festival.

The jury of the Official Selection program of the 33rd European Film Festival Palić, composed of Maja Herman Sekulić (Serbia), Monica Goti (Italy), and Ioana Flora (Romania), awarded the Golden Tower for Best Film of the Official Selection programme to “Nino in Paradise” by Laurent Micheli.

In their explanation, the international jury stated:
“For its breathtaking courage, immense stylistic audacity, and its contribution to the evolution of contemporary cinematic language. As it is ticking every single box of filmmaking mastery—from its sharp screenplay and hypnotic cinematography to its bold and visceral soundtrack, editing, and brilliant performances—this film completely redefines the boundaries of the social thriller. It proves that a harsh socio-economic critique does not need to look bleak or dated; instead, it can pulse with a truly modern visual grammar. For embracing the electric, raw energy of the 21st century, for not looking back at established formulas—but paving a bold, inspiring path forward for the future of cinema, The Grand Prix for Best Film goes to Nino in Paradise!”

The Palić Tower for Best Director was awarded to Simon Verhoeven for his film “Oh, This Unspeakable Void.”

The jury explained that:
“A truly remarkable film from this year’s German film production, directed with extraordinary sensitivity by Simon Verhoeven, who is also the film’s screenwriter. This is his autobiographical film, dedicated above all to his family — especially his grandmother and grandfather, who are portrayed in the film by his mother, the great star of the post-war German cinema Senta Berger, and by Mihael Wittenborn. The film is, in many ways, also a tribute to this outstanding figure, his mother, a true icon not only of the German but also of the world cinema. However, this multilayered work goes far beyond the boundaries of a personal family story and autobiography. It becomes a true "bildungsroman" — a story about growing up and about the journey toward becoming an artist, in this case, an actor. This bittersweet cinematic story is told with a remarkable sense of intelligent humour, which never once slips into irony or sarcasm, but occasionally reaches moments of brilliant self-reflection and self-mockery. It is a rare quality — and one that, I must admit, brought me close to falling out of my chair several times with genuine, healthy laughter. Finally, alongside the exceptionally complex screenplay, which constantly and successfully moves between comedy and tragedy, I would like to highlight the outstanding cinematography by Joe Heim, and above all, the extraordinary performances of the entire cast — especially the already mentioned senior protagonists, but most importantly the young, charismatic, and subtle lead actor Bruno Alexander, who carries the entire film and, in whom I see the promise of a great acting career. This is a cinematic work that will be remembered.”

The jury awarded Special Mention to “Elena’s Shift” by Stefanos Tsivopoulos.

The jury explained that:
“As a jury of three women, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to turn our gaze toward female-centered stories, which still remain far too rare in contemporary cinema. The film is a truly accomplished one that seamlessly brings together the political issue of migration in search of a better life with the social theme of workers' rights. Both challenges are portrayed with honesty and sensitivity, making the film feel deeply relevant to the society we live in today. Also, women are represented as strong, courageous, yet also vulnerable. They are far from perfect, but they are never judged. This makes them feel authentic, human, and deeply relatable. The film honors the resilience of women reclaiming their rights, their bodies, and their voices on their own terms. Finally, the film is infused with a sense of hope that stays with the audience until the very end, allowing us to connect emotionally with the story and with every one of its protagonists.”

Special Mention for Originality goes to “The Miserable Mother,” a French-German co- production by a German film director Susanne Heinrich.

The explanation stated:
“It is fresh and original in the choice of topic – the post-birth, post-partum misery from a female point of view – and yet manages to be funny and give us pop art, colorful, and an original new style of musical! Original in every sense!”

The jury composed of Izabela Igel (Poland), Maksym Nakonechnyi (Ukraine), and Marko Mak Pantelić (Serbia), has made a decision to give the Best Film Award in the Parallels and Encounters competition programme to the film “Tell Me What You Feel” by Łukasz Ronduda.

The jury explained that:
“Tell Me What You Feel” is original, unpredictable, and politically sharp, while remaining deeply personal and emotionally accessible. Łukasz Ronduda has found his own distinctive way to combine irony, intimacy and social reflection in a film that flows with remarkable ease.

Special Mention of the International Parallels and Encounters Jury goes to “Milk Teeth” by Mihai Mincan.

The jury explained:
“The Special Mention goes to Milk Teeth for its remarkable craftsmanship, outstanding performances—especially from its young cast—and striking cinematography. With extraordinary sensitivity, every artistic department comes together in perfect harmony, creating a richly detailed depiction of a family tragedy unfolding against the backdrop of historical collapse.”

The FIPRESCI Jury of the 33rd European Film Festival Palić, composed of Božidar Zečević (Serbia), Jana Bébarová (Czechia), and Michael Phillips (USA), has awarded the FIPRESCI Award for Best Film in the Official Selection to “Feels Like Home” by Gábor Holtai.”

The jury explained that:
“The FIPRESCI jury applauds this exceptional debut, which moved us with its wit, multi- layered theme and rigorously exacting style. More than merely topical, the FIPRESCI prize winner of the European Film Festival Palić speaks to us as a brilliant metaphor for the abuse of power, manipulation, and oligarchic practices in the governance of a nation—phenomena we witness on a daily basis, regardless of the country we call home. The film unanimously selected as the winner was directed by Gábor Holtai and is titled Feels Like Home.”

The European Film Festival Palić is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, the Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities, the City of Subotica, the European Union through the Creative Europe MEDIA program, as well as numerous partners and media sponsors.

For more than two decades, Gorki List has been a valued partner of the European Film Festival Palić, serving both as an integral part of its visual identity and as the sponsor of the Gorki List Audience Award, which encourages audiences to engage more deeply with the films presented at the festival. 

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