Der Preis der Jury geht an "The Giant Buddhas" für die beispielhafte
Recherche und präzise Darstellung von Hintergrundinformationen zu einem Thema,
das durch die globalen Medien meist nur unvollständig transportiert wird.

The Price of the Jury goes to "The Giant Buddhas" for the exemplary
research and precise documentation of background information on a topic which
most often has been dealt with in an incomplete way by the global media.

"There is no more important film at the festival this year," says jury member Les Guthman.
"The Giant Buddhas is a chilling meditation on the destruction of sacred art and culture by religious fundamentalists; a crime against humanity, of course, that is not limited to Afghanistan."

It all starts with a shocking news report on the loss of a world heritage, the giant carved Buddhas of Afghanistan, and evolves into a major film work of art. Based on complex and thorough research, it combines an international event with the very personal stories of people connected to it. It makes us consider the loss of cultural history and questions the role of media.

"The Giant Buddhas" ist ein einzigartiges filmisches Essay,
ein gewaltiger, herausragender Film in jeder Beziehung.

"The filmmaker has taken a recent hot, politically sensitive and highly
symbolic news event and given us a thoughtful, well researched and
beautifully filmed analysis of the complexities of the issue and cultural
perspectives that stand behind the surface of the TV news."