FIPRESCI'S THIRD GRAND PRIX

The opening gala of the San Sebastian International Film Festival, to take place on September 20 2001, will serve as the setting for the presentation of FIPRESCI's Third Grand Prix for Best Film of the Year.

In 1999, the San Sebastian Festival and Fipresci (International Film Critics' Federation), decided to create a joint award aimed at promoting and stimulating daring, original and personal filmmaking. This award is characterized by the fact that it is freely conferred by the International Critics who have chosen a movie from among all those released between August 2000 and July 2001. This year, 156 Federation members from 34 countries have taken part in a tough vote, culminating in the Fipresci Grand Prix being awarded to the Iranian film: Dayereh (The Circle) by Jafar Panahi. Panahi will be present in San Sebastian to receive this prized award in person.