BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS


Akie Namiki for ‘Jitsuroku Rengo Sekigun: Asama Sanso E No Michi’ (United Red Army)
Japan

Akie Namiki was born in 1978 at Saitama prefecture and has been acting since she was a teenager. She had a leading role in Aruasa Soup Wa, which won the grand prix at the Pia Film Festival, 2004, in Tokyo, and in 2006 she featured in Hanauta Dorobo. In 2007, Akie played a young teacher suffering with mental illness in the film 14 Years Old.


Daria Moroz for ‘Zhivi I Pomni’ (Live And Remember)
Russian Federation

Born in 1983, Daria is the daughter of leading Russian producer/director, Yuri Moroz, and distinguished actress, Marina Levtova. After graduating from Moscow Arts Theatre (MKHAT) acting school, she was immediately hired by the Moscow Arts Theatre company. Her cinematic career began in 1983 and Daria has since appeared in 25 feature and TV films, including Gibel Imperii, 2005, and Zhenschiny v igrr bez pravil, 2004.


Hiam Abbass for ‘Etz Halimon’ (Lemon Tree)
Israel/France/Germany

Following their successful collaboration in The Syrian Bride, Eran Riklis chose Hiam for the leading role of Salma Zidane in Lemon Tree. Born in Nazareth, Hiam started out in various theatre roles in Israel until she moved to London in 1988 and then to Paris where her film career began.  Her credits include: The Syrian Bride, Satin Rouge, La Porte du Soleil, Munich, Disengagement, Free Zone, Paradise Now, The Nativity Story, Dialogue avec mon Jardinier, Un Roman Policier, La fabrique des Sentiments, and The Visitor. Hiam lives in Paris with her husband and two daughters.


Miao Pu for ‘Yingtao’ (Cherries)
People’s Republic of China

Miao Pu studied at the Beijing Film Academy and is also a pilot. She starred in Phoenix in 2006 and Cherries is Miao Pu’s second feature film.


Nesipkul Omarbekova for ‘Baksy’ (Native Dancer)
Kazakhstan/Russian Federation/France/Germany

Nesipkul Omarbekova is a real-life witch doctor from Kazakhstan who plays the central rode of Aidai, an old Kazakh Baksy who can heal people, find their souls and even tell them where their stolen cattle has been hidden. ‘Shamans’, ‘healers’, or ‘witch doctors’ are a feature of life in Kazakhstan and writer/director Guka Omarova was inspired to make Native Dancer by her regular visits to a healer each time she returns home.