One more victory for the Ukrainian film «You, my joy» directed by Sergei Loznitsa.

The First International Festival of Young European Cinema VOICES took place in Vologda, Russia from 4th to 9th of July, 2010, where the film  «You, my joy» directed my Sergei Loznitsa won the Grand Prix in the festival competition.

The highlight of the festival is a cinematographic practice in style based on the production of full-length films by young directors on a predefined subject. This creation was occurred during the festival and represented a source of innovation, creativity and surprise. Totally by this criteria were selected 10 debut films for the competition program of the festival: «Revers» (Boris Lankosh, Poland), «8th Wonderland» (Nicolas Alberny, Jean Mach, France), «You, my joy» (Sergei Loznitsa, Ukraine), «Alza la testa» (Alessandro Angelini, Italy), «Bitterness» (Helene Cattet, Bruno Forzani, Belgium-France), «Silent voices» (Léa Fehner, France), «Burrowing» (Fredrik Wenzel, Henrik Hellstrum, Sweden), «Applaus» (Martin Pieter Zandvliet, Denmark), «Me too» (Alvaro Pastor, Antonio Naharro, Spain), «Are missing» (Anna Fenchenko, Russia).

The international jury of the festival was headed by renowned director and writer Sergei Bodrov. Judicial assembly included well-known specialists from the cinema field: Polish director, screenwriter and actor Krzysztof Zanussi, representative of French cinema Clod Brusser, the director of the Kiev International film festival «Molodist», director of Ukrainian Cinema Foundation and critic Andriy Khalpakhchi, Italian director Mikele Plachido, Russian actors Daria Moroz and Aleksei  Guskov.

The highest prize of the Festival was awarded to the film of Sergei Loznitsa «You, my joy» and as it was commented by Andriy Khalpakhchi: «The jury even had no doubts about the main candidate for the highest nomination - Grand Prix. So the decision to award Sergei Liznitsa was unanimous». The winner of the Grand Prix was awarded not only by the statuette - symbol of the festival, but also by the sum of money - 30 000 euros.

Andriy Khalpakhchi, the director of Ukrainian Cinema Foundation, shared with his impressions and pointed out that emotions from the first festival VOICES are very positive. The program was prepared on the highest level; the festival had quite good organization and warm atmosphere. According to Andriy Khalpakhchi, the festival has a big and successful future. As for the film-winner itself, critic has his own opinion: «You, my joy» - is a film-diagnosis. To my mind it seems indicative the analogy with the doctor's principle whether to say to the patient about the deadly diagnosis or not. If the doctor chooses the variant «Not to say», that looks more humane, the patient's strength is falling little by little and he does not understand the reason of the weakness. Or doctor should announce the diagnosis, as the medicine is improving day by day and produce newest methods of treatment and thus a new hope. So the patient is collecting his strength to combat with the disease. This is increases the chances to recover. Therefore the author's position Sergei's Loznitsa film is not a verdict, it's just a diagnosis of nowadays situation, but this situation is possible to improve on. And for Ukraine this film can be a warning that draws attention to the choice: which way to go».

According to the words of the film-director of «You, my joy» Sergei Loznitsa, this award means a lot for him and he is very happy that his film is really interesting both for the native as well as for the world cinematography.

The film «You, my joy» debuted in the competition program of the world famous Cannes Film Festival in May 2010. It first award was the one from the critics of the festival «Kinotavr».