Italians recognized as the best: The “Wonderful Losers: A Different World” by Arūnas Matelis was triumphant at the Trieste Film Festival

At the International Trieste Film Festival, the film “Wonderful Losers: A Different World” by Lithuanian director Arūnas Matelis was recognized as the best documentary film. This is already the 4th international award for this film, which tells about the behind-the-scenes of the prestigious race Giro d’Italia and the ‘gregarios’ – professional cyclists who are sacrificing their own result for the success of the team leader.

The award during the festival closing ceremony at the Il Rossetti Theatre in Trieste was accepted by the Italian co-producer of the film “Wonderful Losers: A Different World”, Stefano Tealdi. Arūnas Matelis addressed the viewers with a video greeting: “To get into the same program with IDFA and Locarno winners and win? My losers are crazy lucky. Not just because they are Wonderful and from A Different World. They know the price of victory. They can live without it and feel happy for other’s victories. They respect all in the path of their career and are above the desire for glory. The award in Trieste is especially important because the audience selects the winner. Sincere thanks to you! And also thanks to all who walked an extra mile and helped the Wonderful Losers win the hearts of the audience.”

The award at the Trieste Film Festival is already the 4th for the film. “Wonderful Losers: A Different World” was recognized as the best documentary feature film in the competition program of the Warsaw International Film Festival. As the winner of an A-list festival, director A. Matelis, with his film, have automatically entered the selection process for the European Film Awards. The film also won Grand-Prix for Best Documentary and the Audience Award at the International Film Festival Listapad in Minsk. The film has been recognized also by the Lithuanian Filmmakers Union and voted as the best film of 2017. 

Film in Lithuanian cinemas – from 9 February.