Beautiful cinematography can often help recreate an historical period. But when has anyone, in six witty, obsessive minutes no less, managed to raise from the dead, frame by frame, the long-gone era of the silent Soviet propaganda film crossed with Fritz Lang's Metropolis?

A beautifully orchestrated, impeccably timed, escalating series of twists, revelations and surprises in a hilarious landscape where only a weed-whacker can afford protection.

We chose a film that handled its subject with an exquisite delicacy. The film is filled with beautiful and expressive imagery which brings its themes of loss and the passage of time to life in a way we found deeply moving.

Like some of the fundamental stories of Greek tragedy, this is a story of adultery. It also has a lot of humor. This film throws a lot of curves in the life of a family. We admire it greatly, especially the performance by the lead actress.

It is funny and sensuous. It combines music, dance, and animation in a very innovative way. There are a lot of movies about dance but none we've seen before where the filmmaking itself becomes a choreographic element, propelling the subject into completely new territory.

For a film of distinction which achieved its goal with extreme brevity. This film takes on the cat, its relationship to us, and to cinema - all in 60 seconds.

We chose to give the award to a film that has raw energy, is emotional, has passion and breaks rules wherever it can.

This film is not heavy, it's understated, but the meditative mood is clear - people dealing with a fundamental part of life.

This film does many things. It's a great characterization, it's a spoof of reality filmmaking, and of the endless talk about what art is - or what plastic surgery is.

This energetic film is full of surprises including a story that starts out in one direction and takes many turns before reaching its happy resolution.

We feel we know the filmmaker even though we never see her in this quirky, endearing vignette.

The film takes a common occurrence and elevates it to sublime, enduring sweetness. It's lovely.

This film has attitude; it is irreverent. It was an action-packed, bizarre ride with unrelenting, weird little eye ball-driven characters.

This beautiful and emotional film brings us a world where every peso counts, survival means struggle, a bunch of balloons represents hope, and betrayal can break a heart.

This eloquent and visually stunning film shares some of the questions and issues that are at the very heart of life.

Tied with Quiero ser (I want to be...) (2000).

Tied with 80 grader aust for Birdland (2000).