
Jan Ijäs’s short documentary film Waste no. 1 Money was awarded with the first prize in the international competition for short documentary films at the 46th Huesca International Film Festival, held from 8.–16.6.2018.
The jury states that the director Jan Ijäs takes the audience to the new levels with his short film that depicts actualities in both entertaining and serious tone. The award is EUR 5000 and a trophy.
Waste no. 1 Money documents the situation where the inflation has resulted in the Zimbabwe dollar completely losing its value. Banknotes are literally recyclable goods, turned into tablecloths and lampshades, for example. In the Harare slums, which are rife with crime, valuable US dollar banknotes must be concealed in clothing, which means that the notes quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria. According to money launderers, dollar bills can best be gently hand washed with Omo detergent in warm water.
Media artist and filmmaker Jan Ijäs lives and works in Helsinki, Finland. Ijäs works with documentary, fiction and alternative film. The films of Ijäs deal with serious and difficult social themes, like migration into foreign and hostile societies. Ijäs’s films have been shown very widely abroad by over a hundred film festivals and as installations in museums and galleries.
Waste is a series of documentary films designed to contain seven parts. All five parts released thus far have been awarded:
Waste no. 2 Wreck (2016) won the award for the most innovative documentary film language at Szczecin European Film Festival in 2016.
Waste no. 3 Boom (2017) was awarded as the best documentary film at a Finnish short film festival Kettupäivät in 2017.
Waste no. 4 Two Islands (2013) won the jury prize in the Charlottenborg Kunsthalle’s Spring Exhibition 2012.
Waste no. 5 The Raft of the Medusa (2017) won the Amnesty International Award at IndieLisboa in 2018.
The 46th Huesca International Film Festival, 8.–16.6.2018, Spain
More information: Cine de Huesca