'Monument to Michael Jackson' awarded in Monte Carlo

BELGRADE - "Monument to Michael Jackson", a movie by Serbian director and screenwriter Darko Lungulov, has been granted a special recognition, the best screenplay award, at 12th Monte Carlo Comedy Film Festival.

The lifetime achievement award went to festival's guest of honor, American director of Serbian descent Peter Bogdanovich, whose comedy "She's Funny That Way" opened the festival.

At the gala ceremony, the lifetime achievement awards were granted to the legends of the European and world cinema, actors Ursula Andress, Giancarlo Giannini and Franco Nero, among others.

"I am glad I got this award at the festival fostering the comedy as a way to deal with serious topics from a different angle," Lungulov said.

"The fact that I have met Peter Bogdanovich and 'shared the stage' with him when we exchanged congratulations is an even bigger award for me. His movie 'The Last Picture Show' made a huge impression on me when I was 12 years old, and it is one of the reasons why I am in the movie industry," Darko Lungulov added.

Lungulov was born in Belgrade, and completed his film studies at the City College of New York. His movie "Escape" won the award at the Hamptons International Film Festival in 2004, and it was screened at festivals such as the Amsterdam International Film Festival 2004, FEST 2005, Leipzig Documentary Film Festival 2005, Santiago de Chile 2006.

He was also granted the Balkan Fund award at the 47th Thessaloniki International Film Festival for the screenplay "Here and There".

The jury in Monte Carlo comprised Italian director Giovanni Veronesi (head of the jury), film critic Lee Scott Marshall (Screen International) and French director Claude Zidi.

Photo Tanjug, T. Valic ...