Film Title (English and/or Native): The Cube (Küp)
Nominating Nation: Serriel
Nomination Category/Categories: Best Film, Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actor
Language: Serrin (Turkish), English subtitles and dubbing available
Run Time: 2hr 17 min
Director: Kerem Yörük
Film Rating: 13
Producing Studio/Company: Halat Studios
Primary Cast: Cem Eltayeb (Mahdi), Aylin Gürer (Sedef), Asim Çelikyay (Sinan)
Brief Summary (No more than 2-3 medium paragraphs please):
In 1985, pearl divers operating off of Serriel’s remote southern coast find a massive, jet-black cube made of a strange material, secreted in a murky undersea cave deep underwater. Most shocking of all, inscribed on the cube’s smooth outer surface is an inscription with a date just nine days in the future.
Four renowned scientists are brought to the site of the cave by the military in complete secrecy, where an undersea habitat has been rapidly constructed. Hard-nosed physicist Mahdi, a professed atheist, commands the team and quickly clashes with the devout Sinan, a computer engineer, and Gürhan, a materials scientist and Army captain. Sedef, an oceanologist and the sole woman on the scientific team, quickly becomes ill, which is attributed to decompression sickness (“the bends”). All scans and attempts to break into the cube find its swirling, jet-black surface impenetrable. As the team, in diving suits, attempts to use a cutting laser to probe the cube, an undersea earthquake hurls Sedef at the cube’s surface; as she collides with it, the team members to all lose consciousness, experiencing nightmarish visions of an earth scoured of human life by choking black clouds. Upon returning to the vessel, the team finds that the earthquake has severed contact with the expedition’s ships on the surface, leaving them stranded. Sedef is visibly unharmed by touching the cube, but claims to have seen the object’s true nature during her brush with unconsciousness: the date on its surface, now just five days away, is the date of Judgment Day—
yawm ad-din, the apocalypse foretold in Islamic belief. The cube, she claims, is the key to avert this world-ending fate.
As the other scientists react with shock and disbelief, Sedef’s body begins to change as she becomes visibly pregnant, her pregnancy advancing in minutes. Mahdi sends Gürhan to repair the tether to the surface ships for guidance, but he is attacked and torn apart by a monstrous octopus-like creature. Sedef begins to violently give birth, leading Mahdi and Sinan to lock her inside the habitat’s equipment bay. She gives birth to a young boy with preternatural intelligence, who seemingly knows everything about Mahdi and Sinan. Convinced, Sinan accepts that the boy is a messiah sent to save believers from yawm ad-din and releases Sedef and the boy from the sealed room, flying into a murderous rage when Mahdi seeks to stop him. Mahdi barely escapes, fleeing to the bowels of the habitat. Sedef and Sinan, at the boy’s direction, instead prepare to offer a duplication of an Islamic daily prayer—offered to the cube, in place of the Kaaba. Mahdi, convinced that this prayer will unleash a terrible evil upon the world, decides to ignite the habitat’s external oxygen supply in order to engineer an explosion to collapse the cave, killing all inside and burying the cube. He is confronted by Sinan, whom he fatally stabs. Mahdi refuses Sinan’s dying pleas not to disrupt the ritual and ignites the oxygen, destroying the cave and everyone inside. Floating miraculously to the surface in a bubble of air, Mahdi surfaces safely to a calm, clear day as a rescue ship is seen approaching in the distance.
What makes this film special? Why was it nominated for this/these category/categories? (No more than 1-2 sentences per category nominated):
The Cube is nominated for
Best Film for its exploration of themes of faith and belief, captivating visuals, and atmosphere of intense tension created by a terse script and claustrophobic cinematography. Critics were divided on whether the film advances or critiques religious faith—does Mahdi, who shares a name with the divine savior of humanity foretold in Islamic belief, fulfill Islamic beliefs of the end times through his actions? Or are these the exact beliefs subverted by the film’s criticism of blind faith and depiction of a “false prophet”?
Cem Eltayeb is nominated for
Best Lead Actor/Actress for his portrayal of Mahdi, a cynical atheist forced to grapple with his own beliefs amidst a supernatural horror. Eltayeb, whose distinguished career in Serrielan film spans over three decades, was known largely for comic roles in the 90s but has turned his talents to dramatic roles in later life; younger audiences know him best as Chief Inspector Aytek in a popular neo-noir crime drama, Mountain Rains.
Aylin Gürer is nominated for
Best Supporting Actor/Actress for her portrayal of Sedef, who evolves from a soft-spoken peacemaker during the early part of the film into a “delightfully chilling” thrall to the cube’s influence. Gürer was praised for bringing a powerful, disconcerting sense of the uncanny valley to her performance through her physical mannerisms in the film's later acts.
Best Foreign Film entry on behalf of Great Thandoria:
Film Title: The Great Restoration
Nominating Nation: Great Thandoria
Nomination Categories: Best Foreign Film
Language: Thandorian (with English subtitles)
Run Time: 162 minutes
Director: Elias Vorholt
Content Classification: Mature Audiences 16+ – Strong war violence, intense battle sequences, and thematic elements
Production Studio: Ironclad Pictures
Primary Cast:
Matthias Faulkner as Captain Alric Voss – battle-hardened officer and the older reflective veteran
Lukas Engel as Lieutenant Erik Thorne – Voss’s trusted second in command
Johan Richter as Sergeant Willem Kaas – A veteran soldier
Niko Larsson as Private Joren Ilves – Ilves is the fresh recruit
Frederik Amsel as General Henrik Falk – A military strategist
Hanna Vinter as Anja Voss – Alric’s wife
Kaspar Novak as Major Ewald Hesse – A high-ranking enemy officer who leads the separatist forces
Brief Summary:
The Great Restoration is an unflinching look at war, sacrifice, and nation-building through the eyes of Captain Alric Voss, an older war hero reminiscing on the gruesome battles of the Great Restoration War (1825-1850) that finally united Great Thandoria. This character-driven epic opens with a weathered Voss addressing a group of young cadets in 1850, his voice heavy
"You think you know war? You think you know what it means to fight for something greater than yourself? Let me tell you how this land was built… not by ink and paper, but by blood and fire."
As Voss’s story unfolds, we are transported back to 1839, to the blood-soaked streets of Eldermere, where the future of Great Thandoria would be decided. The film explores the brutality of war as Voss and his battalion of soldiers fight not only for victory but for the survival of their fractured homeland.
The story centers on Captain Alric Voss, a young, determined officer who leads a battalion of men through some of the most vicious battles of the Great Restoration War. The conflict sees Thandoria at war with separatist factions, including rebels in Eldermere, who refuse to bend to the will of Emperor Thandor I. As Voss and his soldiers—Lieutenant Erik Thorne, Sergeant Willem Kaas, and the inexperienced Private Joren Ilves battle through the rubble of Eldermere, they are confronted by the stark realities of war: loss, betrayal, and the destruction of everything they once held dear.
In a brutal sequence, Voss and his men are forced into the city’s ruins, fighting through narrow alleyways and bombed-out buildings as the enemy fights with every ounce of desperation. Amidst the chaos of urban warfare, Voss must contend with not only his enemies but the strain on his soldiers’ morale, as many of them begin to question the cost of victory.
In one particularly heart-wrenching moment, the soldiers take refuge in a ruined cathedral after a bloody skirmish. They share a last meal together, knowing that tomorrow may bring more death. The camera lingers on their faces as they silently contemplate the horrors they’ve witnessed, revealing that war’s true toll is not just on the battlefield, but on the soul.
The situation grows increasingly dire as artillery fire shatters their sanctuary, killing several soldiers, including a young man who had just written a letter home. With the burning ruins of the cathedral as a backdrop, Voss reflects grimly: "There are no saints in war… only the dead."
After years of grinding conflict, the Thandorian forces find themselves on the verge of either victory or collapse. The Battle of Taran’s Gate (1843) serves as the final push before the Thandorian forces can achieve unification.
This sequence is a spectacle of war, a masterclass in large-scale cinematography. The screen erupts with a thunderous cavalry charge, horses and riders splattering mud and blood as they clash with enemy lines. The camera shakes with the intensity of hand-to-hand combat, bayonets clashing, and swords slicing through the chaos. Explosions scatter the battlefield, and Voss, bloodied but resolute, leads his men into the fray, shouting, "For Thandoria!"
In the aftermath, with thousands dead, Voss stands over the final position of the enemy as the last rebellious lords surrender. For the first time in history, Great Thandoria stands united beneath one flag, though the cost has been devastating.
Back in 1850, Voss finishes his tale before the cadets, who have grown quiet. One cadet whispers, barely audible: “Was it worth it?”
Voss, his face etched with the weight of years of conflict, looks at the cadet for a long moment. With a voice heavy with the past memories, he replies:
"I don’t know. But I do know this those who bled for this land deserve to be remembered. Because nations are not born in peace. They are forged in war."
The camera focuses on his trembling hands, reflecting the deep trauma of his experience, before cutting to a wide shot of the now-peaceful battlefield, the graves of the fallen hidden beneath the overgrown grass.
What Makes This Film Special? Why Was It Nominated?
Best Foreign Film – The Great Restoration is a powerful, visceral war film that brings the blood-soaked history of Great Thandoria to life with an emotional depth rarely seen in the genre. It not only tells the story of war but explores the true cost of unification. From sweeping battlefield shots to intense, claustrophobic urban warfare, the cinematography by Willem Drexler captures the grit and devastation of war with unmatched realism and intensity. The film's sound design, from the deafening artillery to the haunting silence of post-battle aftermath, immerses the audience in the war's brutal realism.
Additional Info:
Based on the memoirs of Captain Alric Voss, whose letters and journals were published posthumously, the film’s screenplay incorporates direct excerpts from his writings. The story has been shot on location in historically significant sites to maintain authenticity, with period accurate uniforms, weapons, and battle tactics.
Directed by Elias Vorholt, known for his visceral and emotionally charged war films, The Great Restoration is both an intimate portrayal of individual soldiers and a sweeping epic of historical significance. The film’s score, composed by Rasmus Kolden, blends traditional Thandorian military hymns with a pounding orchestral backdrop that echoes the heavy toll of war.
Final Words:
The Great Restoration is not merely a war film it is a tribute to those who sacrificed everything for the creation of a nation. Through the eyes of one soldier, the film ensures that the brutal, blood-soaked reality of the past is remembered, not as a distant tale, but as the harsh truth that shaped the present.
Movie Cover/Poster linked here:
https://postimg.cc/K1TDsFT3
Best Foreign Film entry on behalf of Iceagea:
Film Title (English and/or Native): A different Perspective/Y Dffrwnt Prspctv
Nominating Nation (If not from the IDU, please also list region): Iceagea, Europe
Nomination Category/Categories: Best Foreign Film
Language: Iceagean and English (dubbed).
Run Time: 1hr 56 mins
Director: Styvn Lwycs
Film Rating: 16
Producing Studio/Company: FirForest Studios
Primary Cast: Rybn Dwywyd, Gyn Sylvp and Jeff Goldblum
Brief Summary (No more than 2-3 medium paragraphs please):
The film begins in the lift of an apartment complex, a man of average height, weight and appearance stands within watching the floor number count up as he ascends through the building. The lift stops at a floor but not his own, another person (Gyn Sylvp) gets in. The man is Dwyn Grtwyn (played by Rybn Dwywyd) and he is autistic. The air is tense in the lift. The other person begins to talk about the weather. The floor number now seems to change at a slower rate, Dwyn starts rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. The music builds and then the doors open. It’s Dwyns floor and he hurriedly gets out. Fade to Black as the doors close on the other man within the lift.
The next time we see Dwyn he is in bed, he’s got a book titled “guide to life”, left by his mother as a way to deal with things without getting overwhelmed, he is overseeing the tax section before shortly falling asleep. Sometime around midnight he hears a rattle at the door, someone is trying to break in. Dwyn considers calling the police but opens his book to make sure thats the right call. It is and he does so. They arrive promptly, although the criminal escapes. Dwyn does not feel safe so opts to stay in the police station for a while. During his stay he meets a detective Chad Jackson (Jeff Goldblum), a warm and sunny if slightly misguided detective whom upon discovering he is autistic asks him for help believing a different perspective would be useful. Dwyn tentatively agrees as he does not want to leave. Over the night he is given permission to consult on the case. Dwyn successfully helps to identify a piece of information that had been missed but Chad takes this as a sign that he is a savant, pushing him for assistance this time with a cold case and get paid for it too. Dwyn returns home, but things get all too real when the criminal returns, this time Dwyn peeks through the keyhole it is the man in the lift from before.
Dwyn suddenly remembers the cold case, it is about a man who was never caught whom locates vulnerable people and murders them believing they won’t be missed. Usually by the time the police find out any evidence is taken by time. Dwyn however has a direct line to his detective friend now and makes a call, before hiding as the criminal breaks in. A game if hide and seek ensues before the police arrive and arrest the murderer. The film closes on Dwyn in the police station with his guide to life adding a page “How to survive an attempted murder” With the words “Have a detective as a friend in bright red bold letters underneath”. The scene then slowly zooms out before fading to black.
What makes this film special? Why was it nominated for this/these category/categories? (No more than 1-2 sentences per category nominated):
It has been nominated as Best Foreign Film because it showcases an autistic mans life without adding Savant abilities or superpowers to his character, placing his struggles at the forefront of the plot and highlighting that sometimes you just need a different perspective to be helpful. It is the first of its kind to come from Iceagea.
Any additional info:
The director is also autistic and claimed in an interview “It was the film he always wanted to make”. It was shot using an older camera to add a sense of nostalgia to the scenes.
