Awards

In MERCENAIRE, Sacha Wolff has made a really powerful and original first feature. The story is simple and direct, and all the stronger for that. A boy is enticed to leave his home and culture in New Caledonia to go and play rugby in France. There he becomes a man, but at a price. Stand out elements in MERCENAIRE are the great script, excellent camerawork and the great performances by the non-professional cast. A very worthy winner of the Europa Cinemas Label at this year's Cannes.

"The winner of HP Bridging The Border Award is the story of a tattooed, colossal 19 year-old recruited from his island shack in Wallis, New Caledonia , to the brutal world of a rugby team in France. Wolff, paints the contrasting societies with authenticity and elicits from his non-professional actor, Toki Pilioki a performance of quiet dignity that scorches your memory. The winning film is Mercenary by Sasha Wolff."