Archive notice: This article was originally published on September 10, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The audience award is presented to the film that receives the most positive votes. According to Sony Pictures, DISTRICT 9 was able to prevail over its 11 competitors by a wide margin. The film produced by Peter Jackson won the competition with an outstanding result in all 7 festival cities. Overall, film festival visitors gave Neill Blomkamp’s sci-fi thriller an average rating of 1.49.
DISTRICT 9: In cinemas from today!
More than 20 years ago, extraterrestrials made contact with Earth for the first time. People then expected either a hostile attack or a gigantic technological advance. But neither occurred. Instead, the creatures were refugees from their home planet. While the nations of the world debated what should happen to them, they were interned in an emergency reception camp - DISTRICT 9.
Now, after years of fruitless negotiations, all nations have reached the end of their patience. Control over the non-human species is transferred to a private company, Multi-National United (MNU). However, the corporation is not interested in the welfare of the unwanted visitors and pursues only one objective: to make a large profit from the aliens’ powerful weapons. But all attempts to activate these weapons have failed so far - because alien DNA is required.
The growing tensions between the extraterrestrials and the humans reach their peak when MNU begins moving all non-human beings from District 9 to a new camp. During this evacuation, MNU agent Wikus van der Merwe (SHARLTO COPLEY) becomes infected with a mysterious virus that changes his DNA. Wikus suddenly becomes the most wanted and, at the same time, most vulnerable man on Earth - because he is the key to unlocking the secret of the alien technology. Outlawed and without friends, there is only one place for him to hide: DISTRICT 9.
None other than Peter Jackson (“The Lord of the Rings”, “King Kong”) is the creative force and producer behind this innovative and fascinating science-fiction action film, which gets under the skin and is already causing a stir among fans. Neill Blomkamp directed and also wrote the screenplay.
Further Links:
- Film website
