Manuel here. It’s that time of year when it’s hard to keep track of festivals, juries, awards and red carpets. Thankfully, here at TFE we keep you covered on all of the above. While we wait for more reviews out of TIFF, Alfonso Cuarón’s Venice Film Festival jury (which as José singled out had striking fashionistas in its midst) handed out their awards.
From Afar first-time director, Lorenzo Vigas
The big news, if you’re an American Oscar pundit, is that Tom Hooper’s The Danish Girl was shunned (gasp!) but if you’re an avid festival goer interested in finding plenty of foreign titles to add to your must-see list of films, the big news was that it was a great day for Latin American cinema with the Golden and Silver Lion going to films from my very own part of the world.
Oh, and Charlie Kaufman’s collaboration with Duke Johnson (the bonkers sounding Anomalisa) won the Grand Jury Prize. Check out the full list below. (Links take you to the Biennale's film descriptions)
Golden Lion: From Afar, Lorenzo Vigas
Silver Lion, Best Director: Pablo Trapero, The Clan
Grand Jury Prize: Anomalisa, dirs: Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson
Anomalisa is a stop-motion picture that was partially funded through Kickstarter
Volpi Cup, Best Actor: Fabrice Luchini, L’Hermine
Volpi Cup, Best Actress: Valeria Golino, Per Amor Vostro
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress: Abraham Attah, Beasts Of No Nation
Netflix's film is off to a fine start with this festival bow
Best Screenplay: Christian Vincent, L’Hermine
Special Jury Prize: Frenzy, dir: Emin Alper
Vigas's debut (!) film is the first Latin American film to be awarded The Golden Lion. That it is also an LGBT May-December story just makes it all the more exciting. Overall, Cuarón and his jury (which also included Pawel Pawlikowski, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Diane Kruger, Lynne Ramsay, Francesco Munzi, Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Elizabeth Banks) look like they made bold choices. Any of them spark your curiosity?