As a film enthusiast with over two decades of cinematic adventures under my belt, I must say that this year’s Sitges Film Festival lineup is nothing short of extraordinary!
At the 57th edition of Spain’s well-known Sitges Fantasy Film Festival, which concluded on October 13, John Lithgow, Geoffrey Rush, and Kristine Froseth received top acting honors for their performances.
In the Oscar race for Best International Feature Film, “The Devil’s Bath,” an entry from Austria directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, took home three awards. Based on true events, this Austrian-German production is hailed by critic Jessica Kiang of EbMaster as a movie that is “so unrelentingly grim you might want to look away, but its cinematic prowess is such that you can’t.” This historical horror drama competed for the Berlinale Golden Bear in February. The story revolves around Agnes, a young woman from a Christian community who, instead of committing suicide, which was frowned upon, decides to commit a crime resulting in her execution. A practice known as “suicide by proxy,” common in 17th and 18th century Central Europe and German-speaking regions, is the basis for this tragic tale.
Simultaneously, Soi Cheang from Hong Kong won the Best Director accolade for “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In,” a martial arts crime drama adapted from the novel “City of Darkness.” The film was screened at Cannes’ Midnight Showcase, where it garnered high praise from critics.
In “The Rule of Jenny Penn,” Lithgow and Rush received equal recognition as Best Actors, each playing characters residing in a nursing home who developed a progressively contentious competition between them.
Kristine Froseth was recognized with the Best Actress accolade for her outstanding portrayal in the suspenseful time travel film, “Desert Road,” which marked Shannon Triplett’s first directorial venture. In this production, Froseth embodies Claire Devoir, a 20-something photographer whose journey across the desert becomes increasingly unsettling and confusing.
The 57th Sitges Fantasy Film Festival ran Oct. 3 -13.
57th Edition Award Winners:
Official Competition
Feature Film
“The Devil’s Bath,” Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala
Special Jury Award
“Exhuma,” Jang Jae-hyun
Direction
Soi Cheang, “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”
Actress
Kristine Froseth, “Desert Road”
Actor (ex-aequo)
John Lithgow, “The Rule of Jenny Penn”
Geoffrey Rush. “The Rule of Jenny Penn”
Screenplay
Aaron Schimberg, “A Different Man”
Special, Visual or Makeup Effects
Equips de Digital District, Machina Infinitum, “Else”
Music
“Die Hexen,” Fréwaka
Cinematography
Giovanni Ribisi, “Strange Darling”
New Visions
Film
“A Desert,” Joshua Erkman
Direction
Grazia Tricarico, “Body Odyssey”
Short Film
“Say Wuff!,” Fabian Podeszwa
Méliès d’Argent
Fantastic Genre Feature Film
“Animale,” Emma Benestan
European Fantasy Genre Short Film
“Meat Puppet,” Eros V
Animat’t
“Memoir of a Snail,” Adam Elliot
Animated Short Film
“Free the Chickens,” Matúš Vizár
Òrbita
Feature Film
“Zero,” Jean Luc Herbulot
Blood Window
Feature Film
“Mi bestia,” Camila Beltrán
Critic’s Jury
Film
“The Devil’s Bath,” Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala
Citizen Kane Award for Best New Director
“Thibault Emin,” Else
Short Film
“Chew,” Félix Dobaire
Brigadoon Awards
Brigadoon Paul Naschy Award for the Best Short Film
“Céntrico,” Luso Martinez
SGAE Nova Autoria
Direction-Production (ex-aequo)
“Blava Terra,” Marine Auclair
“Daru/n,” Benjamin Hindrichs
Screenplay
Benjamin Hindrichs, “Daru/n”
Original Music
Yuliya Protasova, “De-sastre”
Carnet Jove Jury
Feature Film
“The Devil’s Bath,” Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala
Sitges Documentary Film
“Grand Theft Hamlet,” Pinny Grylls & Sam Crane
People’s Choice Award
Feature Film
“Strange Darling,” JT Mollner
Panorama Fantàstic People’s Choice Award
“Handsome Guys,” Dong-Hyub Nam
Sitges Collection People’s Choice Award
“Dead Talents Society,” John Hanchiang Hsu
Focus Asia People’s Choice Award
“Dead Talents Society,” John Hanchiang Hsu
Midnight X-treme People’s Choice Award
“Die Alone,” Lowell Dean
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2024-10-13 18:48