Bravo, bravissimo! Torino Film Festival has announced the winner of its Best Film award, which went to Morgan Knibbe’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights.” The film was also awarded €20,000. It tells the story of teenage Guido, who lives in the slums of Manila and dreams of becoming a gangster one day.
The jury, consisting of Ippolita di Majo, Lolita Chammah, Wannes Destoop, Sergei Loznitsa and Giona Nazzaro, also recognized “Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song,” awarding it the Special Jury Award (along with €7,000). It’s directed by Ester Ivakič.
Marianne Métivier’s “Ailleurs La Nuit” was awarded for Best Screenplay, while Sadie Scott and Maria Wróbel triumphed in the acting categories, for “Fucktoys” and “Her Will Be Done,” respectively.
Brittany Shyne’s “Seeds” won Best Documentary for its ability to “convey through powerful images the daily life of a community forced to endure the hypocrisy of the words of the law,” argued the jury. They also awarded “Coexistence, My Ass!” and Pippo Delbono’s “Bobò.”
In other news, following the popular Paul Newman retrospective – with one festivalgoer, Marcello, managing to see every single film – the fest also announced next year’s star: Marilyn Monroe.
“She was not just an actress, but a legend, a shining icon of the collective imagination. The image chosen for the 44th Torino Film Festival was taken during her final photo shoot, just days before her death. It captures both beauty and fragility, and conveys a sense of nostalgia for the future, as if she knew she was destined to live in eternity rather than in the present,” said artistic director Giulio Base.
The retrospective will coincide with the 100th anniversary of her birth.
Speaking of stars: while Vincent Lindon picked up the fest’s biggest honor, the Stella della Mola Award, during the closing night, this year also saw the likes of Juliette Binoche, Spike Lee, Antonio Banderas, Jacqueline Bisset and Vanessa Redgrave all rubbing shoulders at the Italian event.
Although frail, the 88-year-old Redgrave presented her son’s film “The Estate,” in which she acts alongside husband Franco Nero – although she was quick to correct a moderator during a presser.
“You shouldn’t say ‘your son.’ It’s the film’s director, Carlo Nero,” she deadpanned. Base called Redgrave “one of the best actresses in the world,” also praising her outspokenness and activism.
“I’m so happy these international stars were so generous with us. They know about the festival now, and they tell their Western colleagues about it,” said Tiziana Rocca, who is responsible for Global Talent and International Relations.
“They kept saying they got to relax and really appreciated those who welcomed them to our cinemas. The audience was so warm and so numerous. They were also very enthusiastic about the city itself. It makes me happy to see so many of them arrive here for the first time and experience this marvelous place.”
“American Pie” veteran Jason Biggs showed off his directorial debut “Untitled Home Invasion Romance” – and his brand-new Italian passport. Terry Gilliam was also present, causing quite a commotion during a surprise screening of the rapturously received “Marty Supreme,” with stunned viewers forming a long, long line to sneak a selfie with him.
“When I was 23 years old and [working] at a film festival, Terry Gilliam allowed me to show ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ for the first time in Italy. Thank you, Terry,” said I Wonder Pictures’ Andrea Romeo before “Marty Supreme.”
“The slogan of this film is ‘dream big’ and this festival dreams big, too.”
Marilyn Monroe
Courtesy of Torino Film Festival
Features Competition
Best Film
“The Garden of Earthly Delights”
Dir: Morgan Knibbe
Special Jury Award
“Ida Who Sang So Badly Even the Dead Rose Up and Joined Her in Song”
Dir: Ester Ivakič
Best Screenplay
“Ailleurs La Nuit”
Dir: Marianne Métivier
Best Acting
Sadie Scott (“Fucktoys”) and Maria Wróbel (“Her Will Be Done”)
Documentaries Competition
Best Documentary
“Seeds”
Dir: Brittany Shyne
Special Jury Award
“Coexistence, My Ass!”
Dir: Amber Fares
Special Mention
“Bobò”
Dir: Pippo Delbono
Short Films Competition
Best Film
“What Have You Done, Zarina?”
Dir: Camila Sagyntkan
Special Jury Award
“175”
Dir: Sepehr Nosrati
Special Mention
“Fin”
Dir: Ward Kayyal
Fipresci Award
“The Anatomy of the Horses”
Dir: Daniel Vidal Toche
RAI Cinema Channel Award
“175”
Achille Valdata Award
“Fucktoys”
Dir: Annapurna Sriram
Occhiali di Gandhi Award
“Coexistence, My Ass!” and Abdulrahman Sabbah’s “The Clown of Gaza”
Special Mention
“Bobò”
Interfedi Award
“Bobò”
Comments are closed.