17/01/2017 - The unstoppable German film, Isabelle Huppert and Gael García Bernal were the big winners at the US festival

Toni Erdmann [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Maren Ade
film profile] by Maren Ade continues notching up success after success. After taking home the main prizes from the European Film Awards (read more), the German comedy has now pocketed the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Foreign-language Film of the Year at the 27th Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF), which drew to a close yesterday, 16 January. Unspooling over two weeks, the annual event organised by the Film Society aims to gather the best of international film under one roof, and has already established itself as the first stop on the road to the Oscars.

The FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actress went to Isabelle Huppert for her performance in Elle [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Paul Verhoeven. The French actress, who was also crowned at the Gotham Independent Film Awards last December (read more) and at the recent Golden Globes (read more), is still one of the most hotly tipped names for the Academy Awards this year. 

The FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actor was bestowed upon Mexico’s Gael García Bernal for his role in Neruda [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Pablo Larrain, a co-production between Argentina, Chile, Spain, France and the United States, which also scooped the Cine Latino Award.

In the New Voices/New Visions category dedicated to up-and-coming directors, three further European productions or co-productions came out on top. The first, White Sun [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Deepak Runiyar, a dark satire resulting from the joint efforts between Nepal, the United States, Qatar and the Netherlands, emerged victorious, while Kati Kati [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Mbithi Masya, a co-production between Kenya and Germany, and Latvian title Mellow Mud [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Elina Vaska
interview: Renars Vimba
film profile] by Renārs Vimba both received Special Mentions. The final European title to win a trophy was the French production Mercenary [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sacha Wolff
film profile] by Sacha Wolff, which snagged the Bridging the Borders Award, intended to reward movies that promote integration and tolerance.

Here is the list of all the foreign winners at the festival:

FIPRESCI Prize for Best Foreign-language Film of the Year 
Toni Erdmann [+see also:
film review
trailer
Q&A: Maren Ade
film profile] – Maren Ade (Germany)

FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actor in a Foreign-language Film
Gael García Bernal – Neruda [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Chile/Argentina/France/Spain/USA)

FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actress in a Foreign-language Film 
Isabelle Huppert – Elle [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (France)

New Voices/New Visions Award 
White Sun [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Deepak Runiyar (Nepal/USA/Qatar/Netherlands)
Special Mentions:
Kati Kati [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – Mbithi Masya (Kenya/Germany)
Mellow Mud [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Elina Vaska
interview: Renars Vimba
film profile] – Renārs Vimba (Latvia)

Cine Latino Award
Neruda [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Pablo Larraín
Special Mention
Everything Else - Natalia Alamda (Mexico)

HP Bridging the Borders Award
Mercenary [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sacha Wolff
film profile] – Sacha Wolff (France)

(Translated from Spanish)