Saint-Jean-de-Luz crowns Tel Aviv on Fire and Sir
- The movies by Israeli-Palestinian director Sameh Zoabi and India’s Rohena Gera have split the Grand Prix at this festival centred on films by young auteurs
With its mission to shine the spotlight on feature debuts and sophomore films, the Saint-Jean-de-Luz International Film Festival has crowned two main winners at the end of its fifth edition, which unspooled from 1-6 October. The jury chaired by actress Corinne Masiero (and made up solely of women) handed the 2018 Grand Prix ex aequo to the excellent political comedy Tel Aviv on Fire [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sameh Zoabi
film profile] by Israeli-Palestinian director Sameh Zoabi (a second feature that was singled out with the Best Actor Award in the Orizzonti section of Venice) and Sir [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by India’s Rohena Gera, a feature debut about an impossible love between people of different castes, which previously won an award in the Cannes Critics’ Week. Interestingly, Sir (which Diaphana will distribute in France from 26 December onwards) also took home the Audience Award, while Tel Aviv on Fire also won over the youth jury.
The jury was particularly impressed by French actresses Diane Rouxel and Jeanne Cohendy and their performances in Head Above Water [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Margaux Bonhomme (set to be released in France on 5 December, courtesy of Nour Films), while the Canadian flick Family First by Sophie Dupuis scooped two trophies (Best Director and Best Actor).
Here is the full list of winners:
Feature competition
Grand Prix (tied)
Tel Aviv on Fire [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Sameh Zoabi
film profile] - Sameh Zoabi (Luxembourg/Belgium/Israel/France)
Sir [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Rohena Gera (India/France)
Best Director Award
Family First - Sophie Dupuis (Canada)
Best Actress Award
Diane Rouxel, Jeanne Cohendy - Head Above Water [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (France)
Best Actor Award
Jean-Simon Leduc, Théodore Pellerin – Family First
Audience Award
Sir - Rohena Gera
Youth Jury Award
Tel Aviv on Fire - Sameh Zoabi
Short-film competition
Jury Prize (split)
Make It Soul - Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo (France)
Malik - Nathan Carli (France)
Youth Jury Award
Make It Soul - Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo
Audience Award
L’enfant chameau - Chabname Zariâb (France)
(Translated from French)
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