21/10/2019 - The film from Portuguese director Pedro Costa wins the Grand Prix while Alexander Nanau’s Collective is awarded the special jury prize. Hellhole and X&Y are also among the winners

The international competition jury of the 10^th La Roche­-sur­-Yon International Film Festival, made up of actress Lolita Chammah and directors Lionel Baier and Nicolas Pariser, has handed the 2019 Grand Prix (which comes with €15,000 for French distribution, courtesy of Ciné+) to Vitalina Varela [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] from Portuguese director Pedro Costa. Winner in Locarno of the Golden Leopard for best film and of the Best Actress award, the film is sold worldwide by its producer, the Portuguese company OPTEC Filmes.

The jury handed out its Special Prize to Collective [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Alexander Nanau (German filmmaker born in Romania), a masterful and captivating documentary, revealed out of competition in Venice, which centres on an investigation into the incredible irregularities of the Romanian healthcare system. Produced by Romanian company Alexander Nanau Production with Luxembourg company Samsa Film and HBO Europe, Collective is sold internationally by Israeli company Cinephil.

The New Waves competition, which included features, medium-length films and shorts, awarded both Hellhole [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bas Devos
film profile] (discovered in the Panorama section of the Berlinale and sold by Les Films du Losange) from Belgian director Bas Devos and X&Y [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Anna Odell
film profile] from Swedish director Anna Odell (sold by Polish company New Europe Film Sales).

It is worth noting that the Audience Award went to the American animated feature film Abominable by Jill Culton (released in France on 23 October via Universal Pictures International).

Here is the complete list of winners:

International Competition

Ciné+ Jury Grand Prix
Vitalina Varela [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Pedro Costa (Portugal)

Special Jury Prize
Collective [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Alexander Nanau (Romania/Luxembourg)

New Waves Competition

New Waves Award Acuitis (ex-aequo)
Hellhole [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Bas Devos
film profile] - Bas Devos (Belgium/Netherlands)
X&Y [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Anna Odell
film profile] - Anna Odell (Sweden/Denmark)

Special Mention New Waves
Cavalcade – Johann Lurf (Austria) (short film)

Other awards

Trajectoires BNP Paribas Award (jury lycéens)
Reconstructing Utøya [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Carl Javér (Sweden/Norway/Denmark)

Audience Award
Abominable – Jill Culton (U.S.)

(Translated from French)