12/02/2020 - The fourth edition of the gathering dedicated to indie and alternative film wrapped up on 9 February, handing its top prize to the movie directed by Lachezar Avramov

The lead actor and the director of A Picture with Yuki, Ruscen Vidinliev and Lachezar Avramov, at Ibizacinefest 2020

The fourth Ibiza International Festival of Independent Film – Ibizacinefest proved it was in rude health when it unspooled from 31 January-9 February, with a huge audience turnout for its activities and screenings, all of which were completely free of charge. To celebrate this success, the team headed up by Xavi Herrero handed out an array of awards over the course of last weekend. On Sunday, this culminated in lead actor Ruscen Vidinliev and director Lachezar Avramov receiving hearty applause from the audience as they picked up the Award for Best Fiction Feature for their work on the Bulgarian-Japanese production A Picture with Yuki [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lachezar Avramov
film profile], a drama portraying an interracial married couple who see themselves spiralling into a dreadful, distressing and very Kafkaesque situation.

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The Special Jury Prize was conferred upon San Sebastián-born filmmaker Koldo Almandoz for his second feature, The Deer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Koldo Almandoz
film profile], which also picked up the Blogos de Oro-Critics’ Award, while the audience plumped for Ángela, a Colombian production by Agamenón Quintero. In the documentary category, the winner was 4 Years in 10 Minutes [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Serbia) by Mladen Kovacevic, a feature ostensibly revolving around sports but set against an existential backdrop. The Fourth Kingdom [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Spaniards Adán Aliaga and Alex Lora split the Jury Special Mention with the Chinese production Feelings to Tell, helmed by Wen Li.

In the innovative FEM-Cine section, which fosters gender equality and condemns the abuse of females by men, the 20-minute short film Fragmentos, a Spanish production directed by Mayte Carrasco, went home with the trophy. The movie shows how women who have been victims of sexual violence in Colombia have managed to forgive the perpetrators by channelling their anger into creating a work of art using the material that resulted from the melting down of the weapons handed in after the armed conflict that tormented the country for decades. A Special Mention of the Jury was picked up by the short film 16 de decembro by Galician director Álvaro Gago and by Watermelon Juice by Catalan helmer Irene Moray, which recently pocketed a Goya Award.

Cineuropa was invited to take part in the industry day focusing on the circulation, promotion and distribution of independent, alternative and arthouse film, which took place on Saturday 8 February. Here, debates were also held on the complexities and difficulties inherent in successfully making this type of cinema, with a particular emphasis placed on films created on the Balearic Islands.

Here is the full list of award winners:

Bets Fiction Feature
A Picture with Yuki [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lachezar Avramov
film profile] – Lachezar Avramov (Bulgaria/Japan)
Special Jury Prize
The Deer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Koldo Almandoz
film profile] – Koldo Almandoz (Spain)

Audience Award
Ángela - Agamenón Quintero (Colombia)

Blogos de Oro-Critics’ Award
The Deer – Koldo Almandoz

Best Documentary
4 Years in 10 Minutes [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Mladen Kovacevic (Serbia)
Special Mention of the Jury
The Fourth Kingdom [+see also:
trailer
film profile] - Adán Aliaga and Alex Lora (Spain)
Feelings to Tell - Wen Li (China)

FEM-Cine Award
Fragmentos – Maite Carrasco (Spain)
Special Mentions of the Jury
16 de decembro – Álvaro Gago (Spain)
Watermelon Juice - Irene Moray (Spain)

Best Animated Short
Lursaguak - Izibene Oñederra (Spain)

Best Experimental Short
The Animal that Therefore I Am – Bea de Visser (Netherlands)

Best Documentary Short
The Mortician of Manyla – Leah Borromeo (Philippines)

Best National Short Fiction Film
Vaca – Marta Bayarri

Best International Short Fiction Film
Amalgama – Alejandra Wills (Colombia)

(Translated from Spanish)