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ANGOULÊME 2020

Ibrahim wins big at Angoulême

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- Samir Guesmi’s first feature film scoops four prizes, including the Valois for Best Film, while The Big Hit, likewise awarded the Cannes Official Selection Label, also triumphs

Ibrahim wins big at Angoulême
Ibrahim by Samir Guesmi

Two films distinguished with the 2020 Cannes Film Festival Official Selection Label have dominated the list of winners at the 13th Angoulême Francophone Film Festival. Presided over by the duo composed of Gustave Kervern and Benoît Delépine, the jury showed itself especially favourable towards Ibrahim [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, the first feature film directed by actor Samir Guesmi, which walked away with four trophies including the Diamond Valois for Best Film. The awards for Best Direction, Best Screenplay (written by the director) and Best Music (Raphaël Eligoulachvili) also fell into its hands.

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Produced by Why Not and sold worldwide by Wild Bunch, Ibrahim stars Abdel Benhader, Samir Guesmi himself, Rabah Nait Oufella, Luàna Bajrami and Philippe Rebbot. The story centres around young Ibrahim whose life is split between his father Ahmed, a conscientious and reserved oyster seller in the brasserie of the French Royal Opéra, and his friend Achille from technical college, who’s older than he is and specialises in dodgy schemes. And it’s as a direct result of one such plan that Ahmed’s dream of recovering his dignity and working on the restaurant floor is shattered when he’s forced to foot the bill for a theft-gone-wrong committed by his son. Relations become strained, but Ibrahim is determined to make amends, whatever the risks, so as to see his father’s smile once again and to finally find out who he himself is... Le Pacte will steer the film’s release in France on 9 December.

Likewise awarded the 2020 Cannes Official Selection Label, Emmanuel Courcol’s The Big Hit [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
bagged itself the Audience Award, while the jury crowned its two protagonists Sofian Khammes and Pierre Lottin joint winners of the acting accolade. Produced by Agat Films & Ex Nihilo and sold worldwide by mk2 Films, the feature film will be launched in French cinemas on 6 January 2021 courtesy of Memento Films Distribution.

Last but not least, the Best Actress trophy was awarded to Isabelle Kabano for her performance in Éric Barbier’s Small Country: An African Childhood [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
(in cinemas since last Friday, distributed by Pathé).

The winners’ list is as follows:

Diamond Valois
Ibrahim [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
- Samir Guesmi (France)

Valois for Best Direction
Samir Guesmi – Ibrahim

Valois for Best Screenplay
Samir Guesmi – Ibrahim

Valois for Best Actor (tie)
Sofian Khammes – The Big Hit [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
(France)
Pierre Lottin – The Big Hit

Valois for Best Actress
Isabelle Kabano – Small Country: An African Childhood [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
(France/Belgium)

Valois for Best Music
Raphaël Eligoulachvili – Ibrahim

Valois Audience Award
Un triomphe - Emmanuel Courcol

Valois Magelis French-Speaking Students Award
Slalom [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Charlène Favier
film profile
]
- Charlène Favier (France/Belgium)

Valois René-Laloux for Best Animated Short Film (tie)
Machini - Tétshim and Frank Mukunday (Congo-Brazzaville/Belgium)
The Great Malaise - Catherine Lepage (Canada)

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(Translated from French)

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