Rodrigo Moreno's The Delinquents wins the Grand Prix at Wrocław’s mBank New Horizons International Film Festival
by Ola Salwa
- The audience awarded Elene Naveriani’s Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry, while Anthony Lapia’s After won the jury’s special mention
Polish cinemas are still struggling to bounce back from the decline in attendance caused by the pandemic. The sold out screenings and crowded corridors of the mBank New Horizons International Film Festival venues were therefore an uplifting sight. The festival was able to attract a young generation to its curated arthouse program, which might also be a good omen for the upcoming months of regular screenings in the theatres.
The festival jury, made up of directors Mark Jenkin (Bait [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mark Jenkin
film profile]), Dane Komljen (Afterwater [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), Jennifer Reeder (Perpetrator [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), Aga Woszczyńska (Silent Land [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Aga Woszczyńska
film profile]) and Berlinale programmer Sergio Fant, decided to award Argentinian filmmaker Rodrigo Moreno’s The Delinquents [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rodrigo Moreno
film profile] with the Grand Prix and the €10,000 prize for, as they put it “a film about a search for freedom in both form and content that takes us on an extraordinary journey, shapeshifting through multiple genres, tracing a playful, surreal, imposing love letter to cinema.” The film is a co-production between Argentina, Brazil, Luxembourg and Chile and had its premiere this year in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. The special mention went to After [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Anthony Lapia
film profile], directed by Antony Lapia (France), which charmed the jury with its “intense and immersive observation of a community and intimate portrayal of characters that leads us to consider contemporary issues that finally resonate even louder than techno music.” Additionally, the audience picked Elene Naverani’s Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Elene Naveriani
film profile] (Georgia, Switzerland) as their favourite film. Damian Kosowski’s The Creature (Poland) triumphed in the Shortlist short film competition.
The 23rd mBank New Horizons International Film Festival was held in Wrocław, Poland, from 20 to 30 July, while its online edition started on 20 July and will conclude on 6 August.
The full list of winners:
Grand Prix
Rodrigo Moreno – The Delinquents [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rodrigo Moreno
film profile] (Argentina/Brazil/Luxembourg/Chile)
Special Mention
Antony Lapia – After [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Anthony Lapia
film profile] (France)
Audience Award
Elene Naverani - Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Elene Naveriani
film profile] (Georgia/Switzerland)
Shortlist Award
Damian Kosowski - The Creature (Poland)
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