South African drama ‘The Wound’ wins the Luna de Valencia for Best Film in the 32nd Edition of Cinema Jove
- John Trengove’s film explores the taboo of homosexuality in the black community of South Africa.
- Polish generational drama Satan Said Dance has received two awards: Best Actress and Best Cinematography.
- Submarine, by Lebanese director Mounia Akl, wins the Luna de Valencia for the Best Short Film.
- The Luna de Valencia for the Best Web Series has been awarded to the French science-fiction comedy Dans un autre monde.
The 32nd Edition of Cinema Jove closes tonight, on July 1st, with an award ceremony gala. South African drama The Wound, by John Trengove, has received the Luna de Valencia for Best Film, with an award of 40,000€. Trengove’s directorial debut explores the topic of homosexuality in the black community of the country. Main actor, musician, novelist and LGTBI activist Nakhane Touréh has received the award for the Best Actor.
The jury, that includes Spanish producer Beatriz Bodegas, Mexican director Enrique Rivero and Bulgarian researcher, journalist and programmer Yoana Pavlova have declared that: “we have accepted our roles as a jury with a great sense of responsibility when choosing a winner among the 10 titles of an Official Section brimming with talent, versatility and potential. The Wound has captivated us due to its emotional but contained story, and its knowledge of style. This simple, double-initiation story avoids easy choices; on the contrary, it narrates complex issues bravely, looking eye to eye to the characters with respect, understanding and hope. We also hope The Wound reaches a larger audience in Spain, by giving this award”
Polish film Satan Said Dance, by director Kasia Roslaniec, has received the Best Actress Prize for Magdalena Berus, and Best Cinematography Award for Virginie Surdej. Indian thriller Sexy Durga has received the Best Direction Award for Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, as well as the Best Film Scoring Award, produced by Basil CJ. Lastly, Brazilian filmmaker Cristiane Oliveira has received the Best Script Award for the script of Nalu on the Border.
A Lebanese parable
The winning film from the Official Short-Film Section, which has taken the Luna de Valencia and an 8,000€ award has been Submarine, by Lebanese director Mounia Akl. The jury includes Valencian actress Iris Lezcano, German critic, journalist and artistic commissar Barbara Lorey and the Valencian director and scriptwriter Óscar Bernàcer. Several other films were considered outstanding and have received honorable mentions: among them: Rosinha, by Brazilian Gui Campos, Flynn?, by Dutch Muck Van Empel, and Noiembrie, by Romanian Ioachim Stroe.
The jury has considered that Submarine is “a visually powerful film that explores the quasi-surrealistic feelings of those who have to abandon their homes. It is a parable that, through a unique cinematographic language, reflects upon what it means to be Lebanese nowadays: being divided between stagnation, denial and hope, in a country that lost its glorious past long ago.”
A varied list of awards
On the Web Series Official Section, the prizes have been very spread out. The Luna de Valencia for the Best Web Series, with a prize of 500€, has been for French science-fiction comedy Dans un autre monde, by directors Valentin Bourdeau and Jérôme Montignies. The Audience Award, with a prize of 300€, has been awarded to the sketch-based US comedy Neem’s Themes, by Neem Basha.
The Jury’s Mention for the Best Direction has been for well-known German director Dirk Rosenlöcher, for his zombie series Discocalypse, while the Cinematography Award had been given to the outstanding job by Spanish director Daniel Aranyo in Zero; a science-fiction drama that has also received the Special Roma Web Fest Award. Argentinian folkloric comedy Silent Nights; also received awards in two categories: Best Script, for Agustina Levati and Pedro Levati; and the Special Marseille Webfest Award, through which the director of the most important film festival dedicated to web series in Europe will include this proposal in its future edition.
The Special Los Angeles Webfest Award has been given to Explaining to an alien and the Rockzeline Distribution Award, that includes a distribution contract, has been for Uruguayan El maravilloso Parque Hoolister.
Valencia International Film Festival– Cinema Jove is organized by the Valencia Culture Institute [Institut Valencià de Cultura] and intends to promote young filmmakers. Your appointment with the latest trends in audiovisual production comes to an end tonight, in the closing award ceremony.
Download the complete list of awards