Locarno, Switzerland — Sho Miyake’s film “Two Seasons, Two Strangers” has clinched the prestigious Golden Leopard award at the Locarno Film Festival, taking top honors in the main International Competition. The film has garnered praise for its poignant narrative about the unexpected connection between two individuals by the ocean.
Notably adapted from Yoshiharu Tsuge’s manga “Mr. Ben and His Igloo, A View of the Seaside,” the film has been distributed by Bitters End and has charmed critics and audiences alike with its insightful storytelling.
The jury, led by Rithy Panh, also acknowledged the film “White Snail” directed by Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter. This film received Locarno’s Special Jury Prize alongside acting awards for Marya Imbro and Mikhail Senkov. “White Snail” offers a narrative about a Belarusian model aspiring for fame in China, which eventually evolves into a touching romance between two outsiders.
Additionally, accolades were bestowed upon actors Manuela Martelli and Ana Marija Veselčić for their roles in Hana Jušić’s “God Will Not Help.” Jušić aims to shed light on the troubling resurgence of traditional values framed in nostalgic images of patriarchal order. She expressed her desire to reclaim the witch figure as a symbol of female resistance against societal constraints on women’s autonomy and desires.
Abbas Fahdel received recognition for Best Direction for “Tales of the Wounded Land,” a film that adds depth to his previous work, “What Do We See When We Look at the Sky?” This latest offering tells the story of a father’s journey in search of his daughter, set against the backdrop of an unconventional road trip.
In a spotlight on emerging filmmakers, the Filmmakers of the Present sidebar awarded Nicolas Graux and Trương Minh Quý’s “Hair, Paper, Water…” the Golden Leopard. Cecilia Kang also received the Emerging Director Award for “Hijo Major,” which explores a Korean family’s migration to Argentina in pursuit of a better future.
Kang shared that her filmmaking journey serves as a means of understanding her identity, shaped by the complexities of cultural duality. She reflected on how this duality has been both enriching and challenging throughout her life.
Levan Gelbakhiani was recognized for his role in “Don’t Let the Sun” by Jacqueline Zünd, while Margherita Spampinato’s “Sweetheart” also shone, winning two awards including the Special Jury Prize Ciné+ and the Leopard for Best Performance for Aurora Quattrocchi, the film’s sole professional actor.
Quattrocchi’s participation was memorable for the director, who recalls the heartwarming interactions with a cast of nonnas from Trapani, Sicily, who brought their charm and encouragement to the set.
The festival presented numerous other prizes acknowledging exceptional talent in filmmaking, creating a vibrant landscape for emerging and established filmmakers alike.
The complete list of awards showcases the breadth of talent celebrated at the festival, providing recognition to filmmakers across various genres and highlighting both regional and international works.
This article was automatically generated by OpenAI. The information may contain inaccuracies, and any article can be requested for removal, retraction, or correction by writing an email to contact@publiclawlibrary.org.