Award-Winning Documentary ‘Dahomey’ Explores Europe’s Return of Looted Antiquities to Africa

Berlin, Germany – “Dahomey,” a thought-provoking documentary by director Mati Diop, has won the top prize at the Berlin film festival. The film explores the complex issues surrounding the return of looted antiquities from Europe to Africa. This year’s festival, the 74th annual event, was the first to feature Lupita Nyong’o as the first black jury president. The jury chose “Dahomey” as the winner out of 20 contenders for the prestigious Golden Bear award. In her acceptance speech, Diop expressed that the prize not only honored her but also the invisible and visible community that … Read more

Award-Winning Films Revealed at 74th Berlin International Film Festival

Berlin, Germany – The 74th Berlin International Film Festival recently announced the winners of its prestigious awards. Among the top contenders for the festival’s top prize are Matthias Glasner’s German family epic, “Sterben” (Dying), and the Iranian feature “My Favourite Cake” by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha. Both films received multiple awards from the independent juries and are frontrunners for the official festival ceremony. “Sterben” tells the story of a classical conductor and his dysfunctional family, while “My Favourite Cake” is a quiet drama about a 70-year-old widow taking a chance on new love. These … Read more

SBIFF Announces Captivating Award-Winning Films from Around the Globe

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The winners of the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival were announced on Saturday morning. The festival screened over 200 films from 48 countries, including 45 world premieres and 77 U.S. premieres. The award-winning films were recognized for their captivating storytelling and originality. Among the winners was the documentary “TransMexico” directed by Claudia Sanchez, which received the Audience Choice Award sponsored by the Santa Barbara Independent. The film follows the inspiring journey of three Latin American trans women as they combat transphobia and overcome significant challenges. Sophia Sabella and Pablo Feldman … Read more

SBIFF Celebrates Global Talent: Award-Winning Films Spanning the Globe Unveiled at 39th Edition

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) concluded its 39th edition with the announcement of the award-winning films. The awards ceremony took place at the El Encanto, a Belmond Hotel, in Santa Barbara, where the jury, filmmakers, and industry professionals gathered. SBIFF’s Programming Director Claudia Puig expressed gratitude to the jury for their meticulous selections. The winning films showcased diverse stories from around the world, including the mesmerizing magic of movie palaces in the Atacama Desert, the enchanting mysteries of ice caves in Antarctica, and the thought-provoking exploration of cancel culture … Read more