BUENA VIDA DELIVERY WINS BEST FILM at MAR DEL PLATA FESTIVAL

Leonardo di Cesare's directorial debut, the Argentine film BUENA VIDA DELIVERY, won the Golden Astor for Best Film at the Mar del Plata Film Festival, which ended on Saturday March 20. The comedy drama was backed by the Argentine Film Institute, Film Sud (France) and the Hubert Bals Fund.

The award for Best Director went to Hungarian Benedek Fliegauf for his film DEALER, with Nicoletta Braschi winning Best Actress for her role in the Italian film MI PIACE LAVORARE/MOBBING. The Best Actor prize was shared between Luis Tosar, star of EL LAPIZ DE CARPINTERO/THE CARPENTER'S PENCIL (Spain-Portugal-UK), and Alejandro Urdapilleta, who stars in ADIOS QUERIDA LUNA/GOOD BYE DEAR MOON (Argentina).

The full list of Awards:

Golden Astor/Best Film: BUENA VIDA DELIVERY (Argentina)
Best Director: Benedek Fliegauf/DEALER (Hungary)
Best Actress: Nicoletta Braschi/ MI PIACE LAVORARE/MOBBING (Italy)
Best Actor: Luis Tosar/EL LAPIZ DE CARPINTERO/THE CARPENTER'S PENCIL (Spain-Portugal-UK) and Alejandro Urdapilleta/ADIOS QUERIDA LUNA/GOOD BYE DEAR MOON (Argentina).

Best Screenplay: Leonardo Di Cesare and Hans Garrino/BUENA VIDA DELIVERY (Argentina-France)
Best Ibero-American film: Marcos Bernstein's O OTRO LADO DE RUA/THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET (Brazil)
Special Jury prize: Francesca Comencini's MI PIACE LAVORARE/MOBBING (Italy)
Special mention: Benedek Fluiegauf's DEALER for "the excellence of its images and soundtrack"
Special mention: Kevin Macdonald's TOUCHING THE VOID (UK) for '"the dramatic intensity with which the director has reconstructed a real story"

Short film: Jamie Palmer's PAUL'S LUCKY DAY (UK)

The official jury consisted of Maria de Medeiros, Domingos de Oliveira, Don Ranvaud, Ricardo Aronovich, Angeles Gonzales-Sinde, Ernesto Perez and Ana Maria Picchio.

Other Prizes awarded included the following:
Audience award: LAPIZ DE CARPINTERO/THE CARPENTER'S PENCIL (Spain-Portugal-UK).
Best Film (Women And Film section): Sabiha Sumar's SILENT WATERS (Khamosh Pani) (Pakistan-Germany-France).
Special mention (Women And Film section): Marina De Van's IN MY SKIN/DANS MA PEAU (France).
The Women And Film jury consisted of Susan Seidelman, Catherine Corsini and Juan Bautista Stagnaro.



Best cinematography: DEALER (Hungary), directed by Benedek Fliegauf.

The international critics' body, FIPRESCI gave their award for Best film in the Competition to Benedek Fliegauf's DEALER (Hungary). The jury members were Jorge Morales, Pablo Suarez and Dennis West.

The Catholic organisation Signis gave Hilmar Oddsson's COLD LIGHT/KALDALJOS (Iceland/UK/Norway/Germany) their Award. Jury members were Gustavo Andujar Robles, Maria Luengo de la Torre, Eduardo Mignogna, Duilio Marzio and Monica Satarain.

The Argentinian film critics' association (ACCA) award for best film in competition went to Benedek Fliegauf's DEALER (Hungary). Jury members were Guillermo Alamo, Cesar Maranghello, Agustin Neifert, Jose Maria Poirier and Roberto Quirno.

The Argentinian film trade union, SICA voted for Guillermo Casanova's EL VIAJE HACIA EL MAR (Uruguay) as Best Film in the Latin American section. Jury members were Alicia Esther Macchi, Aldo Guglielmone and Carlos Garcia.

The Best Film in the Argentinian films section, La Mirada Interior, went to HOGARES, directed by Juan Ojuez and special mention went to EMPUJANDO EL CARRO, directed by Nestor Vallejo. EL HOMBRE CONTRAPICADO, directed by Juan Riggirossi, with ALFABETIZACION, directed by Martin Ferrari also getting a special mention.

First established in 1954, the Mar del Plata International Film Festival is the oldest in the Americas, and the only A list Festival in Latin America.