Fantasporto

42nd PORTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | FANTASPORTO 2022 | THE AWARDS

THE WORLD OPENING OF “FOLLOW HER” BY THE NORTH AMERICAN DIRECTOR SYLVIA CAMINER MESMERIZED THE INTERNATIONAL FANTASY JURY, THE SPANISH “JACINTO” BY JAMI CAMINO WON THE DIRECTOR`S WEEK AND “ESCAPE FROM MOGADISHU” BY SEUNG-WAN RYOO, A STRONG FILM FROM SOUTH KOREA WAS THE WINNER OF THE OFFICIAL ORIENT EXPRESS SECTION

The awards of the International Juries went also to Afghanistan, Iran, UK, Israel, Mexico, Venezuela, Hungary, Germany, China, Japan, and South Korea in a Festival that screened films from 28 countries. A selection was made between films from 61 countries, with around 300 features, that were sent this year to selection. Fantasporto has 3 International Juries and another one for the Portuguese film selection. After the pandemic, Portugal lives now in an endemic situation and received around 200 international guests.

With a Tribute to the Ukrainian People, Fantasporto presented in the Closing Award Ceremony and in the World Premiere of the film “Everything Nothing and Something Else” of Marina Kondratieva, a co-production of Ukraine/Lithuania, that was screened after emotive speeches of the Ambassador and consul of Ukrania in Portugal during strong moments in Blue and Yellow.

Barely escaping the effects of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 and with 26 World and European Premieres, the 42nd edition of Fantasporto returned to the usual buzz- lots of people, guests coming from all over the world and very good reception of the films selected for the 3 official competitions. 

THE PROGRAM

The festival opened with the much expected “XXXHOLIC” from Japan and closed, as we said, with a homage to Ukraine People with the film “EVERYTHING, NOTHING AND SOMETHING ELSE, a film set in Kyiv. 

THE COMPETITIONS AND THE WINNERS

Recent films show the uncertainty of our times through the great films Fantasporto has been selected for its competitions.  And the Awards clearly show the diversity of the program. From live image to animation, from sci-fi to the most classical horror, Fantasporto showcased the most recent features and shorts, and the international juries reflected this diversity. 

Here are the winners of Fantasporto 2022 with some of the jury comments. The International Jury of the Fantasy Section of the 42nd Oporto International Film Festival - Fantasporto  has decided to grant the following awards:

BEST FILM AWARD FANTASPORTO 2022

Follow Her- Sylvia Caminer-  (EUA) 

Playful, knowingly irritating and successfully combining social media in a way most films have failed, this works because of its constant pulling of the rug from beneath our feet. Impressive for the integration of social media, CCTV and a variety of styles, while maintaining a grip on the narrative and never losing the suspense of the protagonist’s predicament.For engaging with social media-speak without losing sight of a rapidly moving narrative. And for embracing the most irritating elements of social media without alienating the audience. 

The film highlights the current theme of stress caused by social networks, bringing a new look and offering new solutions to solve difficult situations in the narrative, with two incredible twists.

Innovative screenplay with convincing lead actors about the dangerous and harmful side of social media. Good soundtrack.

JURY’S SPECIAL AWARD

Barbarians - Charles Dorfman-  (UK) 

Convincing portraying the mixture of feelings from joy to being bullied.

BEST DIRECTION

The Exorcism of God- Alejandro Hidalgo – (USA/Mex/Venezuela)

Impressive for its exploration of the protagonist’s troubled psyche. The Exorcism of God is always committed, and often surprising. It provides a deep message. Very engaging plot and climax. The movie presents a tribute to some situations from other famous movies but also creates new ones.

BEST ACTOR 

Lázlo Attila Horváth- Soulpark (Hungary)

Masterfully underacted work, silent rage and sadness.

BEST ACTRESS

Dani Barker – Follow Her (USA)

Innovative screenplay with a convincing lead actress about the dangerous

and harmful side of social media. You have some doubts about the protagonist`s morals but you kind of stand by her side all through the film.

BEST SCREENPLAY 

Patrick Brunken , Rick Ostermann, Dirk Kurbjuweit – The House (Germany)

A sophisticated blend of science fiction, paranoid thriller and nightmarish dystopia. Smart study in the near future of the technology and AI getting uncontrollable. Carefully thought about setting in one location only. Could even work as a theatrical play.

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Fang Yi – Annular Eclipse (China)

The combination of sci-fi aesthetics with the concept of memory loss is the basis of this narrative, in a highly stylized action thriller, recreates in a very positive way an approach to “Blade Runner” movie. Cinematography along with the SFX, is the outstanding innovative use of soundtrack to drive the story ahead In that movie to me the music/sound effects were as important as the cinematography or the characters. Sort of a mixture of Vangelis and Kraftwerk with a more aggressive edge.

BEST SHORT FILM 

Fledge - Hanni Dombe, Tom Kouris- (Israel)

A folkloristic fantasy that forced to choose between the need to belong and her own identity, in a very touchingly story that brings two generations closer together. Beautiful stop motion with an unusual and touching story.

SPECIAL MENTION OF THE FANTASY JURY:

The Good Father – Sho Kataoka- (Jap) 

Playing out like a more conventional family drama, this is a confident if not flashily directed film. 

DIRECTORS WEEK AWARDS

Manoel de Oliveira Award

THE INTERNATIONAL JURY OF THE 32nd DIRECTORS WEEK –FANTASPORTO has decided to grant the following awards:

DIRECTORS WEEK BEST FILM AWARD

Jacinto- Javi Camino  (Esp)

A beautiful film that captures the authenticity of Galicia, its people and its spirit, with engaging dark humour that creates an immediate empathy between the audience and the main character. It also shows a very interesting clash of cultures between village mentality and modern city mindset.” JR/LM/RF

DIRECTORS WEEK JURY’S SPECIAL AWARD 

Saralish – Yaser Ahmadi, Behrooz Bagheri - (Afghanistan/ Iran) 

 “Poetic and insightful observation of a young girl’s coming of age in a remote Iranian village in a toxic environment where forced child marriage is customary.” JR/LM/RF

DIRECTORS WEEK BEST DIRECTOR AWARD

Yoon Jong-seok- Confession (South Korea)

DIRECTORS WEEK BEST SCREENPLAY AWARD

Eviction-  Maté Fazekas – (Hun)

DIRECTORS WEEK BEST ACTOR AWARD

Ex-Aequo:

Pedro Brandariz - Jacinto (Spain)

Juanma Buituron – Jacinto (Spain)

We are giving this posthumous award to Pedro Brandariz for his engaging and sympathetic portrayal of a special needs brother who is revealed to be the only sane member of his ‘redneck’ family. 

We offer our condolences to his family and friends and with this tribute, we would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the life and work of a big-hearted and extraordinary actor who has left us so tragically and so untimely.

DIRECTORS WEEK BEST ACTRESS AWARD

Atena Agha Aliyan- Saralish (Afghanistan/Iran)

ORIENT EXPRESS OFFICIAL SECTION

ORIENT EXPRESS BEST FILM AWARD

Escape from Mogadishu– Seung-wan Ryoo (South Korea)

JURY’S SPECIAL AWARD

Baby Assassins - Yûgo Sakamoto – (Jap)

PORTUGUESE FILM AWARD 2022

BEST PORTUGUESE FILM AWARD

Misericórdia- Gonçalo Loureiro - (Port)  

SPECIAL MENTIONS

Dilúvio- Eduardo Cruz – (Port)  

Fruta Tocada por Falta de Jardineiro – Pedro Senna Nunes- (Port)  

NON-OFFICIAL AWARDS

CRITICS AWARD

The House- Rick Ostermann- (Germany)

AUDIENCE AWARD

Follow Her- Sylvia Caminer- (EUA) 

BOOK PRESENTATIONS 

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Fantasporto, which occurred in 2020, it was just released a 600 pages hard-cover book, “Fantasporto 40 Anos- Uma História de Cinema”, written by co-founder Beatriz Pacheco Pereira. All programs, all films, all awards, all the stories, the illustrious guests, behind the scenes trivia, the trophies, the faces, the discoveries of now-famous directors. That is, all you wanted to know about this world-famous festival.

Also, Rui Cardoso, a journalist from a top Media chain in Portugal, presented his “Conta-me Como Não Foi”, an appreciation of the myths that surround national and International History through the times. The anthology “Contágios” presented short stories and chronicles written during pandemic times and the anthology “Sangue Novo” introduced some new writers of terror tales. 

WELCOME TO THE 43rd FANTASPORTO A CELEBRATION OF THE FILM WORLD from 23rd February till March 5th 2023.

Entries are open! at www.fantasporto.com