On Saturday, the 18th of July, the 16th edition of Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival came to a magnificent conclusion. This year, there were screenings of 28 feature films, 7 music documentaries and 30 short films from 27 countries. with 5 features, 7 music documentaries and 25 short films being shown in the competition program.

 

At the closing ceremony, the following awards were given:

 

 

VICIOUS CAT for best feature film:

 

THE LODGE

UK, Canada, USA; 2019

Directed by: Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz

 

 

NOISY CAT for best music documentary:

 

WHERE DOES A BODY END?

Canada; 2019

Directed by: Marco Porsia

 

Special mention:

 

TUSTA

Croatia; 2019

Directed by: Andrej Korovljev

 

 

SLAK'S VICIOUS CAT for best short film:

 

THE HAUNTED SWORDSMAN

USA; 2019

Directed by: Kevin McTurk

 

Special mention:

 

THE LEGACY / L'HERITAGE

France; 2019

Directed by: Pierre-Alexandre Chauvat

 

 

MELIES D'ARGENT, the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation award for best European fantastic short film:

 

SLICE OF LIFE

Croatia; 2019

Directed by: Luka Hrgović, Dino Julius

 

Special mention:

 

ROUTINE: THE PROHIBITION / RUTINA: LA PROHIBICION

Spain; 2020

Directed by: SAM

 

 

VICIOUS CAT WINE CHAMPION for best wine:

 

LeBlanc des Templiers (Rhine Riesling)

TOURIST FARM HLEBEC

 

 

 

The winning film of the Little Workshop of Horrors:

 

OUR GARDENS / NAJINI VRTOVI

Slovenia; 2020

Directed by: Vid Voršič

 

Jury motivations:

 

VICIOUS CAT

Jury: comic book Zoran Smiljanić, actor Matjaž Javšnik, director Tomaž Gorkič

 

The Lodge is a film that has all its elements – production, craft, acting and, above all, screenplay polished to perfection, so the jury really didn’t have a difficult job. The film masterfully incorporates European elements into American horror, artfully switches between genres, combines tension with atmosphere, horror with tragedy, genre conventions with refined psychology and a surprising ending. An injection of freshness and new energy into a genre in which we sometimes feel we have seen it all. And last but not least: have you ever seen a bad film that takes place in snow?

 

 

NOISY CAT

Jury: journalist Igor Vidmar, musician Jernej Šavel, music publisher Ivor Knafelj

 

The Swans documentary masterfully portrays the sonic voyage of a band that, through their innovation and unwillingness to compromise became one of the most important groups at the turn of the 21st century. From the display of their industrial beginnings in the 80s, struggling with addictions and constant lineup changes to their reincarnation on the new millennium which, by releasing four already cult albums, propelled the band to the throne of gods of noise. A documentary which is an equivalent to their music. Top notch!

 

A special mention goes to the documentary on Branko Črnac – Tusta, singer of the legendary band KUD Idijoti. Director Andrej Korovljev brilliantly shows the journey of the band that never really went over the bounds of underground, but has pushed the boundaries of humanness with their uncompromising attitude in their fight against human stupidity, censorship and repression. From the brilliant display and placement of their music in the 80s, through the middle, best part, where the band deals with being banned both from stages as the media, to their cult status that is getting even stronger with time. Viva Tusta, Viva KUD Idijoti!

 

 

SLAK'S VICIOUS CAT

Jury: actor Ludvik Bagari, film journalist Omar Parra, director Vasja Rovšnik

 

High quality animation The Haunted Swordsman takes us into the dream world of mystic horror. The realism of the android character blurs the difference between the artificial and the flesh and shows the grand universe of cinematic fantasy in its entirety.

 

 

MELIES D'ARGENT

Jury: actor Ludvik Bagari, film journalist Omar Parra, director Vasja Rovšnik

 

With its futuristic entry into the beginning of the end of capitalism, this dark allegory shows yearning for unattainable ideals and desires. Excellent production value, technical prowess and convincing acting make Slice of Life more than a short film, over the horizon of film classic. Due to its perfection, we can easily compare it to the giants of the film art.