Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Japanese flick “Shoplifters” took the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s Best Foreign Language Film of the Year prize, when the jury award winners were announced at a luncheon at the Riviera Palm Springs on Saturday.
Among the other honorees were Marcello Fonte (“Dogman”) and Joanna Kulig (“Cold War”), who both won FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actor and Actress in a Foreign Language Film, respectively; “Sofia” (France/Qatar), which received the New Voices New Visions Award; “Ghost Fleet” (USA) which won the John Schlesinger Award; “Carmen & Lola” (Spain) which took the CV Cine Award; “Dead Pigs” (China) which earned the Ricky Jay Magic of Cinema Award; and “Eldorado” (Switzerland) the winner of the GoE Bridging The Borders Award. The Youth Jury Award went to “What Will People Say” (Norway/Germany/Sweden).
The 30th annual festival, held from Jan. 3-14, 2019, screened 226 films from 78 countries.
Sunday, Audience Awards went to “The Grizzlies” and “The Biggest Little Farm” for Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature, respectively.
Directed by Miranda de Pencier, “The Grizzlies” follows the young people of a remote Arctic town with one of the highest teen suicide rates in the world who rediscover their confidence and identity through lacrosse.
“The Biggest Little Farm,” directed by John Chester, tells the story of two idealistic city dwellers who but a farm on arid land north of Los Angeles and their eight-year struggle to turn it into a biodiverse Eden.
The Best of the Fest screenings will take place on Monday, Jan. 14.
See the complete list of winners below.
FIPRESCI Prize for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
“Shoplifters” (Japan), directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
FIPRESCI Prize for the Best Actor in a Foreign Language Film
Marcello Fonte from Dogman (Italy)
FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actress in a Foreign Language Film
Joanna Kulig from Cold War (Poland)
New Voices/New Visions Award
“Sofia” (France/Qatar), directed by Meryem Benm’Barek
Honorable Mention: “Saf” (Turkey), directed by Ali Vatansever
The John Schlesinger Award
“Ghost Fleet” (USA), directed by Shannon Service and Jeffrey Waldron
Honorable Mention: “Bathtubs Over Broadway” (USA), directed by Dava Whisenant
CV Cine Award
“Carmen & Lola” (Spain), directed by Arantxa Echevarria
Honorable Mention: “The Chambermaid” (Mexico/USA), directed by Lila Avilés
Ricky Jay Magic of Cinema Award
“Dead Pigs” (China), directed by Cathy Yan
GoE Bridging the Borders Award
“Eldorado” (Switzerland), directed by Markus Imhoof
Youth Jury Award
“What Will People Say” (Norway/Germany/Sweden), directed by Iram Haq
Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature
“The Grizzlies” (Canada), directed by Miranda de Pencier
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
“The Biggest Little Farm” (USA), directed by John Chester