31/03/2014 - Swiping five awards, the clear favourite, Long Distance, triumphs in a competition that also appreciated the creativity and courage of Todos están muertos

Carlos Marques-Marcet, at the closing gala ceremony

Manuel Gómez Pereira, Chair of the Official Section Jury at the Málaga Film Festival, sent a message to the sector before reading out his jury’s verdict: “Making a film today is a heroic act, and that’s why we mustn’t lose hope or quality.” These virtues have prevailed over commercial values or the backing of television channels during the preparation of the festival’s most highly praised films, Long Distance [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carlos Marques-Marcet
film profile] and Todos están muertos [+see also:
trailer
interview: Beatriz Sanchís
film profile]. These are original wagers that perhaps, having obtained these honours, will now achieve the results and the audience approval that they deserve.

The feature debut by Carlos Marques-Marcet snagged five awards: the Gold Biznaga for Best Film, Best Director, Best New Scriptwriter, Best Actress and the Critics’ Award. For her part, Beatriz Sanchís saw her hard work rewarded when she received the Silver Biznaga-Special Jury Prize; her lead actress, Elena Anaya, also did so but had to share her trophy with Natalia Tena (Long Distance). In addition, her film’s invigorating soundtrack, composed by Akrobats, won the Young Jury Award.

Other award-winning actors were the ever-magnificent Juan Diego, for the zealous character he portrays in Night Falls in India [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (which also won for Best Editing); Yolanda Ramos, for her endearing supporting role in Carmina y amén [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (which won Paco León the Silver Biznaga for Best Script); and Salva Reina and Héctor Medina, supporting actors in 321 días en Michigan [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the first film from Malaga to be on home turf: it received the Audience Award for the best title of this edition. The Silver Biznaga for Best Cinematography went to Canadian Nicolas Bolduc for Aloft [+see also:
trailer
interview: Claudia Llosa
film profile].

Standing out in other sections of the 17th edition of the festival were the three awards won in “ZonaZine” by the haunting La cueva (Best Film, Best Actor and Best Actress); the success of Cuban film Conducta in “Territorio Latinoamericano”; and the triumph of Ciutat morta in Documentaries: the latter two received €8,000 each.

(Translated from Spanish)