03/12/2012 - Scott Graham’s debut film, set in the Scottish Highlands, also received the FIPRESCI award and the Scuola Holden award for best screenplay. Festival’s profits grow by 16.25%

A father and a daughter, a petrol station lost in the middle of the Scottish Highlands, silence, a handful of encounters and an attraction verging on incestuous. Shell [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Scotsman Scott Graham was this year’s winner at the thirtieth edition of the Turin Film Festival, which came to a close on Saturday. The jury, presided by Paolo Sorrentino, chose a film which, just like last year’s winner (Icelandic Either Way [+see also:
trailer
interview: Hafstein Gunnar Sigurdsson
interview: Hilmar Gudjônsson - Shootin…
film profile]), features two characters, empty roads and an extraordinary landscape. A story of loneliness and abandonment starring a teenage girl (Shell) and her epileptic father (Joseph Mawle) who share an oppressive life, marked by the occasional interruption of rare customers. A sense of resignation, something the girl seems to seek out, follows the film throughout. Until one day, a devastating event changes her life forever. Shell also won the FIPRESCI award and the Scuola Holden award for best screenplay.

The special jury prize went to both the bittersweet story on friendship, illness and rebirth Noi non siamo come James Bond [+see also:
trailer
film profile], by Italians Mario Balsamo and Guido Gabrielli (read the news story) and the American Pavilion. Best actress went to Aylin Tezel in Breaking Horizons [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by German Pola Beck, who played a young woman who becomes pregnant after a one night stand and must decide whether to keep the baby or not. Best actor was Hunton Batu for his role in Mongolian film The first aggregate.

The thirtieth edition of the Turin Film Festival, which kicked off with Ken Loach’s refusal to accept a career recognition prize (read the news story), was the last one directed by Gianni Amelio (taking his place next year, will most probably be Gabriele Salvatores). It was also a record year. Profits and tickets sales respectively increased by 16.25% and 17.8% compared to last year. Professional participants also increased this year (+14.8%, from 1662 to 1908), as did journalists covering the event (+6.5%, totalling 674). Amelio can leave with his head held high.

For a complete list of awards (documentaries, shorts, Cipputi and Bassan awards), click here.

(Translated from Italian)