22/04/2009

The Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film closed on April 21 with a fairly predictable prize list honouring films already lauded by other festivals and critics.

Europe is nonetheless well represented and all the countries where the fantasy genre thrives (Scandinavia, Spain and to a lesser extent France with its new crop of directors) won recognition.

The Golden Raven for Best Film went to Tomas Alfredson’s Let the Right One In [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: John Nordling
interview: Tomas Alfredson
film profile]. After accolades at New York, Stiltges and Neufchâtel, it came as no surprise to see the young Swedish vampires win over the BIFFF jury. The film has been launched in France and Holland, but so far no Belgian release has been scheduled.

Meanwhile, the Silver Raven was shared by two films: Dennis Iliadis’ remake of Wes Craven’s cult movie, The Last House on the Left (which, coincidentally, hits Belgian screens today); and Finnish director Anti-Jussi Annila’s original Sauna (Wash Your Sins [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), which embodies the vitality and creativity of Scandinavian fantasy films.

The latter title also received the Silver Méliès, which puts it in the running for the Golden Méliès 2009, to be presented at the end of the year. The Golden Méliès 2008 was awarded to Let the Right One In.

Of course, Asian horror films are still full of promise and the jury awarded the 7th Orbit Prize to revered Korean director Kim Ki-Duk’s Dream. Meanwhile, the Best Thriller Award went to another Korean film: Na Hong-Jin’s The Chaser, which will be released by Cinéart on May 6.

8th Wonderland by France’s Nicolas Alberny and Jean Mach also picked up a Special Mention in the Thriller Competition.

Finally, it is difficult to remain unmoved by the torrents of humour and blood in Miguel Marti’s SexyKiller. The BIFFF’s discerning viewers greeted it with laughter, shudders, pouts of disgust and the Audience Award.

(Translated from French)