10/09/2022 - Santiago Mitre’s Argentina, 1985 and Makbul Mubarak’s Autobiography have scooped the two FIPRESCI Prizes, whilst Alex Schaad’s Skin Deep won the prestigious Queer Lion

The 79^th edition of the Venice Film Festival has announced the recipients of this year’s parallel awards. Traditionally, the winners are decided on independently by associations of film critics, clubs and cultural associations, as well as cinema professionals.

Among these are the prizes awarded by the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). The jury, made up of Eva Af Geijerstam (Sweden), Mark Adams (UK), Luca Baroncini (Italy), Ieva Sukyté (Lithuania), Sara Merican (Singapore) and Paola Olivieri (Italy), bestowed the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Competition Film upon Santiago Mitre’s Argentina, 1985 (Argentina). In the supporting statement, the jurors explained: “The wounds from the violence of the Argentinian dictatorship continue to hurt and bleed, but the director offers up a remarkably astute, reflective and often amusing film that tackles the famous 1985 trial of military leaders as the country sought justice. He combines comedy and drama to find a fine balance in the story of the young legal team charged with unearthing and revealing the brutalities of the dictatorship as they challenge the ghosts of the past to seek justice.” Starring thesps Ricardo Darín and Peter Lanzani, the picture centres on the trial of the military juntas that governed the South American country between 1976 and 1983.

Furthermore, the Prize for Best Orizzonti or International Film Critics’ Week Film went to Makbul Mubarak’s Autobiography [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Indonesia/France/Germany/Poland/Singapore/Philippines/Qatar). The jury stated: “Through the film’s intimate portrait of two generations living under one roof, the director masterfully examines a painful historical period of transition in his nation. While staying deeply committed to the country’s sociopolitical context, the film also impressed us with its wider resonances for today’s global affairs.”

Finally, this year’s Queer Lion went to Alex Schaad’s Skin Deep [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alex Schaad
film profile] (Germany), showcased in the International Film Critics’ Week. The story follows Leyla and Tristan, who, at first glance, seem like a happy, young couple. But when they travel to a mysterious, remote island, a game of identities begins, which changes everything – their perception, their sexuality and their whole “self”.

Here is a list of the main parallel award winners:

FIPRESCI Award – Competition
Argentina, 1985 – Santiago Mitre (Argentina)

FIPRESCI Award – Best Film from Orizzonti and the International Film Critics’ Week
Autobiography [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Makbul Mubarak (Indonesia/France/Germany/Poland/Singapore/Philippines/Qatar)

Queer Lion
Skin Deep [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alex Schaad
film profile] – Alex Schaad (Germany)

Authors Under 40 Award – In Memory of Valentina Pedicini
Isabella Carbonell – Dogborn [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Isabella Carbonell
film profile] (Sweden)
Cristina Grosan – Ordinary Failures [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Cristina Grosan
film profile] (Czech Republic/Italy/Hungary/Slovakia)

Edipo Re Award
Saint Omer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alice Diop
interview: Kayije Kagame
film profile] – Alice Diop (France)

Premio Fondazione FAI Persona Lavoro Ambiente
The Sitting Duck [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jean-Paul Salomé
film profile] – Jean-Paul Salomé (France/Germany)

FEDIC Award Federazione Italiana dei Cineclub – Best Film
The Last Days of Humanity [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Enrico Ghezzi and Alessandro Gagliardo (Italy)

Francesco Pasinetti Award
Dry [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Paolo Virzì (Italy)

Leoncino d'Oro Award – Agiscuola, UNICEF
The Whale – Darren Aronofsky (USA)

Lizzani Award – ANAC (Associazione Nazionale Autori Cinematografici)
Chiara [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Susanna Nicchiarelli
film profile] – Susanna Nicchiarelli (Italy/Belgium)

UNIMED Award
Bardo, falsa crónica de unas cuantas verdades – Alejandro González Iñárritu (Mexico)