24/10/2022 - French director Alice Diop has been awarded yet again during the 49th edition of the festival

The 49th edition of Film Fest Gent wrapped this weekend with the announcement of its various awards, including the Grand Prize going to French film Saint Omer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alice Diop
interview: Kayije Kagame
film profile] by Alice Diop; yet another prize for the young filmmaker for whom this is a first feature, after the Silver Lion – Grand Jury Prize and Best First Film Prize received last September at the Venice Film Festival, and the prestigious Jean Vigo Prize which was just given to her. The film will also represent France in the race for the Best International Feature Oscar. This prize was given out by the International Jury composed of Clio Barnard (filmmaker), Welket Bugué (actor and director), Daniel Hart (composer), Alexandre Koberidze (filmmaker), Nico Leunen (editor) and Natalie Álvarez Mesén (filmmaker).

The Jury also awarded a mention to the first feature of Belgian-Costarican filmmaker Valentina Maurel, Tengo sueños eléctricos [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Valentina Maurel
film profile], discovered this summer in Locarno where the film was showered with awards. Another special mention was given to the Ukrainian film also competing for the Oscars Klondike [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Maryna Er Gorbach
film profile], by Maryna Er Gorbach.

The festival also hosted a rich selection of documentaries. The film How to Save a Dead Friend [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Marusya Syroechkovskaya won the Grand Prize in this section, the Explore Award. The Belgian film Echo by Ruben Desiere received a special mention.

In the short film category, Neighbor Abdi by Douwe Dijkstra (The Netherlands) was the favourite, winning the Best International Short Film Award, while Finn's Heel by Cato Kusters won the Best Belgian Graduation Film Award.

The Film Fest Gent is also distinguished by the great attention it pays to music. In addition to the Grand Prix, another major prize is awarded, the Georges Delerue Prize. This year it went to the Swiss film A Piece of Sky [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Michael Koch
film profile] by Michael Koch, for the soundtrack composed by Tobias Koch and Jannik Giger.

The Film Fest Gent also ended with the World Soundtrack Awards. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to French composer Bruno Coulais. The English composer Jonny Greenwood (also a member of Radiohead) was named Composer of the Year for The Power of the Dog [+see also:
film review
film profile] and Spencer [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]. Giacomo Rita received the Sabam Award for Best Original Composition for a young composer, while the Parisian duo The Penelopes received the award for Best Soundtrack for a Belgian production for their work on Olivier Pairoux's SpaceBoy [+see also:
film review
interview: Olivier Pairoux
film profile].

The awards:

Grand Prize
Saint Omer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alice Diop
interview: Kayije Kagame
film profile] - Alice Diop (France)

Georges Delerue Award
A Piece of Sky [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Michael Koch
film profile] - Michael Koch (Switzerland)

Special Mentions
Tengo sueños eléctricos [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Valentina Maurel
film profile] - Valentina Maurel (Belgium/France/Costa Rica)
Klondike [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Maryna Er Gorbach
film profile] - Maryna Er Gorbach (Ukraine/Turkey)

Explore Award
How to Save a Dead Friend [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Marusya Syroechkovskaya (Sweden/Norway/Germany/France)
Special Mention
Echo - Ruben Desiere (Belgium)

Best International Short Film
Neighbor Abdi - Douwe Dijkstra (The Netherlands)

Best Belgian Graduation Film Award
Finn's Heel - Cato Kusters (Belgium)
Special Mentions
Merci pour votre patience! - Simon van der Zande (Belgium)
La chute - Sebastian Schaevers (Belgium)

Audience Award for Best Belgian Short Film
Merci pour votre patience! - Simon van der Zande

World Soundtrack Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award
Bruno Coulais

Film Composer of the Year
Jonny Greenwood - The Power of the Dog [+see also:
film review
film profile] (United Kingdom/New Zealand/Australia/United States/Canada), Spencer [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (Germany/United Kingdom)

TV Composer of the Year
Nicholas Brittell – Succession (United States)

Best Original Song
Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell - No Time to Die [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (United Kingdom/United States)

Discovery of the Year
Eiko Ishibashi - Drive My Car (Japan)

Public Choice Award
Joseph Metcalfe, John Coda and Grant Kirkhope - The King’s Daughter (Australia)

Best Original Score for a Belgian Production
The Penelopes – SpaceBoy [+see also:
film review
interview: Olivier Pairoux
film profile] (Belgium)

Sabam Award for Best Original Composition by a Young Composer
Giacomo Rita (Italy)

(Translated from French)