07/03/2023 - Klaus Härö’s drama My Sailor, My Love has won the Award for Best Irish Feature, whilst Joe Lee’s 406 Days snagged Best Irish Documentary and the ICCL Human Rights Award

It’s a wrap for the 2023 edition of the Dublin International Film Festival, one of Ireland’s most prestigious film events. This year, the festival unspooled from 23 February-4 March.

The jury of the Dublin Film Critics’ Circle, presided over by Tara Brady, crowned Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beasts [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rodrigo Sorogoyen and Isabe…
film profile] (Spain/France) as Best Film. The picture revolves around a middle-aged French couple who move to a remote village, seeking closeness with nature. However, their presence inflames two locals to the point of outright hostility and shocking violence. Showcased at Cannes in 2022 and crowned Best Foreign Film at this year’s Césars, the film’s main cast includes Marina Foïs, Denis Ménochet, Luis Zahera, Diego Anido and Marie Colomb.

The Awards for Best Irish Feature went to Klaus Härö’s My Sailor, My Love [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Finland/Ireland). Toplined by James Cosmo, Brid Brennan and Catherine Walker, the movie follows a retired sea captain and his daughter who must reassess their strained relationship after he begins a new romance with a widowed housekeeper.

Meanwhile, the Irish doc 406 Days by Joe Lee snagged both the Award for Best Irish Documentary and the ICCL Human Rights Award. The feature, which zooms in on the heartbreak, courage and rage of the workers involved in the 2020 Debenhams picket, was billed by the ICCL jury as “an incredible testimony to the strength and resilience of a group of mostly female workers in the face of the might of an international company”.

Finally, the gongs for Best Director and Best Screenplay went to France’s Léa Mysius, the helmer of The Five Devils [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (France), and Romania’s Cristian Mungiu, for R.M.N. [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Cristian Mungiu
interview: Judith State
film profile] (Romania/France/Belgium/Sweden), respectively.

Here is the full list of this year’s award winners:

Best Film
The Beasts [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rodrigo Sorogoyen and Isabe…
film profile] – Rodrigo Sorogoyen (Spain/France)

Best Director
Léa Mysius – The Five Devils [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (France)

Best Screenplay
R.M.N. [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Cristian Mungiu
interview: Judith State
film profile] – Cristian Mungiu (Romania/France/Belgium/Sweden)

Best Actress
Kristine Kujath Thorp – Sick of Myself [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kristine Kujath Thorp
interview: Kristoffer Borgli
film profile] (Norway)

Best Actor
Eden Dambrine – Close [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Eden Dambrine
interview: Lukas Dhont
interview: Lukas Dhont
film profile] (Belgium/France/Netherlands)

Best Debut Feature
Victim [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Michal Blaško
film profile] – Michal Blasko (Slovakia/Czech Republic/Germany)

Best Editor
Nico Leunen – The Eight Mountains [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Felix van Groeningen & Char…
film profile] (Italy/France/Belgium/UK)

Best Cinematography
Marine Altan – Thunder [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carmen Jaquier
film profile] (Switzerland)

Best Score
Nadah El Shazly – The Damned Don’t Cry [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (France/Belgium/Morocco)

Best Ensemble
How to Blow up a Pipeline - Daniel Goldhaber (USA)

Best Documentary
Kanaval: A People’s History of Haiti – Leah Gordon and Eddie Hutton-Mills (Haiti/UK)

Best Irish Film
My Sailor, My Love [+see also:
trailer
film profile] – Klaus Härö (Finland/Ireland)

Best Irish Documentary
406 Days – Joe Lee (Ireland)

George Byrne Maverick Award
Mark Cousins

Michael Dwyer Discovery Award
Zara Devlin

DCU Documentary Award
Cara Holmes – Notes from Sheepland (Ireland)

5 Lamps Discovery Awards
Laura O’Shea
Greg Burrowes
Rory Kerr

Best Irish Short
Lamb – Sinead O’Loughlin (Ireland)
Special Mention
Shadow – Janna Kemperman (Ireland)

Best International Short
Will You Look at Me – Shuli Huang (China)
Special Mention
Blind Spot – Elias Neijens (USA/UK)

ICCL Human Rights Award
406 Days – Joe Lee
Special Mention
My Imaginary Country [+see also:
trailer
interview: Patricio Guzmán
film profile] – Patricio Guzmán (Chile/France)

Volta Award
Emily Watson