09/09/2023 - VENICE 2023: Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist and Alain Parroni’s An Endless Sunday have scooped the two FIPRESCI Prizes, whilst Housekeeping for Beginners snagged the Queer Lion

The 80th 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 Daniel Kothenschulte (Germany), Kevin Maher (UK), Paola Casella (Italy), Adriana Fernández (Mexico), Ramy Abdelrazek Hassan (Egypt) and Anna Maria Pasetti (Italy), bestowed the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Competition Film upon Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist (Japan).

In the supporting statement, the jury members explained: “The FIPRESCI Prize is awarded to a deeply compassionate film that explores the haunting personal impact of the current global environmental moment. It’s a film of uncommon beauty, complex characterisations and a sweetly, triumphantly enigmatic conclusion.”

Furthermore, the Prize for Best Orizzonti or International Film Critics’ Week Film went to Alain Parroni’s Orizzonti entry An Endless Sunday [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alain Parroni
film profile] (Italy/Germany/Ireland). The jury stated it was “for the powerful cinematic language in the direction, for the stunning performances of the three young actors, and for the dual feeling of alienation and belonging to the Eternal City, [which serves] as an ancestral mother portrayed in a fragmented but organic way, in a sort of ‘Nouvelle vague’ style”.

Finally, this year’s Queer Lion went to Goran Stolevski’s Housekeeping for Beginners [+see also:
film review
interview: Goran Stolevski, Alina Serban
film profile] (North Macedonia/Poland/Croatia/Serbia/Kosovo), showcased in the Orizzonti section of the festival. The jury rewarded the picture, in particular commending “the unusual and bold portrayal of ethnicities, diversity, gender identity, love, friendships and emotional affinities”.

Here is the list of the main parallel award winners:

FIPRESCI Award – Competition
Evil Does Not Exist – Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Japan)

FIPRESCI Award – Best Film from Orizzonti and the International Film Critics’ Week
An Endless Sunday [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alain Parroni
film profile] – Alain Parroni (Italy/Germany/Ireland)

Queer Lion
Housekeeping for Beginners [+see also:
film review
interview: Goran Stolevski, Alina Serban
film profile] – Goran Stolevski (North Macedonia/Poland/Croatia/Serbia/Kosovo)

Authors Under 40 Award – In Memory of Valentina Pedicini

Best Directing and Screenwriting
Luna Carmoon - Hoard [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Luna Carmoon
film profile] (UK)

Best Directing
Mika Gustafson - Paradise Is Burning [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mika Gustafson
film profile] (Sweden/Italy/Denmark/Finland)

Edipo Re Award
Me Captain [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Matteo Garrone (Italy/Belgium)

Premio Fondazione FAI Persona Lavoro Ambiente
Evil Does Not Exist - Ryusuke Hamaguchi

FEDIC Award Federazione Italiana dei Cineclub – Best Film
Me Captain – Matteo Garrone

Francesco Pasinetti Award
Me Captain – Matteo Garrone

Leoncino d'Oro Award – Agiscuola, UNICEF
Me Captain – Matteo Garrone

Lizzani Award – ANAC (Associazione Nazionale Autori Cinematografici)
Nowhere [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Simone Massi (Italy/Switzerland)

UNIMED Award
Poor Things [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Suzy Bemba
Q&A: Yorgos Lanthimos
film profile] - Yorgos Lanthimos (Ireland/UK/USA)