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FESTIVALS Spain

Sitges awards: A German splash

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German title Requiem [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Hans-Christian Schmid
interview: Hans-Christian Schmid
interview: Sandra Hueller
film profile
]
by Hans-Christian Schmid received the award for the Best Feature Film in the competition section of the Sitges International Film Festival of Catalonia. Lead actress Sandra Hüller (already a winner at this year’s Berlinale – see news) was chosen Best Actress for her performance as a young women who dies after several exorcisms.

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However ,Schmid's acclaimed film was not the only German winner at this year's edition, which was also marked by the success of Grimm Love. The film, based on a true case of cannibalism that shocked Germany, saw Martin Weiser receive the award for the Best Director, while the film’s cannibal and victim, Thomas Kretschmann and Thomas Huber, respectively, won the Best Actor Award ex aequo. A third award went to Jonathan Sela for Best Cinematography.

These awards might be seen as a sort of compensation for Weiser as Grimm Love, originally set for theatrical release in Germany on March 9, was banned by the court for infringing upon the personal rights of Armin Meiwes, the actual man on which Kretschmann’s character is based. The film is, however, being shown abroad, with Lightning Entertainment handling international sales.

Other European films awarded include 13 Tzametti [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fanny Saadi
interview: Gela Babluani
film profile
]
(Best Original Soundtrack) and The Bothersome Man [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jens Lien
interview: Jørgen Storm Rosenberg
film profile
]
(Best Production Design).

In summing up the figures at year's edition, the festival’s Artistic Director Ángel Sala stated that 440,000 tickets were sold, a 7% increase over last year.

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