It’s a wrap for the 22^nd edition of the Belfast Film Festival (3-12 November), which was brought to a conclusion by the closing-night ceremony, held on Saturday 12 November. For the first time ever, the Northern Irish gathering announced the winners of its inaugural International Film Competition. In detail, the competition aimed “to celebrate the most exciting new films from around the world that are a first or second feature”.

The first International Film Competition jury was led by BAFTA- and Oscar-winning director Andrea Arnold. Arnold was joined by producer and writer Catherine Bray, and actor Stephen Rea.

The Award for Best Film was bestowed upon Davy Chou’s Return to Seoul [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Davy Chou
scheda film] (France/Germany/Belgium/Qatar/Cambodia). Premiered in Un Certain Regard at Cannes earlier this year, the picture revolves around a 25-year-old French woman who returns to Korea – the country she was born in before being adopted by a French couple – for the very first time. She decides to track down her biological parents, but her journey takes a surprising turn. The jury described it as “a fully realised narrative that skilfully demonstrates the fundamental and universal desire to connect, through a very specific and precisely constructed lens. […] It’s anchored by a commanding and emotionally rich performance from Park Ji-min that distils a lifetime of experience into a couple of hours’ screen time,” the jurors added.

Next, they awarded Breakthrough Performance to two actors: Rosy McEwen and Kerrie Hayes. “Each of these two performances makes up an essential half of the film’s central relationship. Both Rosy McEwen and Kerrie Hayes are doing superb work in Georgia Oakley’s remarkable Blue Jean [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Georgia Oakley
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Meanwhile, the Award for Outstanding Craft Contribution was given to writer-director Ioseb ‘Soso’ Bliadze and actor-writer Taki Mumladze, for their work on the script for A Room of My Own [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Ioseb “Soso” Bliadze e Tak…
scheda film] (Georgia/Germany), in which Mumladze also stars. “This gorgeous Georgian film explores every dimension of a burgeoning connection, with wit and charm to spare. It is a film full of character and humour,” the jury statement reads.

Finally, the gongs for Best Short Filmwent to two Irish flicks – namely, Sour Milk by Mark Keane and Still up There by Joe Loftus.

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

Best Film
Return to Seoul [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Davy Chou
scheda film] – Davy Chou (France/Germany/Belgium/Qatar/Cambodia)

Breakthrough Performance Award
Rosy McEwen and Kerrie Hayes – Blue Jean [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Georgia Oakley
scheda film] (UK)

Outstanding Craft Contribution Award
Ioseb ‘Soso’ Bliadze and Taki Mumladze – A Room of My Own [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Ioseb “Soso” Bliadze e Tak…
scheda film] (Georgia/Germany)

Best Short Film
Sour Milk – Mark Keane (Ireland)
Still up There – Joe Loftus (Ireland)