'Gente de Bien' by Franco Lolli wins Grand Prix for Best Film at the 41st Film Fest Gent

'Gente de bien' by Franco Lolli was awarded the Grand Prix for Best Film. The Georges Delerue Prize for Best Sound Design went to Boris Debackere for his sound design for 'Violet' by Bas Devos.'Jauja' by Lisandro Alonso received a Special Mention by the jury. The winners of the Short film competitions where also announced.

This year’s international jury consisted of the president Bret Easton Ellis, Héloïse Godet, Patrice Toye, Dana Linssen and Sergei Loznitsa.

1. OFFICIAL SELECTION - COMPETITION

• The Grand Prix for Best Film:

GENTE DE BIEN by Franco Lolli
This award, with a total value of €43,500, comprises a cash distribution grant of €20,000 to support the release of the film in Flanders and Brussels (in a minimum of 5 cinemas) and a media return calculated at €23,000.

Motivation jury: "An existentialist tale about the paradox that compassion and goodwill aren't always enough to save us".

• Georges Delerue Award for Best Sound Design:

VIOLET by Bas Devos with music by Boris Debackere. Belgian distributor: Minds Meet. This award, with a total value of €21,500, comprises a cash distribution grant of €10,000 to support the release of the film in Flanders and Brussels (in a minimum of 5 cinemas) and a media return calculated at €11,500.

Motivation jury: "For the inventive soundscape which mirrors the poetic richness of its 65mm image".

• Special Mention:

JAUJA by Lisandro Alonso of Lisandro Alonso
No Belgian distributor.

Motivation jury: "For a metaphysical and mythological journey into the landscape and the framework of the mind".

2. COMPETITION FOR BEST BELGIAN STUDENT SHORT

• National Lottery Award For Best Belgian Student Short

L’INFINI by Lukas Dhont (KASK)
The winner was awarded with the National Lottery Prize for Best Belgian Short Film by a Student, with a value of €2,000.

This short film was selected by a professional jury consisting of president Bavo Defurne and members Toon Aerts and David Lambert, actrice Kim Hertogs, actor Valentijn Dhaenens en animatrice Emma De Swaef.

Motiviation Jury: "With this price, the jury wants to award a filmmaker who dares to make strong choices, shows personality and has a unique vision".

• ACE Image Factory Public Choice Award

PERDITION COUNTY by Raphael Crombez (LUCA School of Arts)
The award consists of a grading session worth €6,500 at ACE Image Factory, an audio-visual post-production company, for the director’s next film project.

3. THE PRIX EFA GHENT

A Nomination for European Film Academy Award for Best European Short
WASHINGTONIA by Konstantina Kotzamani (Greece 2014)
This film is automatically nominated for the Best European Short Film Award at the 28th European Film Awards in 2015 in Berlin.

Motivation Jury: "For capturing our imagination with a playful and magic-realist fable about the hearts of palms and human beings".