'Ixcanul' by Jayro Bustamante wins Grand Prix for Best Film at the 42nd Film Fest Gent

1. OFFICIAL COMPETITION

- Grand Prix for Best Film: IXCANUL by Jayro Bustamante (Guatemala/France, 2015)
Belgian distributor: Cinéart

Longing to discover the world on the other side of the mountain, María seduces a coffee harvester who wants to escape to the USA. When this man leaves her behind, María discovers her own culture from a new perspective. "A young Mayan woman finds herself at a crossroads between ancient and modern worlds in 'Ixcanul', a transporting, hypnotically beautiful debut feature from Guatemalan director Jayro Bustamante." (Variety)

Motivation of the jury: "We were moved by the unconditional love of a mother for a daughter and the honesty and grace of the filmmaking."

- Georges Delerue Award for Best Sound Design: THE LOBSTER by Yorgos Lanthimos (Greece - United Kingdom - Ireland - The Netherlands - France, 2015).

In a dystopian near-future state, single people are arrested and transferred to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a suitable mate within 45 days. If they fail, they will be transformed into the animal of their choosing and sent into The Woods. With 'The Lobster' Lanthimos symbolizes the coming of age of the Greek Weird Wave.
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Motivation of the jury: "For the creative, eclectic and imaginative use of music and sound design".The public can watch 'The Lobster' on friday 23 /10 17:00.

2. AWARD FOR BEST BELGIAN STUDENT SHORT

- National Lottery Award for Best Belgian Student Short: FLOR DE MIL COLORES by Karen Vazques (KASK).

Flor de Mil Colores is an intimate slice of life of Emiliana, a loving mother who struggles every day with her rough environment: a Bolivian mining camp.

Motivation of the jury: "This film called for our attention on different levels. In an intelligent way, the director takes us with her into a world of dualities: claustrophobia and freedom, desperation and hope, visual style and content."

- ACE Image Factory Public Choice Award: DRÔLE D'OISEAU by Anouk Fortunier (LUCA School of Arts)

The film is a portrait of a man with bipolar disorder painted through the eyes of his 11 year old daughter. The picture turns into a bittersweet adventure with two un-conventional heroes on a path of innocence and crude behavior.

3. EUROPEAN SHORT FILM AWARD

- Ghent nomintation for the EFA qualifying round: LE MUR by Samuel Lampaert (Belgium, 2015)
This prize nominates its winner for the Prize for Best European Short of the European Film Academy 2015-2016. The winner will be announced in December 2016.

Shanghai. A multitude of towers of concrete buildings without personality. Inside, close studios where live anonymous, folded on themselves, until CHUNG, single, decided to hang a picture on the wall.

Motivation of the jury: "The award for best short goes to a full-fledged film with a humoristic tone."

4. EXPLORE ZONE TRAIL

- Explore Award 2015: SLEEPING GIANT by Andrew Cividino (Canada, 2015)

Director Andrew Cividino's debut feature film tells a dark coming-of-age story set on the shores of Lake Superior during a long, hot summer. The film centers on three boys on the cusp of adolescence spending the summer together at Thunder Bay. "The revelation of a hurtful secret triggers one of them to set a series of irreversible events in motion that test the bonds of friendship and change the boys forever."

The winners of the Port of Ghent Public Choice Award and the Canvas Audience Award will be announced on Monday 26 October.

Film Fest Gent's 42nd edition runs until 24 October. All information at www.filmfestival.be.