Bu Sifan’s ‘Da Hu Fa’ and Pierre Zah’s ‘Make it Soul’ receive special mentions at the festival’s 22nd edition.
Studio Colorido’s anime film adaptation of Tomihiko Morimi’s book ‘Penguin Highway’ was directed by Hiroyasu Ishida.
MONTREAL -- The Fantasia International Film Festival has announced the award winners of the juried sections of its 22nd edition, which celebrates its Closing Night on August 2, 2018.
The festival’s Best Film Award was presented to Daniel Roby’s Paris-set science fiction adventure Dans la brume, which opened Fantasia 2018 to massive acclaim and adoration. The epic apocalyptic thriller, which stars Romain Duris and Olga Kurylenko, sees The City of Lights covered in a deadly white fog that threatens the very existence of humanity.
The awards in each of Fantasia’s categories were chosen by carefully selected juries of filmmakers, scholars, journalists, and industry professionals. The jurors for the animated short film and animated feature categories, grouped under the Axis: Satoshi Kon Award In Animation, were Lorraine Carpentier, Torill Kove, Marc Tessier and Sarah Mercey.
Director Rocío Álvarez Valera’s ‘Simbiosis Carnal.’
The full list of recipients of the Axis: Satoshi Kon Awards For Excellence In Animation is shown below; the full list of winners can be seen here.
AXIS: SATOSHI KON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ANIMATION
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: PENGUIN HIGHWAY (d. Hiroyasu Ishida)
Says the Axis jury, “For creating a beautifully written and designed story of love and friendship: a magical sci-fi love story for all ages that touched our hearts and minds, we present The Satoshi Kon Award to Penguin Highway.”
SPECIAL MENTION: DA HU FA (d. Bu Sifan)
The jury adds, “This brilliantly crafted film defies description by being both funny and frightening, cute and horrific. It thrilled and mystified the jury and we would like to acknowledge for daring to be a genre blending political allegory. The special mention goes to Da Hu Fa.”
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM: SIMBIOSIS CARNAL (d. Rocío Álvarez Valera)
“This beautiful and playfully animated film is a nine minute master class in gender equality. It takes us on a sensual journey, brings us to a fantastic climax and shows us that images are more powerful than words. The Satoshi Kon Award for best animated short goes to Simbiosis Carnal.”
SPECIAL MENTION: MAKE IT SOUL (d. Pierre Zah)
“With design inspired by African American folk art this is a beautiful story of soul searching where the protagonist learns to sacrifice his self-interest for the greater good. The jury would like to give a special mention to Make it Soul.”
Source: Fantasia International Film Festival
