Suzannah Mirghani’s Sudanese drama “Cotton Queen” received the highest prize Sunday on the Thessaloniki Movie Competition, taking dwelling the Golden Alexander for greatest function movie.
Mirghani’s arresting debut — the first-ever function movie shot by a feminine Sudanese director — wowed the pageant jury, which included Match Manufacturing unit head of gross sales Τhania Dimitrakopoulou, U.S. cinematographer Frederick Elmes (“Blue Velvet,” “Wild at Coronary heart”) and writer-director Magnificence Bratton (“The Inspection”), who mentioned “Cotton Queen” “blew us all away.”
“This movie sat with all of us judges from starting to finish,” mentioned Bratton. “As we stay in a world consumed by genocide and struggle, it’s vital to recollect what we’re all combating for: our households, ourselves, our mates, our communities. This movie…stored us targeted on what issues most.”
“Cotton Queen” follows a younger Sudanese girl residing in a village on the banks of the Nile River. The granddaughter of the so-called “Cotton Queen,” an aged girl who’s taken on legendary dimensions attributable to her resistance towards the British and her alleged capability to see the longer term, Nafisa works in her grandmother’s cotton fields and goals in regards to the younger man she loves.
However the arrival of a rich entrepreneur from London upends every part, along with her dad and mom, her grandmother and her neighborhood planning Nafisa’s future with out her information. The movie premiered within the Critics’ Week strand at this yr’s Venice Movie Competition.
Accepting the Golden Alexander in Thessaloniki, Mirghani devoted the award to Sudan, which is now within the grips of a devastating civil struggle, and to her Sudanese solid and crew, who’re clinging to survival and “searching for a manner out.”
“On this time of struggle and of genocide, to make a movie with actors who at the moment are all displaced from their properties, all in Egypt the place we shot the movie, searching for refuge — to indicate that you may nonetheless work, you possibly can nonetheless make a movie, you possibly can nonetheless make artwork on this time and be acknowledged for it, is de facto essentially the most welcome information presently,” she mentioned.
Greek filmmaker Aristotelis Maragkos received the Silver Alexander for greatest director for his sophomore function “Beachcomber,” which tells the story of a younger man chasing his sailor father’s legacy who’s compelled to confront the delicate reality of who he actually is. The movie additionally took dwelling the Creative Achievement Award for Finest Cinematography for DoP Giorgos Karvelas.
Elsewhere within the worldwide competitors, the most effective actor award went to Harry Melling for his depiction of a mild-mannered visitors warden exploring his submissive aspect in Harry Lighton’s queer romance “Pillion,” whereas greatest actress honors went to Sabrina Amali, who performs an Egyptian archaeologist whose previous catches as much as her in Nancy Biniadaki’s “Maysoon.” A Particular Award for Finest Screenplay, in the meantime, went to author Yvonne Görlach for Christina Tournatzès’ “Karla.”
Within the pageant’s Meet the Neighbors+ competitors part, which incorporates debut or sophomore movies from the 36 international locations of Southeastern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Center East, the Golden Alexander for greatest function went to “The Final One for the Highway,” Francesco Sossai’s boozy dramedy a few pair of ageing consuming buddies that premiered within the Cannes Movie Competition’s Un Sure Regard part. The movie additionally scooped greatest actor honors for its two main males, Pierpaolo Capovilla and Sergio Romano.
The part’s Silver Alexander for greatest director went to Yanis Koussim for the horror movie “Roqia,” which follows a younger Algerian man suffering from mysterious nighttime guests after a automotive crash leaves him with amnesia. The award for greatest actress within the Meet the Neighbors+ part went to Manuela Martelli for her portrayal of a Chilean widow in Hana Jušić’s “God Will Not Assist,” which additionally received the award for Finest Creative Achievement.
Within the Movie Ahead competitors part showcasing progressive filmmaking, the Golden Alexander went to Mehrnoush Alia’s “1,001 Frames,” whereas the Silver Alexander went to Manoël Dupont for “Earlier than/After,” whose stars Jérémy Lamblot and Baptiste Leclere additionally earned a Particular Point out from the jury. The award for Finest Creative Achievement went to Kristen Stewart’s “The Chronology of Water.”
Different massive winners at Sunday’s award ceremony included “Bearcave,” a queer romance by first-time administrators Stergios Dinopoulos and Krysianna Papadakis, which premiered within the Venice Days sidebar of the Venice Movie Competition and took dwelling seven awards in Thessaloniki, and “Patty Is Such a Girly Title,” by Greek filmmaker Giorgos Georgopoulos, which received 5 awards following its world premiere this week.
The Thessaloniki Movie Competition runs Oct. 30 – Nov. 9.
