“Insyriated”, the film by the Belgian director, Philippe Van Leeuw, recounts the life of a family hiding in its apartment at the heart of war-torn Syria. On Sunday it received the prize for Best Film (the festival’s top prize) at the Waterloo Historical Film Festival (known as “Wahff”).
The Polish film “Hatred”, directed by Wojciech Smarzowski, was one of the other major winners of the competition. Best Set and Costume, the jury prize for Early European History, and the prize for the Best Female Comedian for Machalina Labacz were awarded in respect of it.
The prize for Best Male Comedian was awarded to the young Belgian actor, Igor Van Dessel (for “The Royal Exchange”). Igor Van Dessel, who played the role of the young Louis XV in “The Royal Exchange”, produced by Marc Dugain (France), is only 14 and lives in Court-Saint-Etienne.
Michalina Labacz, also awarded the prize for Best Actress, explained in Waterloo on Sunday evening that this was her first role in a significant film. The official selection jury also created a prize for Best Newcomer Actress, awarded during the closing ceremony of this year’s Wahff to Lysandre Ménard from Quebec, for her role in “The Passion of Augustine” (Canada).
“The Passion of Augustine” was also awarded the People’s Choice Award. The Critic’s Prize was awarded to “1945”, directed by the Hungarian, Ferenc Torok. The documentary film jury, awarded its top prize to “Federica Montseny”, directed by the Frenchman, Jean-Michel Rodrigo. The Early European History jury also awarded a special award to “At War with Love” directed by Pierfrancesco Diliberto (Italy).
The Brussels Times
