The 36th Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF) ended on Sunday evening in Bozar (Brussels) with the 2018 award-winning films. More than 58,000 viewers watched a film during the festival, 4,000 more than in 2017.
The Golden Raven, once again, went to the manga Inuyashiki of Shinsuke Sato. His film I am a Hero had also been the sacred Golden Raven during the 2016 ceremony. Mon Mon Mon Monsters by Giddens Ko won a Silver Raven, as did Tigers are Not Afraid by Issa Lopez. The latter film also received the People’s Choice Award.
In the European category, the Méliès d'Argent (“Silver Méliès” named in honour of the French cinema pioneer Georges Méliès) went to the film The Cured by David Freyne. In the Thriller category, the prize went to Memoir of a Murderer by Shin-yeon Won and a Special Mention was awarded to the film A Special Lady by An-kyu Lee.
The 7th Parallel prize was awarded for Blue My Mind to Lisa Brühlmann, and a Special Mention went to The Place by Paolo Genovese. The Critic’s prize went to Dhogs by the director Andrés Goteira.
Awards for shorts were received, namely for Delectable You by Axel Courtière (a European short feature film), Lost in the Middle by Senne Dehandschutter (receiving the Grand Prix and Prix Fedex), The Shipwrecked by Mathieu Mortelmans (awarded La Trois and BeTV prize), Het Nest by Matthias De Bondt (receiving the SABAM - Society of Belgian Authors), and The Day the Dog Disappeared by Ruth Mellaerts and Boris Kuijpers (which scooped the Youth Prize).
The high popularity of the “masterclass”, run by the Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro, proved hugely beneficial for the festival. Such is the view of Jonathan Lenaerts, the event spokesman. Several Belgian directors attended, amongst whom were Jaco Van Dormael, Harry Cleven and Nabil Ben Yadir.
The “Brussels International Film Market” took off in this 2nd edition. Several Asian film distribution companies have already reserved their places for 2019. Belgian films are in the process of being bought. Jonathan Lenaerts is delighted saying, “There are purchasers worldwide coming to see Belgian films.” He says, “The advantage of the BIF Market is that, because it is tiny compared to the large markets in Berlin or Cannes, it allows the time for discussion, and to see films and works in progress.”
The Brussels Times
