The 68th San Sebastián International Film Festival drew to a close on Saturday 26 September with the customary awards ceremony. The evening’s hands-down winner was Beginning [+lire aussi :
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interview : Dea Kulumbegashvili
fiche film] (France/Georgia), the directorial début of Dea Kulumbegashvili, which scooped the Golden Shell for Best Film plus the awards for best director, best actress (for Ia Sukhitashvili) and best screenplay. The Special Jury Prize went to one of the clutch of documentaries selected for this year’s official competition: Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan [+lire aussi :
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interview : Julien Temple
fiche film] (United Kingdom), directed by Julien Temple. A portrait of the lead singer of The Pogues, it was produced by Johnny Depp, who dropped into town to promote the film.

Among the other films to win over this year’s jury, headed up by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, was Another Round [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] (Denmark/Sweden/Netherlands), directed by Thomas Vinterberg. Unusually, its ensemble cast — Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang and Lars Ranthe — share the honour of the Silver Conch for Best Actor.

It was a fantastic night for European cinema all round: in particular, the festival's president, Belén Funes, and the entire jury of the New Directors section were bowled over by Last Days of Spring [+lire aussi :
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interview : Isabel Lamberti
fiche film], the first fiction film from erstwhile documentarian Isabel Lamberti. In the Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Section, the platform of choice for bold, innovative and experimental films, it was Portuguese production The Metamorphosis of Birds [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Catarina Vasconcelos
fiche film], directed by Catarina Vasconcelos that carried the day. Meanwhile, in the Latin Horizons section, the jury singled out Identifying Features [+lire aussi :
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fiche film], a co-production between Spain and Mexico directed by Fernanda Valadez, with a special mention for One in a Thousand [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] by Clarisa Navas (Argentina/Germany).

Inevitably, this year’s festival will be remembered for the rigorous health and hygiene measures scrupulously observed at every event and screening to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Only one incident was recorded, when Eugène Green — during a post-screening public discussion of his film Atabarri & Mikelats [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film] held in the Príncipe de San Sebastián cinema as part of the Zinemira section — repeatedly refused to don a mask. In response, the festival management took the decision to eject him from the premises. All other attendees, both audiences and industry professionals (journalists, artists, management staff) worked hard to ensure that all screening spaces were as safe and hygienic as possible.

The full list of winners:

Competition

Golden Shell for Best Film
Beginning [+lire aussi :
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interview : Dea Kulumbegashvili
fiche film] – Dea Kulumbegashvili (Georgia/France)

Special Jury Prize
Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan [+lire aussi :
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interview : Julien Temple
fiche film] – Julien Temple (United Kingdom)

Silver Shell for Best Director
Dea Kulumbegashvili – Beginning

Silver Shell for Best Actress
Ia Sukhitashvili – Beginning

Silver Shell for Best Actor
Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang and Lars Ranthe – Another Round [+lire aussi :
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Jury Prize for Best Screenplay
Dea Kulumbegashvili and Rati Oneli – Beginning

Jury Prize for Best Cinematography
Yuta Tsukinaga – Any Crybabies Around? (Japan)

New Directors

New Directors Award
Last Days of Spring [+lire aussi :
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interview : Isabel Lamberti
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Special Mention
Slow Singing – Dong Xingyi (China)

Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Section

Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Award
The Metamorphosis of Birds [+lire aussi :
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interview : Catarina Vasconcelos
fiche film] – Catarina Vasconcelos (Portugal)

Special Mention
The Woman Who Ran – Hong Sang-soo (South Korea)

Latin Horizons Section

Latin Horizons Award
Identifying Features [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] – Fernanda Valadez (Mexico/Spain)

Special Mention
One in a Thousand [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] – Clarisa Navas (Argentina/Germany)

Other Awards

RTVE Another Look Award
Never Rarely Sometimes Always [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] – Eliza Hittman (USA/United Kingdom)

Special Mention
Gull – Kim Mi-Jo (South Korea)

Spanish Cooperation Award
Identifying Features – Fernanda Valadez

City of Donostia/San Sebastián Audience Award
The Father [+lire aussi :
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interview : Florian Zeller
fiche film] – Florian Zeller (United Kingdom/France)

Audience Award – Best European Film
The Mole Agent [+lire aussi :
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interview : Maite Alberdi
fiche film] – Maite Alberdi (Chile/USA/Germany/Spain/Netherlands)

Irizar Basque Film Award
Ane is Missing [+lire aussi :
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interview : David Pérez Sañudo
fiche film] – David Pérez Sañudo (Spain)
Special Mention
Where is Mikel? – Amaia Merino and Miguel Ángel Llamas (Spain)

TCM Youth Award
Limbo [+lire aussi :
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interview : Ben Sharrock
fiche film] – Ben Sharrock (United Kingdom)