INTACTO, L.I.E., CYPHER, 28 DAYS LATER and TOY LOVE
multi-awarded at FANTASPORTO’ 2003
The Spanish Cinema, again a huge success at Fantasporto’ 2003. After last year’s winner, “Fausto 5.0” , the International Jury rewards the vitality of Spanish Cinema with its Best Fim Award of the Fantasy Section to the film INTACTO by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, a film that also won the Best Screenplay Award at this 23rd edition of the Oporto International Film Festival.
In the competitive Directors’ Week, the absolute winner was the American L.I.E. by Michael Cuesta, a first film by a man who just happens to be the head behind the highly successful TV series, “Seven Feet Under”.
But other features caught the attention of the two International Juries. Such was the case of Danny Boyle’s 28 DAYS LATER who came to Fantasporto himself and was the winner of other prizes, such as the Méliès D’Argent for the Best European Fantasy Featurein competition at the Festival, the Oporto runner-up for the Mélies D’Or- to be held on the 29th March, in Luxembourg.
The Special Jury’s Award of the Fantasy competition was awardedto CYPHER by Vincenzo Natali, a former winner at Fantasporto 99, acumulating the Best Actor Award, for Jeremy Northam, and the Best Special Effects Awards.Also in the Fantasy Section there was a mention for the the direction of German TATTOO, by Robert Schwentke,
TOY LOVE by Harry Sinclair was a clear winner with the Audience and A SNAKE OF JUNE by Shynia Tsukamoto (Japan) won, ex-aequo, the Special Fantasy Award but also the prize for the Best Actress, the Japonese leading lady, Asuka Kurosawa.
British Stephen Norrington won the Directors’ Week Best Direction Award with THE LAST MINUTE. SECRETARY was Special Award of the Jury of the Directors’ Week, and its actress, Maggie Gyllenhall, already a Golden Globe winner, triumphed in Oporto with her performance. Also in the same competition, American BUG by Phil Hay, won as the Best Screenplay in competition.
The short ATRAKSION, by the world famous Belgian director Raoul Servais, who was honoured a few years ago with a retrospective at Fantasporto, sent this year to the festival another clear winner- the Grand Prix for the Best Fantasy Short, but also the Méliès d’Argent for Best European short-length feature at the Oporto Festival.
The Critics at the festival went for an ex-aequo to CUBE 2 – HYPERCUBE by Andrzej Sekula (Canada) and NOS MIRAM by Norberto Lopez. (Spain)
Two retrospectives completed the programme, one dedicated to Stephen King, his novels and his films, the second to the screening of 20 years of New Zealand films.
An homage was also in order to the New Austrian Cinema, with Anne Lorent of the Austrian Film Commission receiving an award from the hands of the Festival organizers..
FANTASPORTO’ 2003 AWARDS
OfFICIAL FANTASY COMPETITION
FANTASPORTO 2003 Best Fantasy Film Award : “Intacto” by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (SPAIN)
Special Prize of the Jury: Ex-aequo to “Cypher” by Vincenzo Natali (Canada) and “A Snake of June” by Shynia Tsukamoto (JAP)
Best Direction: Danny Boyle for “28 Days Later”(UK)
Mention: Robert Schwentke for “Tattoo” (GER)
Best Actor: Jeremy Northam in “Cypher” (CAN)
Best Actress: Asuka Kurosawa in “A Snake of June” (JAP)
Best Screenplay: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and Andrés Koppel for “Intacto” (SPAIN)
Best Visual Effects: “Cypher” (Bret Culp / Bob Monroe) (CAN)
Best Fantasy Short: “Atraksion” by Raoul Servais (BEL)
DIRECTORS’ WEEK
FANTASPORTO 2003 Directors’ Week Best Film Award – “L.I.E.” by Michael Cuesta (USA)
Special Prize of the Jury – “The Last Minute” by Stephen Norrington (UK)
Best Director – Michael Cuesta for “L.I.E.” (USA)
Best Actor – Paul Franklin Dano in “L.I.E.” (USA)
Best Actress – Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Secretary” (EUA)
Best Screenplay – Phil Hay for “Bug” (USA)
HOMAGE:
The New Austrian Cinema
The Critics Jury at Fantasporto ‘2003 has decided to grant its Award to…
Ex-aequo:
CUBE 2 : HYPERCUBE – Andrzej Sekula (Canada) and
NOS MIRAN- Norberto Lopez (Spain)
The Audience Award at Fantasporto’ 2003 went to:
TOY LOVE – Harry Sinclair (New Zealand)