THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE, THESIS ON A DOMESTICATION, MISTRESS DISPELLER Take Gold Hugos in Their Competitions; A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY Receives Chicago Award
Chicago, Illinois (October 25, 2024) – The Chicago International Film Festival today announced the winning films at North America’s longest-running competitive film festival’s 60th edition, held from October 16 - 27, 2024. This year, 43 films competed for Gold and Silver Hugo Awards in categories including International Feature Film, New Directors, International Documentary, OutLook, and Short Film Competitions. The Festival also awarded the Chicago Award for an outstanding film in the City & State program, and the Roger Ebert Award, honoring a film competing in the New Directors Competition in recognition of a filmmaker with a fresh and uncompromising vision.
The Gold Hugo in the International Feature Competition goes to Maura Delpero’s VERMIGLIO. Set in the majestic vistas of the Italian Alps in the final days of World War II, the film chronicles a harrowing year in the life of three sisters in a remote mountain village. ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT, director Payal Kapadia’s exploration of working-class Mumbai, picks up the Silver Hugo Jury Award in the category. Silver Hugos also go to GRAND TOUR’s Miguel Gomesfor Best Director, with the film earning Telmo Churro and Pedro Filipe Marques the Best Editing prize; Mohammad Rasoulof for Best Screenwriter for THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG; and actors Benjamin Voisin (THE QUIET SON) and Elín Hall (WHEN THE LIGHT BREAKS), with a Special Mention going to the ensemble of female performers in ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL.
“The winning films at the 60th edition of the Chicago International Film Festival reflect a broad diversity of subject, style, and geography,” said Mimi Plauché, the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation Artistic Director of the Chicago International Film Festival. “This year’s juries, comprised of filmmakers, artists, journalists, and scholars, embraced unique, heartfelt, and bold explorations of the human condition from around the world, from Italy to China, Ireland to Argentina. We are especially pleased to see Festival alumni Maura Delpero, whose MATERNAL competed in our 2019 New Directors program, and Mohammad Rasoulof, whose A MAN OF INTEGRITY won the Best Screenplay Award in 2017, among this year’s winners.”
In the New Directors Competition, the Gold Hugo goes to Mo Harawe’s THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE, a simple and profound narrative following a newly formed family, each with their own modest dreams for the future, with MY FAVOURITE CAKE, directed by Maryam Moghaddam and Bhetash Saneeha, netting the category’s Silver Hugo.
The Roger Ebert Award for 2024 goes to HANAMI, Denise Fernandes’s stunning, surreal look at family and community in Cabo Verde, an island nation whose diaspora far outnumbers its residents.
Elizabeth Lo’s entertaining and poetic MISTRESS DISPELLER, in which a woman desperate to save her marriage hires an expert to break up her husband’s affair, takes the Gold Hugo in the International Documentary Competition; with MY STOLEN PLANET, Farahnaz Sharifi’s intimate and timely reflection on how recorded images can be a powerful corrective to the erasure of history and female identity, earning the Silver Hugo in the category.
In the OutLook Competition, reflecting the myriad perspectives of LGBTQ+ individuals, Chicago International Film Festival World Premiere film THESIS ON A DOMESTICATION, directed by Javier Van de Couter, picks up the Gold Q-Hugo, with Darren Thornton’s comedy FOUR MOTHERS receiving the Silver Q-Hugo.
This year’s Chicago Award goes to Rachel Elizabeth Seed’s A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY. Through a wealth of pictures, home movies, television interviews, and newly discovered audio recordings, Seed attempts to close the gap between herself and the mother she never knew. SAVING SUPERMAN, directed by Adam Oppenheim and Samuel-Ali Mirpoorian, earns an Honorable Mention in the category.
The full list of award winners at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival includes:
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
Gold Hugo - Best Film
VERMIGLIO (Italy, France, Belgium)
Dir. Maura Delpero
An exquisitely realized story of a young woman in the Italian Alps and the complexities of the family that surrounds her, VERMIGLIO treats its characters with compassion and its images with striking precision. Through the vehicle of imagination, the filmmaker has composed a tale that feels as if it has been whispered throughout generations.
Silver Hugo - Jury Prize
ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT (France, India, The Netherlands, Luxembourg)
Dir. Payal Kapadia
A tender, multigenerational story that questions the boundaries of control and what can be shaped as one’s destiny, ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT anchors its audience within a powerful dilemma: to choose an unfulfilling, yet comfortable life, or a loving, yet disruptive one?
Silver Hugo - Best Director
Miguel Gomes
GRAND TOUR (Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, China)
With his skillful direction, Miguel Gomes’s GRAND TOUR not only takes us on the journey of a woman’s quest to find her estranged fiancé, but the depths of what can be explored, and transcended, within the landscape of cinematic language.
Silver Hugo - Best Male Performance
Benjamin Voisin
THE QUIET SON (France)
In THE QUIET SON, Benjamin Voisin presents a subtle, yet vicious portrait of a young man who grows increasingly unrecognizable to those who love him. A gentle introduction to the condition of a country.
Silver Hugo - Best Female Performance
Elín Hall
WHEN THE LIGHT BREAKS (Iceland, The Netherlands, Croatia, France)
Elín Hall is a commanding performer who grips the audience with her quiet depiction of an overwhelming loss in WHEN THE LIGHT BREAKS.
Silver Hugo - Best Screenplay
Mohammad Rasoulof
THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG (Germany, Iran, France)
With its powerful blend of fiction and documentary, we are given a single seed that has rooted itself within a bold and significant story in Mohammad Rasoulof’s script for THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG.
Silver Hugo - Best Editing
Telmo Churro and Pedro Filipe Marques
GRAND TOUR (Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, China)
Through an inventive and meticulous combination of image and sound, GRAND TOUR’s editing propels the story forward and immerses its audience within an irreplaceable and hypnotic atmosphere.
Special Mention
The Female Ensemble of BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL (Zambia, U.K., Ireland)
Dir. Rungano Nyoni
The Special Mention for Ensemble Performance goes to the women of ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL. A collective that illuminates, challenges, and shapes a community’s expectation of what it means to properly grieve.
NEW DIRECTORS COMPETITION
Gold Hugo
THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE (Austria, France, Germany, Somalia)
Dir. Mo Harawe
Unhurried and fully lived in, THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISEinvites audiences to be part of a family that is bonded by love. With a stunning visual language defined by subtle glances, tender relationships and touching honesty, the film introduces us to the profound openness of young actor Ahmed Mohamoud Salleban, and the poetic vision of director Mo Harawe. THE VILLAGE NEXT TO PARADISE is a humble political statement told with care and empathy.
Silver Hugo
MY FAVOURITE CAKE (Iran, France, Sweden, Germany)
Dir. Maryam Moghaddam & Behtash Sanaeeha
With humor, compassion, and a rebellious spirit, directors Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha deftly weave the personal and the political. In a warm world, despite harsh realities and with masterful performances by Lili Farhadpour and Esmaeel Mehrabi, MY FAVOURITE CAKE artfully proves joy, flirtation and love are possible at any age, and on any day. A powerful portrait of loneliness and companionship, MY FAVOURITE CAKE was indeed the jury’s favorite cake.
Roger Ebert Award
HANAMI (Switzerland, Portugal, Cape Verde)
Dir. Denise Fernandes
An expansive vision of community, magic, childlike wonder and diasporic angst, Denise Fernandes’s HANAMI takes us through the pain of abandonment in a world unlike any cinematic coming-of-age story that’s come before it. There is an assuredness and grace to the unadorned performances and bewitching sense of texture in a film whose existence stands unabashedly in the shoes of a woman whose uncommon essence casts a quiet, potent spell for those willing to slip into its wonder.
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Gold Hugo
MISTRESS DISPELLER (China, U.S.)
Dir. Elizabeth Lo
The Gold Hugo goes to MISTRESS DISPELLER, directed by Elisabeth Lo. We were impressed by the film’s intimate point of view, which imposes no moral judgment on any of the incredible characters. Entertaining and poetic, this film provides a fascinating look at the specifics of Chinese culture, but also the more universal and complex experiences of love and relationships. MISTRESS DISPELLER is a documentary we have never seen before, an unforgettable and deeply empathetic work of cinema.
Silver Hugo
MY STOLEN PLANET (Germany, Iran)
Dir. Farahnaz Sharifi
The Silver Hugo goes to MY STOLEN PLANET by Farahnaz Sharifi. We were deeply moved by this courageous film, and how it reveals that the act of filming both the personal and political spheres can be a powerful form of resistance. Deftly moving from Iran’s 1929 Islamic Revolution to the present, Sharifi validates the joys of friendship, family and the simple act of dancing. The film is a timely reminder of the ongoing struggles against oppression in so many parts of the world today.
OUTLOOK COMPETITION
Gold Q-Hugo
THESIS ON A DOMESTICATION (Argentina, Mexico)
Dir. Javier Van de Couter
The Gold Q-Hugo goes to THESIS ON A DOMESTICATION directed by Javier Van de Couter. An uncompromising tour de force from longtime collaborators Van de Couter and Camila Sosa Villada based on her book of the same name, the film plays with permutations of womanhood through the lens of its trans actress protagonist (played expertly by Sosa Villada herself). New and old fragments superpose as she takes on changes in her domestic life, her career, and her approach to sex. This epic portrait of various relationship dynamics proposes coexistence without consensus as well as forms of love that embrace mystery and wildness. Sosa Villada is a bona-fide star in front of and behind the screen, with an unflinching pen and a commanding performance, who, alongside co-star Alfonso Herrera, gives this film its rapturous, untamable heartbeat.
Silver Q-Hugo
FOUR MOTHERS (Ireland)
Dir. Darren Thornton
The Silver Q-Hugo goes to FOUR MOTHERS. From brother duo Darren and Colin Thornton, the film encapsulates the neuroticism of being a writer navigating fleeting moments of success in an unforgiving industry. This comedy treats its main narrative subject, elder care, with tremendous dignity while also acknowledging the absurdity of growing old and being in your own ways. This whip-smart pivot from the “found family” trope centers commanding performances from four elder actresses, one of whom speaks only through an iPad, who are all unapologetically catty and earnest in equal measures. FOUR MOTHERS embodies an astute gay ethos, reacting to the post-“It Gets Better” era and discovering where to draw the line between selfishness and prioritizing your own desires.
THE CHICAGO AWARD
A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY (U.S.)
Dir. Rachel Elizabeth Seed
A film with strong Chicago ties, A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY depicts a daughter searching to understand the mother she never knew, and in turn reaching a deeper understanding of herself. Filled with archival video and photography, intimate interviews, and first-hand footage of her travels, Rachel Elizabeth Seed’s film seamlessly interweaves visual styles and themes with remarkable beauty. Her mother, Sheila Turner Seed, was raised in Chicago and died in Evanston, but traveled the world as a photographer and journalist, interviewing iconic photographers. Throughout the film we dive into both women’s hearts and minds, through Sheila’s diary entries and photography, and through Rachel’s narration and striking visual perspective. A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY is a story of mothers and daughters, of one’s complicated relationship to their career and to themselves, and of the lasting, connective power of the arts.
Honorable Mention
SAVING SUPERMAN (U.S.)
Dirs. Adam Oppenheim, Samuel-Ali Mirpoorian
The heartfelt, delicately told SAVING SUPERMAN depicts 57-year-old Jonathan, a man with Autism living in Glen Ellyn, who is something of a local hero. The film’s beautiful cinematography, score, and filmmaking elevates this poignant and inspiring story. We were all very moved by the film’s subject, by his loving mother and friends, and by the way the Glen Ellyn community fought to support their local Superman.
SHORT FILM COMPETITIONS
Animated Short Film Competition
Gold Hugo
BUTTERFLY KISS (Germany, Israel)
Dir. Zohar Dvir
Juxtapositions abound in BUTTERFLY KISS, a stylish and graphically appealing animated film. In addition to the complexity and nuance of the story, the film demonstrates excellent design technique and a unique and engaging sound design. This contemporary relationship drama is a rumination on change and how taxing it can be both on the human body and psyche. Using elements of horror and camp, this film pulls viewers in and asks them to reflect on changes they have made for other people. A sign of the times, its lighthearted delivery turns dark at the blink of an eye, begging the question about what other horrors lie beneath the surface. While it is gut-wrenching at moments, it ultimately shows the characters growing stronger and provides a fresh and moving perspective on romantic relationships, a subject matter that is often cliched. The audience is left wondering how our protagonist is impacted by this relationship, if they are happily growing or changing for the worse after the credits roll.
Silver Hugo
WANDER TO WONDER (Belgium)
Dir. Nina Gantz
This animated film is an original take on the idea of deconstructing children’s television. It exhibits exceptional technical stop-motion craft, impressive world-building, and skillful sound design. Along with its breathtaking visuals, WANDER TO WONDER provides an engaging and thought-provoking story. The film’s adept mix of thriller genre elements, dark, clever, and meta sense of humor, creates a rich thematic tension. It asks questions surrounding what becomes of a creation after its maker moves on, what is the life and legacy of an artwork, and how collaboration changes and challenges (even magical, miniature) people.
Documentary Short Film Competition
Gold Hugo
BLACK SHADOW (Cuba)
Dir. María Salafranca
Immersive and emotionally precise with stunning cinematography, BLACK SHADOW quietly draws the viewer into the grief of the subject. Masterfully edited, every shot is not only visually beautiful but establishes a powerfully intimate portrait of the subject's isolated daily life. The film also provides an uncommon depiction of an elder person; one where even in sadness the protagonist exhibits strength and perseverance.
Silver Hugo
PERFECTLY A STRANGENESS (Canada, Chile)
Dir. Alison McAlpine
The dynamic short doc PERFECTLY A STRANGENESS artfully explores the possibilities of stories beyond human protagonists and the ability of cinema to usher in discovery. Almost cosmic in scope, with a finely crafted sound design that harnesses small shifts in sound to keep our attention sharply in focus, the film follows three donkeys as they wander an arid landscape. Their curious journey is captured with exceptional cinematography and as they come across an abandoned observatory, the viewer is left with an otherworldly feeling of hopefulness. This unconventional mix of formal elements posits a world after humans and provides space to think about humanity's effect on nature.
Live Action Short Film Competition
Gold Hugo
VOX HUMANA (The Philippines, U.S., Singapore)
Dir. Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan
The timely short film elegantly brings together a nexus of ideas surrounding human impact on the natural environment. Incorporating magical realism into a low-fi sci-fi story, VOX HUMANA dissects notions of human dominion over animals, explores areas where the natural world overlaps with organized human development, and considers contemporary society’s relationships with indigenous legacies. With excellent sound design, skillful cinematography, and an incisive story structure this movie intentionally uses a little to provide a lot to consider.
Silver Hugo
PASSARINHO (Mexico)
Dir. Natalia García Agraz
PASSARINHO impressively weaves together several storylines into an original coming of age story that focuses on the sometimes difficult relationship between parent and child. Set against the backdrop of sports, an environment not often used to tell the stories of mothers and daughters, its ambitious scope of production and expertly crafted script provides a relatable and moving story. The movie makes good use of settings both confined and expansive to provide depth and humor and the characters are so well-drawn that the audience is left wanting to see what happens next in their lives together.
The 60th Chicago International Film Festival runs October 16 - 27, 2024, with screenings and programs presented at venues across the city including AMC NEWCITY 14, the Music Box Theatre, the Gene Siskel Film Center, the Chicago History Museum, and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago, with community screenings at the Hamilton Park Cultural Center in Englewood and the National Museum of Mexican Art. Tickets are on sale now at www.chicagofilmfestival.com.
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Festival Information
Celebrating its 60th edition October 16 - 27, 2024, the Chicago International Film Festival is North America's longest-running competitive international film festival. Showcasing acclaimed and exciting new films from around the world, the 60th edition will be held in person in theaters and venues around the city, featuring a select program of films with closed captions. From dramas and thrillers to documentaries and comedies, the Festival presents a vast diversity of offerings, featuring competitive categories and programs including Black Perspectives; International Comedy; OutLook; After Dark; and the City & State program, showcasing films made in Chicago and throughout Illinois.
2024 Festival Sponsors and Partners
The 60th Chicago International Film Festival's sponsors include Festival Sponsors: Adobe, Allstate, Baker Tilly, Cinespace Studios, Illinois Production Alliance, Maison Perrier, MUBI, Panavision, Light Iron, Periscope Post & Audio, SAGindie, Tito’s Vodka, The Whiskey Lab, William Blair, Xfinity; Official Agency: Ogilvy; Publicity Agency: Acacia Consulting Group; Festival Supporters: Caption Consulting, Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, L7 Chicago by LOTTE, Make It Better Foundation, Chicago Film Office, Illinois Film Office, Revolution Brewing; With Major Support from Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, John and Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Foundation, Charles Droege and Julie Wroblewski, and Cynthia Stone Raskin. This program is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.
About Cinema/Chicago
Cinema/Chicago, the presenting organization of the Chicago International Film Festival, is a year-round nonprofit arts and education organization dedicated to fostering better communication between people of diverse cultures through the art of film and the moving image. Cinema/Chicago's programs include the Chicago International Film Festival, Summer Screenings Program, CineYouth Festival, and year-round Education Program. Celebrating its 60th edition October 16 - 27, 2024, the Chicago International Film Festival is North America's longest-running competitive film festival. For more information, please visit www.chicagofilmfestival.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.
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